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Salmon and Cucumber Pumpernickel Squares

3.5

(18)

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Salmon and Cucumber Pumpernickel SquaresRichard Gerhard Jung

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    Start to finish: 10 hr (includes chilling)

  • Yield

    Makes 36 hors d'oeuvres

Ingredients

For pumpernickel crust

6 slices pumpernickel bread (6 oz)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt

For filling

1 (1-lb) piece fresh salmon fillet, skinned
1 (1/2-lb) piece smoked salmon, skinned
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons minced shallot
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 English cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1/8-inch dice
4 teaspoons chopped fresh dill

Preparation

  1. Make pumpernickel crust:

    Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F.

    Step 2

    Finely grind bread in a food processor, then pulse with butter and salt until combined. Press crumbs onto bottom of a 9-inch square metal baking pan and bake in middle of oven until top is crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool crust completely in pan on a rack.

  2. Make filling:

    Step 3

    Bring a 4-quart heavy saucepan three-fourths full of salted water to a simmer, then poach fresh salmon until just cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate to cool. Scrape off and discard all brown flesh and finely chop remaining poached salmon, transferring to a large bowl.

    Step 4

    Remove any brown flesh from smoked salmon. Finely chop smoked salmon and stir into poached salmon along with butter, shallot, and lemon juice.

    Step 5

    Beat cream in another bowl with an electric mixer until it holds soft peaks, then fold into salmon. Spoon salmon filling over pumpernickel crust, smoothing top.

    Step 6

    Toss cucumber with dill, then scatter evenly over salmon filling, pressing slightly to help adhere. Chill, covered with plastic wrap, until firm, at least 8 hours.

    Step 7

    Cut into 36 squares and serve cold or at room temperature.

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