Smoked Salmon And Cucumber Squares Recipes

Steps:

• Trim ends from cucumbers and cut crosswise into 24 (3/4-inch-thick) rounds. Scoop a 1/2-inch-deep depression from one side of each round with a small melon-baller, forming little cups. Drain cucumbers, cup sides down, on paper towels for 15 minutes.
• Beat cream cheese, chopped dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and black pepper together in a bowl. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon cheese mixture into each cucumber cup. Top each cup with 1 salmon strip and 1 dill sprig.

Steps:

• Thinly slice the cucumber on a mandoline and place in a colander over a bowl. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and allow the cucumbers to sit for 5 minutes. Squeeze out the excess water and place the cucumbers in a clean medium bowl. Add the sour cream, dill and 1/4 teaspoon salt and stir with a rubber spatula to combine.
• Lay the smoked salmon on one half of a platter lightly, so there is movement to the plate, leaving open the other half of the platter. Pile the cucumber mixture on a quarter of the platter or spoon into a bowl that fits on the platter. Serve the toasted pumpernickel bread on the other quarter of the platter.

Steps:

• Cut cucumber into 24 slices. Use melon baller to scoop out indentation in center of each slice; discard removed centers or reserve for another use. (See tip.)
• Reserve 1 Tbsp. dill. Mix remaining dill with all remaining ingredients until blended.
• Fill cucumbers with cream cheese mixture; sprinkle with reserved dill.

Steps:

• With a fork, score cucumber peel lengthwise; cut into 1/4-in. slices. Pipe or spread cream cheese onto each slice; top with salmon. Sprinkle with chives. Refrigerate until serving.

Steps:

• Quarter cucumber lengthwise, cutting off and discarding rounded ends. Stir together cream cheese, chives, horseradish, salt, and pepper to taste until combined well.
• Pat cucumber dry. Arrange enough salmon to completely wrap 1 cucumber quarter in 1 layer on a sheet of plastic wrap, then spread with a thin layer of cream cheese mixture. Wrap coated salmon around cucumber quarter to cover completely, pressing gently to help it adhere. Repeat with remaining cucumber quarters. (You may have leftover salmon.) Cut rolls crosswise into 3/4-inch pieces.

Steps:

• Make pumpernickel crust:
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Finely grind bread in a food processor, then pulse with butter and salt until combined. Press crumbs onto bottom of a 9-inch square metal baking pan and bake in middle of oven until top is crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool crust completely in pan on a rack.
• Make filling:
• Bring a 4-quart heavy saucepan three-fourths full of salted water to a simmer, then poach fresh salmon until just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate to cool. Scrape off and discard all brown flesh and finely chop remaining poached salmon, transferring to a large bowl.
• Remove any brown flesh from smoked salmon. Finely chop smoked salmon and stir into poached salmon along with butter, shallot, and lemon juice.
• Beat cream in another bowl with an electric mixer until it holds soft peaks, then fold into salmon. Spoon salmon filling over pumpernickel crust, smoothing top.
• Toss cucumber with dill, then scatter evenly over salmon filling, pressing slightly to help adhere. Chill, covered with plastic wrap, until firm, at least 8 hours.
• Cut into 36 squares and serve cold or at room temperature.