Baby Cream Puffs Filled With Smoked Salmon Food

SMOKED SALMON PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to a temperature that is stated on your puff pastry packaging.
• Roll out the pastry (if not using the pre-rolled one). Use a small round cookie cutter to cut as many circles as you can. Place them onto a baking sheet lined with baking parchment (or a silicone mat).
• Bake them until puffed and golden brown on top (please read the puff pastry package instructions for cooking time but keep an eye on them as they can be ready quicker than that).
• Meanwhile: in a food processor, combine smoked salmon, cream cheese, chives, lemon juice and black pepper. Pulse until you get a smooth-ish mixture. Set aside.
• When the puffs are ready, take them out and let them cool down completely. Take each puff and using a knife open them up (like a shell). Fill one part of it with about a teaspoon of the mixture and put the other part back on the top. Continue until you have used up all the mixture.
• Enjoy!

SMOKED SALMON PUFFS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
• Unfold the pastry, and cut out rounds with a 1 1/2-inch round cookie cutter (you should get roughly 40). Space them at least 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly score the center of each round with a 3/4-inch cookie cutter (don't press all the way through). Lightly brush each round with the egg.
• Invert another rimmed baking sheet on top of the dough rounds, and bake for 5 minutes. (Covering the rounds helps them puff straight up evenly.) Remove the top baking sheet, and continue to bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes more. Let the rounds cool completely on the baking sheet, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to gently punch a hole in the middle of each round. (The baked pastry can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 day or frozen for up to 1 month.)
• Meanwhile, microwave the vinegar and sun-dried tomatoes in a small bowl, covered, for 30 seconds; let cool. Reserve 1 teaspoon of the vinegar, and finely chop the tomatoes. Finely shred the cucumber, and squeeze out all the excess moisture. Mash together the tomatoes, reserved vinegar, shredded cucumber, cream cheese, chives and 1/4 teaspoon salt with a fork in a medium bowl until smooth. Transfer the cream cheese filling to a pastry bag or resealable plastic bag (cut off the tip). (The filling can be refrigerated for up to 1 day.)
• Tear or cut the salmon into 40 small pieces, and roll each into a rough rosette shape. Pipe some of the filling into each puff. Top each with a piece of salmon, and sprinkle with sesame seeds. (The salmon puffs can be refrigerated for up to 2 hours.)

SALMON PUFFS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine smoked salmon, feta cheese, black pepper and garlic.
• Roll out puff pastry on lightly floured surface to form a 12x12 inch sheet. Cut sheet into 16 3x3-inch squares. Place a spoonful of salmon filling in the center of each square. Pull together corners of each square to form 16 small packets. Brush packets with egg whites and place on prepared baking sheets. (The puffs can be frozen at this point. See Editor's Note.)
• Bake in preheated oven until pastry is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.

MINI SALMON & DILL PUFFS

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse the salmon, soft cheese, dill and a little seasoning until just combined. Unroll a sheet of puff pastry and cut into 3 pieces lengthways. Divide the filling along the middle of each piece, brush borders with beaten egg, then fold up and seal.
• Cut each roll into 8-10 bite-size pieces, then place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, cover with cling film and freeze. To serve, glaze with beaten egg and cook at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 25-30 mins until puffed and golden.