Little Smoked Salmon Cucumber Cups With Peppered Creme Fraiche

Appetizer of cucumers stuffed with smoked salmon

• Ready In: 15 mins
• Serves: 7

Ingredients

• 1  medium cucumber, cut into 1-inch slices
• 10  tablespoons creme fraiche
• 1  large lemon, zest of
•  fresh ground black pepper
• 225  g smoked salmon
•  salt (optional)
•  lemon slice (to garnish) (optional)
•  dill (optional) or  parsley (optional)

Directions

1. 1 Cut the cucumber into 1 1/2 inch slices, and carefully hollow out the centre (with any seeds) with a pointed teaspoon, so you are left with a shallow hollow.
2. 2 Mix the lemon zest and black pepper with the crème fraiche and adjust seasoning to taste, adding the black pepper bit by bit to ensure a favourable taste! (We like ours quite peppery!) I have not suggested salt as the smoked salmon is salty, but do add salt to taste if you wish.
3. 3 Spoon a little seasoned crème fraiche into each cucumber cup, about 1 teaspoon per cup.
4. 4 Cut the smoked salmon into 6-inch long strips and about 1/2 inch wide, and curl them around to make a little circle, then place the circle of smoked salmon on top of the crème fraiche.
5. 5 Garnish with lemon slices if you wish, or with dill or parsley. Makes about 30 according to size of cucumber.
6. 6 You can prepare the cucumber cups and crème fraiche several hours beforehand- cover them and store them in the fridge; assemble them just before you are ready to serve them.