Cucumber Canapés with Smoked Salmon Mousse Recipe
These elegant Cucumber Canapés with Smoked Salmon Mousse are a refreshing and sophisticated appetizer perfect for entertaining. Creamy smoked salmon mousse, flavored with fresh dill, garlic, and lemon, is piped onto crisp cucumber slices for a light, healthy starter that’s bursting with flavor and visual appeal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 24 canapés 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: European
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon Mousse:
- 150g / 5 oz smoked salmon
- 150g / 5 oz cream cheese, softened (Philadelphia recommended)
- 2 tbsp / 30g sour cream
- 2 tbsp / 40g mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup fresh dill, roughly chopped (or substitute with chives)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tsp lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Canapés:
- 3 long cucumbers (Telegraph / English) or 6 standard cucumbers
- Extra dill sprigs for garnish
- Lemon slices for serving
Instructions
- Prepare Salmon Mousse: Place smoked salmon, softened cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, chopped dill, minced garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper into a food processor. Blitz until the mixture is completely smooth, stopping to scrape down the sides as needed for even blending.
- Chill Mousse: Fit a piping bag with a wide star tip nozzle (1.5-2cm / 0.6 – 0.75″ wide) and transfer the smooth mousse into it. Refrigerate for 5 hours until the mousse has firmed up to a pipeable consistency.
- Prepare Cucumbers: Cut cucumbers into 1.5cm (0.6 inch) thick slices. Use a small melon baller or teaspoon to carefully scoop out a well in the center of each slice without piercing through the bottom.
- Assemble Canapés: Pipe the chilled smoked salmon mousse into the cucumber wells. Garnish each canapé with a small sprig of dill. Serve immediately alongside lemon slices for an added burst of freshness.
Notes
- You can substitute chives for dill if preferred for a milder flavor.
- Ensure the mousse is chilled sufficiently to hold its shape when piped.
- Use Telegraph or English cucumbers for fewer seeds and a tastier bite; standard cucumbers work as well but may be more watery.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper according to your taste before chilling the mousse.
- These canapés are best served fresh to preserve cucumber crunch and mousse texture.
Keywords: cucumber canapés, smoked salmon mousse, appetizer, party food, light bites, healthy snacks, dill, cream cheese
