Smoked Salmon Appetiser with Lettuce Wrap : Low Carb

Just a few simple ingredients, and a few minutes, is all it takes to make this lovely smoked salmon appetizer. Serve it as a starter, a snack with drinks, or on a buffet. Only 2 grams of carbs per serving, a winner!

Ingredients:
Serves Four
225 g smoked salmon
225 g cream cheese
80 ml mayonnaise
60 ml chopped fresh dill or fresh chives
½ lemon, the zest
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
small leaves of lettuce for serving

Recipe / Instructions can be found at Diet Doctor site here

Fresh Dill:
Dill is an important culinary herb that is used for its seeds and leaves It originally grew wild in Southern Europe thru Western Asia.

It was extensively used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Remnants of the herb were found in Swiss Neolithic settlements dating back to 400BC. By medieval times its use spread to central Europe. Dill is a popular culinary herb used in Greece, Scandinavia, Germany, Central Europe, Russia, the Balkans and Romania. References to the fresh herb can be found in the writings of Roman naturalists, English clergy and German literary works in the 11th century.

All parts of the herb can be used for culinary purposes. Dill is not a common herb in Mediterranean cooking. It is known as a spice used in pickled cucumbers. In the United States they are known as dill pickles. The herb is key for the production of dill vinegar (a key cooking ingredient in some recipes). You will find it used/employed in many sour dishes, especially sauerkraut. You will find dill used in lemon sauces for fish, yogurt, sour cream, salad dressings, spinach dishes, chicken and lamb casseroles. Because of its delicate nature most chefs add the fresh herb to their hot recipes just prior to removing from the heat source.

Chives:
The smallest and most delicate member of the onion family, chives are a popular herb used in European cookery. They have long, thin green blades that are hollow inside. They have a mild, grassy flavour similar to baby spring onions or young leeks. There is also an Asian variety of chive called Chinese chives, garlic chives or kuchai.

Buyer's guide:
Chives are in season in spring and summer. Fresh chives are widely available from supermarkets and garden centres. Do not substitute fresh chives for dried, as the finished dish will taste musty.

Storage:
Keep fresh chives refrigerated for up to three days.

Preparation:
Snip chives with scissors instead of chopping them, and do not subject them to much cooking as they are delicate. Instead, use chives in garnishes, salads, egg mayonnaise sandwiches, vegetable stocks, soups, creamy sauces, potato dishes and omelettes, adding the herb to the dish just before serving. Purple-blue chive flowers are also eaten and used as a garnish.

All the best Jan