Best Cucumber Cups Recipes

CUCUMBER CUPS WITH DILL CREAM AND SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Trim ends from cucumbers and cut crosswise into 24 (3/4-inch-thick) rounds. Scoop a 1/2-inch-deep depression from one side of each round with a small melon-baller, forming little cups. Drain cucumbers, cup sides down, on paper towels for 15 minutes.
• Beat cream cheese, chopped dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, and black pepper together in a bowl. Spoon 1/2 teaspoon cheese mixture into each cucumber cup. Top each cup with 1 salmon strip and 1 dill sprig.

SHRIMP STUFFED CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Peel the length of each cucumber to form alternating stripes of unpeeled and peeled. Cut the cucumbers into 12 (3/4-inch) pieces. Scoop out the center using a teaspoon or a melon baller, leaving the bottom and sides intact to form a cup. (Reserve the centers for the Round 2 Recipe Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa.) Turn them upside down onto a towel and let them drain while you make the filling.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the shrimp and cook until bright pink, about 3 to 4 minutes. Strain and rinse in cold water. Remove the shells and discard. (Reserve 12 shrimp for the Round 2 Recipe Shrimp and Potato Salad with Sour Cream and Bacon Dressing.)
• Chop the shrimp into small pieces and put them into a bowl. Add the horseradish, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste, half the can of tomatoes (reserve the remaining half for the Round 2 Recipe Chicken Tacos with Cucumber Salsa) and 1 tablespoon of parsley. Evenly divide the shrimp mixture between the cucumber cups. Arrange them on a serving platter and garnish with remaining parsley.

STUFFED CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Using a zester, vegetable peeler or fork, score the length of each cucumber to create a striped effect.
• Remove the ends and cut each cucumber into 3/4 inch rounds.
• Using a melon baller, scoop out the seeds from the center of each round to form a cup.
• Reserve 1 tbsp of the walnuts as a garnish.
• Combine remaining ingredients and stir until well blended.
• Spoon the mixture into the cucumber cups, garnish with the remaining nuts and chill until serving time.

CUCUMBER CUPS WITH SALMON MOUSSE

Steps:

• If cucumbers are waxed, peel them. Cut each crosswise into 5 (1 3/4-inch) pieces. With a small melon baller, carefully scoop out the insides of each piece, leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edge and a 1/2-inch border on the bottom. The cucumber cups may be prepared up to 4 hours in advance, arranged on damp paper towels, tightly covered and refrigerated.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the cream cheese, smoked salmon, lemon juice, orange water, paprika, cream and white paper and process until smooth. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
• To assemble spoon salmon mousse into a piping bag fitted with a decorative tip, pipe the mousse into the cucumber cups. Garnish with parsley or coriander sprig.

SMOKED SALMON IN CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Peel cucumber; cut into 3/4-inch slices; using tiny spoon or scoop, form cucumber cup by scooping out seeds, leaving some flesh in base of cup; set aside.
• In medium-size bowl, flake smoked salmon, discarding skin and any bone; blend in sour cream, cilantro, lime zest, lime juice, salt, and cayenne pepper to taste.
• Mound salmon into cucumber cups; sprinkle lightly with a few grains cayenne pepper; garnish with additional lime peel strips, if desired.

WASABI LIME CRAB SALAD IN CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Prepare cucumber cups:
• Cut cucumbers crosswise into generous 1/2-inch-thick slices. Cut a fluted round from each slice with cookie cutter, then scoop out some flesh from center of each round with melon-ball cutter or a small spoon, creating an indentation but leaving bottom intact.
• Prepare filling:
• Whisk together mayonnaise and wasabi, then whisk in lime juice and salt.
• Cut radishes into very thin slices with slicer. Halve slices, then cut crosswise into very thin strips. Trim radish sprouts to 1-inch lengths, measuring from top of sprout, and discard remaining stems. (If using pea shoots, cut sections with leaves into 1-inch pieces.)
• Stir together crab, wasabi mayonnaise, radish strips, and radish sprouts, then put a small spoonful of filling into each cucumber cup.

ROASTED RED PEPPER HUMMUS IN CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• For the hummus: In a food processor, combine the peppers, tahini, lemon juice, cumin, salt, cayenne pepper if using, beans and garlic. Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl if needed. Season with salt if needed. Transfer the hummus to a small bowl.
• Run the tines of a fork down the length of each cucumber several times, turning to make ridges about 1/8-inch deep in the skin all the way around. Cut cucumbers crosswise into 1-inch rounds, for a total of at least 12. Using the smaller end of a melon baller or a round measuring spoon, scoop out the center of each cucumber round to form a hollow. Use a small spoon to fill each cup with hummus, mounding slightly over the top. Tuck a small fresh parsley, cilantro or mint leaf into the side of the filling as a garnish.
• Arrange the cups on a platter and serve.

LITTLE SMOKED SALMON CUCUMBER CUPS WITH PEPPERED CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• Spoon a little seasoned crème fraiche into each cucumber cup, about 1 teaspoon per cup.
• 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.
• Garnish with lemon slices if you wish, or with dill or parsley. Makes about 30 according to size of cucumber.
• 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.

HAM CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Use a melon baller to scoop out the center of each cucumber slice, leaving the bottom of the slice intact to make a small cup.
• Place ham, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and curry powder in a food processor and pulse a few times to mince and combine the filling.
• Spoon about 2 teaspoons filling into each cucumber cup.

CUCUMBER CUPS WITH VICHYSSOISE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks and cook, stirring often, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add potatoes and stock. Season with salt. Simmer until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes.
• Strain leek-potato mixture through a fine sieve, reserving liquid. Puree solids in a food mill or blender, adding reserved liquid as needed, just until smooth. Stir in remaining reserved liquid.
• Strain soup through sieve into a large bowl, and stir in half-and-half and nutmeg. Season with salt and white pepper. Refrigerate vichyssoise until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, hollow out cucumbers using a melon baller, leaving bottoms intact. Refrigerate, covered with a damp towel, until ready to use.
• Stir cream into chilled vichyssoise just before serving. Fill cucumber cups with vichyssoise and garnish with chives.

CUCUMBER CUPS STUFFED WITH SPICY CRAB

Steps:

• Removed the peel from the cucumber using a vegetable peeler. Cut the cucumber into 2" slices.
• Using a small melon baller, scoop out most of the inside. You will want to leave the walls and a thick portion of the bottom intact.
• In a bowl, combine the sour cream and the cream cheese with a fork until well combined. Add the remaining ingredients and stir until combined.
• Fill each of the cucumber cups with the crab dip.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve within 2 hours of making.

CUCUMBER CUPS WITH CREAMY SALMON WHIP

Steps:

• Process the cottage cheese and milk in a food processor until smooth. Add the scallions, salmon, cream cheese, lemon juice and a pinch of white pepper and process until smooth and creamy. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
• Cut the cucumbers into 3/4-inch-thick rounds, discarding the ends. Using a small spoon, scoop the seeds and some of the flesh out of each round to form a small cup.
• Fill each cup with about 2 teaspoons of the salmon whip and sprinkle with the chives. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 1 hour.

LOBSTER STUFFED CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• With melon baller, scoop out insides of cucumber slices, being careful not to go all the way through. Fill each cucumber cup with a dab of Russian dressing, a bit of lobster and a few kernels of corn.
• Combine all dressing ingredients and adjust to taste. Will keep for a week in the refrigerator.

CRAB-CUCUMBER SALAD IN TOMATO CUPS

Steps:

• Gently mix together all ingredients; except tomatoes and chill.
• Serve in tomato cups.
• If you can't make the cups;put salad on a bed of sliced tomatoes.

CUCUMBER CUPS FILLED WITH HERBED YOGURT AND SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Drain the yogurt in a fine sieve set over a bowl, its surface covered with plastic wrap, chilled, overnight. Cut the cucumber crosswise into sixteen 3/4-inch pieces and with a melon-ball cutter scoop out the centers, forming 1/4-inch-thick cups. Sprinkle the cucumber cups with salt and let them drain, inverted, on paper towels for 10 minutes. In a bowl combine well the yogurt, the scallions, the minced dill, salt and pepper to taste. Pat the cucumber cups dry gently and divide the yogurt mixture among them. Cut the salmon into eight 6- by 1/2-inch strips, halve the strips diagonally, and roll them up, beginning with the pointed ends and turning the edges slightly, to form rose shapes. Arrange the salmon roses and the dill sprigs decoratively on the yogurt mixture. The filled cucumber cups may be made 1 hour in advance and kept covered and chilled.

SCALLOP SEVICHE IN CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Combine the scallops, tomatoes, herbs, peppers, olive oil, and hot sauce. Add enough lime juice to cover the scallops. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Marinate, covered, in the refrigerator at least 1 hour and up to 8 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Trim the cucumber slices with a round, fluted cutter to remove the rind. Scoop a pocket out of the middle of the cucumber slices. Do not cut all the way through the slice. Fill the cucumber cups with the seviche. Garnish each seviche cup with a small dot of sour cream and a cilantro leaf.

CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Slice cucumbers in half lengthwise; trim ends. Cut each half into 3/4-inch pieces.
• Scoop out the center of each piece of cucumber with a melon baller, and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon cottage cheese. Garnish with clover sprouts, and serve.

HAM SALAD IN CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Cut tapered ends from cucumbers. Peel lengthwise strips of peel every half inch with citrus stripper. Cut cucumbers into 5/8- to 3/4-inch slices. Make indentation in center of each slice, without going all the way through, by scooping with small melon ball cutter.
• Fill each indentation with about 1 teaspoon ham salad. Cut each lemon slice into 6 wedges. Top each appetizer with lemon wedge.

CABBAGE-CUCUMBER GELATIN CUPS

Steps:

• In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Whisk in the mayonnaise until smooth. Stir in the cabbage, cucumber and green pepper. Pour into four custard cups. Cover and refrigerate until firm.

CUCUMBER CUPS

Steps:

• Peel the cucumbers and slice length wise into 1¼ inch pieces.
• Using a melon baller, carve out the seeds to create a vessel, making sure to leave the bottom intact.
• Using a piping bag or a small spoon, fill each one with hummus (about 1 teaspoons each).
• Sprinkle with paprika and finely chopped parsley.