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cold_biteMediumScandinavian

Smoked Salmon Roses with Herbed Cream Cheese

Elegant salmon roses on cucumber rounds with dill cream cheese and capers

⏱️ Prep: 30min0⏰ Total: 30min👥 Serves: 24🌡️ cold
✓ gluten-free✓ keto✓ low-carb
⚠️ Contains: 🐟 Fish, 🥛 Dairy

Ingredients

  • 8 ozsmoked salmon(thinly sliced)
  • 2 largeEnglish cucumbers
  • 8 ozcream cheese(softened)
  • 2 tbspfresh dill(minced, plus fronds for garnish)
  • 1 tbspfresh lemon juice
  • 1 tsplemon zest
  • 0.25 tspblack pepper
  • 2 tbspcapers(drained)
  • 24small dill fronds(for garnish)

📝 Make Ahead

Can be assembled up to 4 hours ahead; cover with damp paper towel and plastic wrap. Refrigerate until serving.

Instructions

  1. Mix cream cheese with dill, lemon juice, zest, and pepper until smooth
  2. Slice cucumber into 1/4-inch thick rounds
  3. Pipe or spread cream cheese mixture on each cucumber round
  4. For each rose: take a slice of salmon and roll loosely from one end
  5. Fan out the top edges slightly to resemble rose petals
  6. Place salmon rose on cream cheese-topped cucumber
  7. Garnish with a few capers and dill frond
  8. Arrange on platter and serve chilled

💡 Pro Tips

Quality salmon makes all the difference - look for silky, not slimy, texture. The roses are easier to form with salmon at room temperature. Score the cucumber skin for visual interest. Crème fraîche can replace cream cheese for tangier flavor.

📜 History

Smoked salmon has been a Scandinavian delicacy for centuries. The rose presentation emerged from high-end catering as a way to transform simple salmon into an artistic, romantic display worthy of special occasions.

🍸 Pairs Well With

Also pairs well with:

champagnevodkaginwhite-wine