Description
These refreshing cucumber appetizers combine creamy dill-flavored cream cheese with smoky salmon atop crisp cucumber slices, perfect for a light and elegant bite-ready snack or party starter. Ready in just 15 minutes, they deliver fresh flavors with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Cheese Mixture
- 6 oz cream cheese (softened at room temperature)
- 1/4 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 3 tbsp fresh dill (chopped, plus more for garnish)
Assembly
- 1 large English cucumber (sliced slightly diagonally, about 1/4 inch thick)
- 4 oz smoked salmon (sliced thinly and cut into pieces)
Instructions
- Prepare the cream cheese mixture: In a small bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and garlic powder. Mash and stir until smooth, then fold in the chopped fresh dill evenly throughout the mixture.
- Transfer to piping bag: Spoon the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag or a zip lock bag with a small corner snipped off to enable easy piping.
- Arrange cucumber slices: Lay out the cucumber slices in a single, even layer on a serving platter to prepare for topping.
- Pipe cream cheese mixture onto cucumbers: Carefully pipe about half a tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture onto the center of each cucumber slice, creating a neat dollop.
- Top with smoked salmon and garnish: Place a folded piece of smoked salmon atop each cucumber slice over the cream cheese. Garnish with additional fresh dill sprigs if desired for an extra burst of color and flavor.
Notes
- For best results, use a piping bag for clean, attractive presentation; alternatively, a zip lock bag with a corner cut works well.
- Use English cucumbers for mild flavor and thin skin to avoid peeling.
- These appetizers are best served fresh but can be prepared up to a couple of hours in advance if covered and refrigerated.
- For a dairy-free or vegan variation, substitute cream cheese and yogurt with plant-based alternatives.