Christmas Canapes

Step by step

Method

1. Smoked Salmon with Ginger Butter on Oat Cakes

2. 1

   To make the ginger butter, put the butter, ginger, lemon zest and chives in a small food processor and blend until smooth.

3. 2

   Using a spatula, spoon the butter mixture into a bowl.

4. 3

   To assemble, roll up small pieces of smoked salmon, spread a little ginger butter on an oatcake and top with the salmon.

5. 4

   Decorate with pieces of chive. Sprinkle with black pepper and serve.

6. Royal Fillet on rye with Horseradish and Tarragon Cream, Trout Caviar

7. 1

   Cut the royal fillet vertically into 20 even slices.

8. 2

   Cut the rye bread into mini-rectangles to fit the fillet slices.

9. 3

   Mix the crème fraîche, horseradish, chopped walnuts and chopped tarragon together in a separate bowl. Season and spread generously onto the rye bread pieces.

10. 4

    Top each with a slice of royal fillet, a tarragon leaf and some trout caviar. Serve immediately

11. Smoked Salmon and Anchovy Crisps

12. 1

    Put the flour, butter, cheese, oregano and anchovy paste into a food processor and pulse until it becomes a dough and begins to stick together.

13. 2

    Tip out onto floured work surface and pat into a rectangle about 2cm (3/4 inch) thick. Wrap and chill for about 30 minutes.

14. 3

    Preheat the oven to FAN 180°C / 200°C / 400°F / Gas Mark 6.

15. 4

    Cut thin slices from the dough and arrange on baking trays. Slice strips of smoked salmon and lay down the centre of each slice.

16. 5

    Bake for about 8 - 11 minutes until golden. Allow to firm up on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

17. Little Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese and Herb Sandwiches

18. 1

    Lightly butter the bread slices to seal.

19. 2

    Put the cream cheese, garlic, lemon juice and herbs in a food processor and pulse for about 10 seconds. Spread the mixture evenly over all the bread slices and sprinkle with a pinch of salt.

20. 3

    Then top half of the spread slices with smoked salmon and cover with the rest of the slices (spread side down!) to make sandwiches.

21. 4

    Cut the crusts off if desired and neatly cut each sandwich into small triangles or squares.

22. 5

    Cover tightly with clingfilm until ready to serve, to prevent the bread from drying out and curling.