Puff pastry stars with smoked salmon, cream cheese, dill, and sesame seeds for elegant bites.
# Components:
→ Puff Pastry Stars
01 - 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
02 - 1 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
# Directions:
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, cut out stars using a star-shaped cookie cutter, and place them on the prepared tray.
03 - Brush each pastry star with beaten egg and sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds.
04 - Bake the stars for 12 to 15 minutes until golden and puffed, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
05 - In a bowl, combine cream cheese, chopped dill, chives, lemon zest, salt, and pepper until smooth.
06 - Slice each cooled puff pastry star horizontally, spread a generous layer of herbed cream cheese on the bottom half, then top with smoked salmon, cucumber slices, and capers before replacing the top half.
07 - Arrange assembled stars on a serving platter, garnish with fresh dill sprigs, and serve with lemon wedges.
