Flaky puff pastry stars with herbed cream cheese, smoked salmon, cucumber, and capers on a festive platter.
# The Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Puff Pastry Stars
01 - 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
02 - 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
03 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
→ Herbed Cream Cheese
04 - 7 ounces cream cheese, softened
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
08 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ Assembly
09 - 5.3 ounces smoked salmon, sliced
10 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
11 - 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed
12 - Fresh dill sprigs, for garnish
13 - Lemon wedges, for serving
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out star shapes and arrange them on the prepared baking tray.
03 - Brush each puff pastry star with beaten egg and sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds.
04 - Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes until golden and puffed. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
05 - Combine softened cream cheese with chopped dill, chives, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Stir until smooth and well blended.
06 - Once cooled, carefully slice each puff pastry star horizontally to create a bottom and top half.
07 - Spread a generous layer of the herbed cream cheese on the bottom half of each star. Top with smoked salmon, cucumber slices, and a few capers. Place the top half over the fillings.
08 - Arrange the assembled stars on a serving platter. Garnish with fresh dill sprigs and serve alongside lemon wedges.
