Smørrebrød med røget laks

Ingredients

• 4Rye breaddark, thin slices; alternatively pumpernickel or wholemeal bread
• ⅔ ozbuttersoftened, for spreading
• 5¼ ozsmoked salmonthinly sliced
• 3⅛ ozcream cheesemixed with herbs and lemon into a spread
• 4¼ ozcucumberthinly sliced
• 1red onionsmall, thinly sliced or finely chopped, raw or quick-pickled
• 1lemonzest and juice for the spread, the rest as wedges for serving
• 1 bunchdillfresh, picked, for the spread and garnish
• 2 tbspchivesfinely chopped, for the spread and garnish
• 1 tbspcapersdrained, for sprinkling (optional)
• 3 tbspvinegarwith hot water, sugar and salt for quick-pickling the onion (optional)
• 1 tspsugarfor the pickled onion (optional)
• black pepperfreshly ground, to taste
• saltto taste

Method

1. Prepare the onionIf you want to pickle the onion, start by dissolving the sugar and salt in hot water, then add the mild vinegar. Drop in the thinly sliced red onion and chill it while you get everything else ready. If you're not pickling, simply slice the onion into thin rings or chop it finely.
2. Prepare the lemonWash the lemon in hot water, grate off some zest and squeeze out part of the juice. Cut the rest into wedges and set them aside for serving.
3. Make the herb cream cheeseFinely chop some of the dill and chives. Stir them into the cream cheese with the lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper until smooth.
4. Butter and toast the breadSpread the thin slices of rye bread thinly with softened butter, and toast them briefly if you like.
5. Add cream cheese and cucumberSpread the herb cream cheese evenly over the bread and lay the cucumber slices on top, overlapping slightly.
6. Arrange the salmonArrange the smoked salmon over the cucumber, either loosely folded or rolled into small roses.
7. Garnish and seasonScatter over the onion, the capers if using, the rest of the dill and chives, and some freshly ground black pepper.
8. Serve straight awayServe straight away with the lemon wedges, while the bread is still firm and the cucumber crisp.

Tips and variations

Instead of cream cheese, try a horseradish cream made from skyr and mayonnaise, or homemade dill mayonnaise. Another spread blends avocado and dill into the cream cheese and comes topped with lamb's lettuce and cress. For something more filling, add sliced avocado, a boiled egg and a crisp lettuce leaf on wholemeal bread. For a vegan version, swap the salmon for marinated carrot strips baked in salt, and use plant-based alternatives for the butter and cream cheese. Toasted and cut into quarters or bite-sized pieces, the smørrebrød becomes a canapé for guests; serve rocket and radishes on the side.