Smoked Salmon Coeurs à La Crème Food

SMOKED SALMON SPREAD

Steps:

• In a food processor, add the smoked salmon along with the mayonnaise and some pepper. Pulse just until the salmon is broken up into slightly smaller pieces. Do not overmix.
• Place the mixture into a bowl and combine with the raw salmon and creme fraiche or sour cream. You may add more or less depending on how creamy you like it. Add the shallot, lemon zest and juice and half the chives. Season with pepper; the mixture will likely not need salt due to the smoked salmon.
• Transfer the mixture to a shallow wide bowl and cover with the remaining chives. Serve with crostini.

SMOKED SALMON COEURS à LA CRèME

Steps:

• Blend cheeses, heavy cream, lime juice, salt, and cayenne in a blender until smooth. Transfer cheese mixture to a bowl, then stir in salmon and chives until just combined.
• Line each mold with a single layer of rinsed and squeezed cheesecloth, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Pack salmon mixture into molds. (It will mound slightly.) Fold overhanging cheesecloth over tops. Transfer molds to a plate and chill, covered, at least 3 and up to 24 hours.

ROASTED GARLIC CHEESE - GARLIC COEURS A LA CREME

Steps:

• Rub the cottage cheese through a sieve into a mixing bowl.
• With a wooden spoon or electric mixer, beat the goat cheese and the roasted garlic puree into the cottage cheese.
• Beat in the yogurt. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Line 8 coure a la creme molds with damp cheesecloth, allowing an overhang.
• Spoon mixture into molds, then wrap and place on rack over a deep plate.
• Refrigerate overnight to drain.
• Unwrap and un-mold onto 8 small plates. Discard cheesecloth.
• Serve with thin brown bread, toast, or bagels and slices of smoked salmon, if desired.
• Note: lacking coeur a la creme molds, spoon mixture into a cheesecloth-lined colander and refrigerate overnight to drain. Un-mold onto a serving platter and allow each diner to scoop off a portion.

SMOKED SALMON AND CREAM CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Cover each bagel chip with cream cheese. Drape small slices of salmon on top of each. Place capers on top and cover with green onions.

SMOKED SALMON ON CUCUMBER WITH CREME FRAICHE AND DILL

Steps:

• Using a mandoline (or better knife skills than I have), slice the cucumber into sturdy, even slices and arrange on a service plate.
• Top each with an equal tidbit of salmon. Hint: it folds into pretty shapes if cut with the grain of the fish.
• Stir the creme fraiche until smooth and dab a mere teaspoonful over salmon.
• Separate tiny branches of the baby dill and set upright in or atop cream fraiche. Use remaining branches to garnish plate.
• Put the pepper in one palm and scatter by pinches from about a foot above the platter.

SMOKED SALMON AND BASIL ROLLS WITH CRèME FRAîCHE

Steps:

• Place 1 salmon slice on work surface. Spread 2 teaspoons crème fraîche over salmon. Sprinkle with 2 teaspoons chopped basil. Sprinkle with pepper. Starting at 1 short end, roll up salmon slice, enclosing filling. Spread 1 teaspoon crème fraîche over top of roll; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon chopped basil. Cut roll crosswise into 5 slices (keep sliced roll together). Repeat with remaining salmon, crème fraîche, and chopped basil. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Transfer salmon rolls to plate; cover and chill.) Arrange basil leaves on platter. Using small spatula, top each basil leaf with 1 sliced salmon roll, fanning slightly.