Cucumber Canapés with Smoked Salmon Mousse – don’t let the name fool you, this is cinch to make in vast quantities, making it my idea of the perfect finger food! These cucumber bites are an appetiser that’s accidentally healthy, with a mere 26 calories per piece.
Wonderful to pass around at parties, this was a hit over the Christmas party season!
Cucumber Canapés
These canapés are a terrific combo – the cool, juicy cucumber with the rich creamy salmon mousse. But the really great thing about these Cucumber Canapés is that it’s speedy to make loads of it. I’m really not one for fiddly assembly and am always in awe of caterers who put together vast platters of delicately constructed hors d’oeuvres and finger food that people inhale in one bite!
So one of the reasons these rate highly in my world is that they look like cute little finger food that took ages to make – but with the help of a piping bag, it’s super quick to assemble!
What you need for this Cucumber Canapés
Here’s what you need. This makes around 40 – 45 pieces.
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Cucumbers – Use 3 long cucumbers (Telegraph / English cucumbers) or 6 standard cucumbers (alley Lebanese cucumbers in Australia). I prefer Telegraph cucumbers because they are less watery so when you bite into them, the salmon mousse is diluted less when munching away;
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Smoked salmon or smoked trout;
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Cream cheese – Use the firm block cream cheese. If you can only get the softer spreadable cream cheese sold in tubs (such as in the UK and some parts of Europe), then you’ll need to skip the sour cream because otherwise the mousse may not be firm enough to hold its shape once piped;
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Sour cream is to lighten up the richness of cream cheese a bit and the mayonnaise adds flavour and a touch of richness. These can be omitted / substituted; and
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Dill is a classic pairing with smoked salmon but it’s also lovely with chives or even just parsley.
Variations
The filling makes a terrific “formula” to make your own variations of Cucumber Canapes. Switch the salmon and dill with things like sun dried tomato and chives, or olives and shallots, artichoke and spinach. I’ve popped some ideas in the recipe notes.
How to make it Cucumber Canapés
And here’s how to make them:
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Scooping out the cucumber serves 2 purposes: removes the watery centre (so it doesn’t dilute the salmon mousse as much when eating it) and makes a well so you get a better ration of cucumber to mousse;
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I use a small melon baller but a teaspoon will work just fine, the edge just isn’t (usually) as sharp;
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If you do not scoop out the watery centre then just cut thinner cucumber slices and pipe the mousse on top;
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Blitz the salmon mousse until smooth;
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Refrigerate until firm – takes around 5 hours;
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Pipe onto the cucumbers. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can even just dollop it on – once garnished with a sprig of dill, it will pretty it up!
The rich, creamy smoked salmon mousse and fresh crunchy cucumber go together so well!
Sensational make ahead appetiser
This is brilliant transportable finger food that’s easy to put together just prior to serving and doesn’t require reheating. Piping it onto the cucumber is really fast!
When I served this at a Christmas Party last month, I took the cucumbers already prepared and the mousse already in a piping bag. Spread the cucumber on serving platters, pipe away then top with dill, then walk the platter around and soak up the praises!
Pre dinner cocktails
Pass around trays of these Cucumber Canapés with pre dinner drinks. You could just stick to the usual wine and champagne…. or step it up a bit with one of these cocktails!
By the way, just between you and me – the Smoked Salmon “Mousse” is simply my smoked salmon dip blitzed until completely smooth and slightly aerated.
But no one else needs to know that. I mean, restaurants embellish the names of dishes all the time – why can’t we?
“Coulis of seasonal berries with single origin slow roasted legume pate served with homemade snow bread” = peanut butter and jam sandwich.
So just tell everyone it’s a “mousse”. They won’t know any better! 😉 – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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Cucumber Canapés with Smoked Salmon Mousse
Ingredients
Smoked Salmon Mousse:
- 150g / 5 oz smoked salmon (Note 1)
- 150g / 5 oz Cream Cheese , softened (I use Philadelphia, Note 2)
- 2 tbsp/ 30g sour cream
- 2 tbsp/ 40g mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup fresh dill , roughly chopped (sub chives)
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 2 tsp lemon zest (1 lemon)
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 tsp salt and pepper , each (Note 3)
Cucumber:
- 3 long cucumbers (Telegraph / English) OR 6 standard cucumbers (Note 4)
Garnish:
- Extra dill sprigs
- Lemon slices , for serving
Instructions
Salmon Mousse:
- Place Salmon Mousse ingredients in a food processor. Blitz until completely smooth, scraping down sides as needed.
- Fit piping bag with wide star tip nozzle (1.5-2cm / 0.6 - 0.75" wide), then transfer Mousse into piping bag. Refrigerate for 5 hours until firmed.
Cucumbers:
- Cut into 1.5cm thick / 0.6" slices.
- Use a small melon baller or teaspoon to scoop a well out.
Assemble:
- Pipe mousse into cucumbers. Top with dill and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes:
Scooping - better ratio of cucumber to mousse, and also removes watery centre.
If you can't be bothered to scoop out the centre, make the cucumber slices slightly thinner so you end up with a similar ratio of cucumber to mousse. 5. Making ahead - place mousse in piping bag, ready to pipe. Keep up to 3 days in fridge. Cut and prepare cucumber. Assemble just before serving.
Once assembled, the cucumber starts sweating at around 30 - 45 minutes (still super tasty though!). 6. Variations - these are variations I served at a gathering last month using the same base "mousse" recipe:
- Sun-dried tomato - switch salmon and chives with 225g/7oz sun dried tomato strips in oil (including oil) and chives. Blitz until smooth, use per recipe (makes slightly more in quantity)
- Olive - switch salmon with 200g/6.5oz green or black olives, and parsley or chives for dill. Blitz until ALMOST fully smooth - little bits of olive is nice.
Nutrition Information:
More bite size food to pass around at parties
Food you can eat with one hand while clutching a wine glass rates highly in my world.
Life of Dozer
He loves the pool in our new home!! He doesn’t really leap gracefully into it. More like an awkward belly flop 😂
Omg Nagi, I smashed it and I sure lapped up the praise.
This appertiser is so easy peasy to make and definitely a crowd pleaser.
I don’t have a piping bag so used a freezer bag and cut a hole in one corner.
You’re a legend Nagi.
Amazing! Made this for New years party and everyone LOVED IT! It was a great appetiser and I also made the sundried tomato pesto pasta salad and sausage rolls (which were both also incredible) as appetisers alongside these cucumber canapes.
It was super easy to prepare and make ahead. All I had to do on the day was pipe the mousse on the cucumber discs. I highly recommend this!
So refreshing – just loved it. I also added a little bit of shredded smoked salmon under the mousse and a little on the top, just to accentuate the salmon flavour. This is so easy to make and it will be a go-to canape.
Excellent and easy! Wowed the family 😁
Hi Nagi, what could I substitute for the mayonnaise? Could I use Dijon or marscapone?
Hi!
I have made on Christmas Eve and taste lovely! May I ask
Can I freeze the rest of the mousse ? 🙈🤗
Thank you
Love this recipe. Unfortunately, left the full piping bag at home in my fridge so no mousse at the party.🙁 Would I be able to freeze the mixture to use next weekend?
It won’t freeze well – sorry Sharon! N x
Hi Nagi, do you think the salmon mousse would work with mini peppers instead of cucumber? Am worried about the cucumber letting out water
It definitely would! Although you hollow out most of the watery inside so it won’t make the mousse watery 🙂 N x
My mum loves your cook book
Thanks, maybe i will try it out with a mix of cucumbers and mini peppers! Am based in India and we do get English cucumbers and the regular lighter green cucumbers here but not sure about the telegraph cucumbers. Planning this as one of the appetizers for a drinks & canapes evening for about 20 people. This sounds easily doable but sophisticated at the same time.
Hi Nagi,
Could this work with some type of cracker instead of the cucumber?
What do you think?
I’m thinking some type of thick cracker
Yes of course, the mousse is great on anything!! N x
I love these cucumber canapés as much as I love finger sandwiches with smoke salmon or cucumber and cream cheese
Your swimming. God pool looms lovely Lucky Dozer..it’s -13celcius in Toronto😈😈😢
Yes! I love cucumber sandwiches!!
Wow, that’s delicious! Am having most of food in fridge inc fresh deel. I’ll make this for my self on hot day. Thank you so much. Lucky Dozer, Let him enjoyed.
Perfect for a hot day Vera ❤️
Hi! I LOVE the look of these, however my partner is not the biggest fan of Dill. Is there a substitute that you suggest we may be able to use? Thank you! x
Hi Bek! Try chives – fab smoked salmon! N x
Nagi – Cucumber cups with smoked salmon have been my favourite drinks companion for longer than you have been alive, BUT your way of dong it is far prettier and more sensible ! Recipe already in the kitchen for a trial on Sunday. Methinks everyone will love !! Dill naturally . . . don’t think NE Europe thinks of any other herbs and here I concur !! Dozer: Well, he is an Australian boy and they swim without hesitation . . . !
Love to know how you go Eha! And Dozer.. well if there’s water – he will be in it!