Saturday, May 9, 2015

Greek Cucumber Canapés

The finished product!
I stumbled across this recipe while figuring out a fresh, healthier appetizer for a family function.  It looked like a great concept, so I decided to "roll" with it.  But I found two problems.  First, most of my family members don't like olives, and I hate red peppers.  Second, in order to make the rolls you have to have a mandoline with certain features.  Woops.  I decided to do something different.


I bought a double amount for the base ingredients:  lemon, plain greek yogurt, feta, dill.  I bought the ingredients for the original recipe, but I also decided to try a different bent with ingredients that I like.  I love spinach and shallots, so I picked up those, and added in garlic.  Instead of lemon juice, I used a microplane to zest a whole lemon into the mixture.  My hubby, in a moment of inspiration, suggested that I slice the cucumbers to make a "cracker."  It was great!  I'm going to put in my version of the recipe below because my family members have been going nuts over it.

Ingredients

  • 2-3 firm cucumbers, sliced 1/4" 
  • 10 oz feta
  • 1 ~5 oz. container of plain greek yogurt
  • 1 lemon
  • fresh dill
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 decent sized shallot
  • 1 bag baby spinach
  •  salt and pepper
Utensils Needed
  • Chef knife
  • Cutting board
  • Microplane or zester
  • Garlic Press (optional)
  • Bowl
  • Serving tray
  • Spoon
  • Plate
  • Paper towels
Procedure
  1. After washing your cucumbers, slice them into 1/4" slices.  They should be thick enough not to bend easily.  Lay them flat on a paper towel-covered plate, add a pinch of salt, and put another paper towel on top.  You may layer the slices.
  2. Take your bag of baby spinach and par-cook it in the microwave in your bowl.  This means that you heat it for about 30 seconds.  Then strain out the excess water from the spinach.  I squeeze the spinach wrapped in a paper towel over the sink.  Then chop up your spinach before putting it back in the bowl.  
  3. Chop up your fresh dill and garlic and put in bowl.  
  4. Finely chop your shallot and add it.
  5. In the bowl, dump in your cup of yogurt.  
  6. Zest one whole lemon over the mixture.  
  7. Mix it all together, and then add your feta, with pepper to taste.
  8. Spoon it on top of your cucumbers and serve!
Serving Size: About 40 canapés.