Smoked salmon blini canapés

• 1 lemon, zest and juice only
• 200g/7oz smoked salmon
• 20-24 ready-made cocktail blinis
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• 142ml/5fl oz soured cream
• small bunch fresh dill
• freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. 1

   Use a lemon zester to remove thin strips of zest from the lemon, taking care to avoid the white pith, which tastes bitter. Put the strips to one side.

2. 2

   To dice the salmon, pile up the slices of smoked salmon into a stack. Using a very sharp knife, cut across the stack to give you thin strips. Turn the stack 90 degrees and cut across the strips again so that you end up with fine dice. Place in a bowl.

3. 3

   Add the juice of half of the lemon, or more to taste, and season with freshly ground black pepper.

4. 4

   Add the finely chopped shallot and mix well.

5. 5

   To serve, spread a layer of soured cream onto each blini. Place a spoonful of the salmon mixture on top and garnish each with a small sprig of dill and a strip of lemon zest.