Seafood/ Side Dishes

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Pillows with Prawns

It’s been blazing hot in Adelaide, South Australia recently- 100 ° F– which means early morning walks followed by a cool dip in nearby Holdfast Bay, then being holed up inside until the early evening when it starts to cool down. So, life is not all that bad in the southern Australian summer (especially when you’re retired), but I have been avoiding making things like heavy stews and hot curries.

Instead, I’ve been heading towards cooler recipes like this Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Pillows with Prawns. ‘Pillows’ you say? What are those? Well, they are thin slices of smoked salmon wrapped around a cream cheese mixture, made with the aid of a cupcake pan (or tin)! Easy to throw together and certainly a recipe to cool you down during the heat, with its chilled cream cheese, lemon slice and drizzling of lemon oil.

The Method

First, you line 6 holes of a cupcake pan with pieces of plastic wrap with the sides overhanging the holes by two inches, followed by lining the bottoms and sides with thinly sliced smoked salmon.

Next, fill each hole with the cream cheese mixture, fold in the sides of the smoked salmon, and finally fold the plastic wrap into the middle.

Finally, un-mold the cream cheese from the plastic and garnish with a lemon slice, piece of cooked prawn or shrimp and a drizzling of lemon oil. This makes a great dish to wolf down by yourself or to serve as a simple (but delicious) appetiser to your friends.

Hopefully, after eating these ‘pillows’, I’ll finally be able to get a good night’s sleep! Bon appétit!

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Pillows with Prawns

Print Recipe
Serves: 6

Ingredients

  • 2 packets of smoked salmon- thinly sliced (100 grams each)
  • 1 block cream cheese at room temperature (250 g or 9 oz)
  • Zest and juice from 1 lemon
  • 2 Tbsp finely diced chives
  • 1 Tbsp chopped dill (optional)
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 6 medium prawns or shrimp cooked, peeled with tails on
  • To garnish:
  • 6 lemon halves
  • Chives
  • Lemon oil to drizzle
  • Salad greens or micro herbs

Instructions

1

Let the block of cream cheese stand at room temperature to soften (or warm in microwave for 10-15 seconds). Combine the cream cheese, lemon zest and juice, diced chives and chopped dill (if using) in a mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.

2

Line 6 holes of a cupcake pan with a piece of plastic wrap, allowing a 2-inch overhang. Then, line the sides and bottoms of each hole with the smoked salmon pieces, allowing a little overhang. Spoon the cream cheese mixture into each hole, filling each 3/4 full. Fold the salmon pieces over the cream cheese into the middle, then fold the plastic wrap into the middle, forming a 'pillow' shape. Place in fridge for at least 2 hours to chill.

3

Remove the plastic from each 'pillow' and place on serving plate. Garnish each plate with a piece of cooked prawn, lemon half and length of chive. Drizzle with lemon oil and garnish with some salad greens or micro herbs.

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16 Comments

  • Reply
    John / Kitchen Riffs
    March 3, 2019 at 2:26 am

    Neat dish! I love the combo of smoked salmon and cream cheese, and often use the pairing in a dip or a sandwich. Or just serve the two together on a plate! Never thought of making “pillows” using them, though. But I will! Fun recipe — thanks.

    • Reply
      Fran Flint
      March 3, 2019 at 7:07 am

      John, thanks for your comment! Yeah, making ‘pillows’ out of salmon and cream cheese does increase the ‘fun factor’!

  • Reply
    David
    March 3, 2019 at 8:53 am

    This is so elegant, Fran, and yet so simple. I just saw this on Facebook and it looked so beautiful! I had to come right over to find out the recipe, as our hot weather is on its way in Tucson!

  • Reply
    Fran Flint
    March 3, 2019 at 9:34 am

    Thanks David. It must get blazing hot in Tucson in the summer- this recipe could cool you down a little!

  • Reply
    Colleen
    March 3, 2019 at 10:58 pm

    Hi Fran I love this recipe I normally have salmon and prawns for lunch with cream cheese on a ryvita Billy so I had everything very refreshing

  • Reply
    Fran Flint
    March 5, 2019 at 12:35 pm

    Thanks Colleen- now you can add the prawn and lemon to your lunch and have a full meal!

  • Reply
    Simply Sweet Justice
    March 7, 2019 at 3:18 am

    What a beautiful dish! I can’t wait to try making this.

    • Reply
      Fran Flint
      March 7, 2019 at 7:19 am

      Let me know how your dish turns out!

  • Reply
    Lynn @ Oh-So Yummy
    March 8, 2019 at 2:49 pm

    I’d totally eat those but they contain smoked salmon AND cream cheese which are two things hubby doesn’t really like! More for me then? XD

    • Reply
      Fran Flint
      March 12, 2019 at 7:01 am

      Oh, we’ll have to re-educate hubby and make him like smoked salmon and cream cheese!

  • Reply
    Juliana
    March 11, 2019 at 7:46 am

    Oh Fran, this is so pretty and so elegant…I love the presentation…thank you so much for the tutorial. Great combination of smoked salmons and cream cheese…love it!
    I hope you are having a great weekend!

    • Reply
      Fran Flint
      March 12, 2019 at 7:02 am

      Juliana, thanks so much for your comment!

  • Reply
    lisaiscooking
    March 12, 2019 at 6:46 am

    This looks like a perfect antidote to the heat! I love smoked salmon. The pillows look so delicate and delicious.

  • Reply
    Jeff the Chef
    March 14, 2019 at 10:31 pm

    I love how beautiful this is and how sophisticated it looks – but at the same time, it’s so approachable. I go to a lot of foodie pot-lucks (and host a few of my own) – these pillows are making an appearance soon.

  • Reply
    Jean | Delightful Repast
    March 15, 2019 at 12:54 am

    Fran, I’m not a fan of either smoked salmon or prawns, but most people are; and this would be a lovely dish to make for a dinner party. I know my friends would love it! I love putting such a pretty plate of food on the table!

  • Reply
    Karen (Back Road Journal)
    March 20, 2019 at 12:17 am

    Your presentation is so pretty, it would make a nice first course when entertaining.

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