Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites (Printer View)

Cucumber rounds with herbed cream cheese and smoked salmon—elegant, no-cook bites for parties or brunch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large English cucumbers, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds (about 24 slices)

→ Dairy

02 - 6 oz cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tbsp sour cream

→ Herbs & Aromatics

04 - 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - 1 tsp lemon zest
07 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Fish

08 - 6 oz thinly sliced smoked salmon, cut into 24 small pieces

→ Garnish (optional)

09 - Extra dill sprigs or chives
10 - Lemon wedges

# Method Steps:

01 - In a mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream. Add the chopped dill, chives, lemon zest and a few grinds of black pepper. Blend until smooth and homogenous; adjust seasoning to taste.
02 - Pat cucumber slices dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture and arrange them in a single layer on a serving platter.
03 - Transfer the herbed cheese to a piping bag or use a teaspoon. Place about 1 to 2 teaspoons of the mixture onto the center of each cucumber round, forming a small mound.
04 - Fold a piece of smoked salmon and place it atop the cheese on each cucumber slice, pressing gently so it adheres.
05 - Garnish each bite with a small sprig of dill or a few chopped chives and, if desired, a light squeeze of lemon over selected pieces.
06 - Serve immediately for best texture, or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving. Do not freeze.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The creamy cheese and smoky salmon hug the fresh cucumber just enough to surprise your taste buds.
  • I barely get a chance to set the platter down before everyone convinces themselves to have just one more.
02 -
  • I once tried to rush with cold, hard cream cheese—never again, it just clumps and won’t spread.
  • Salmon slices are easiest to fold into neat shapes if you pat them lightly dry first.
03 -
  • Let the cream cheese come fully to room temp before mixing for the smoothest, lightest spread.
  • A quick squeeze of lemon juice over the finished bites wakes up every flavor and keeps things bright, even after chilling.
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