Mini Soda Bread Scones with Smoked Salmon and Chive Cream

Serves	18 to 24
Prep time	20 minutes
Cook time	12 minutes
Total time	32 minutes
Allergy	Fish, Milk, Wheat
Meal type	Appetizer, Snack, Starter
Misc	Freezable, Gourmet, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold
Occasion	Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Formal Party, Thanksgiving, Valentines day
Region	Swedish
By author	Karen S Burns-Booth

Fabulous little soda bread scones that are just perfect when served with smoked salmon and chive lemon cream for the festive canapé table. Use the best smoked salmon for these, wild smoked salmon has a wonderful deep orange colour that is very attractive.

Ingredients

Scones

250g self raising flour
50g butter, cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon snipped fresh chives
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
180mls buttermilk or skimmed milk

Filling

6 slices smoked salmon

Chive Cream

12 tablespoons sour cream or crème fraiche
2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
freshly ground black pepper
juice of half a lemon

Note

Directions

Step 1	Scones: Pre-heat oven to 225C/450F/Gas mark 8. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper.
Step 2	Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs then add the chives and soda. Mix well before pouring the buttermilk in. Mix until it is soft and sticky, then turn out onto a well floured board.
Step 3	Gently push the dough down into a big square with floured hands, don't handle it too much, the stamp out 18 to 24 mini scones with a biscuit cutter.
Step 4	Dust the tops of the scones with extra flour and transfer them to the baking sheet.
Step 5	Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until they are well risen and very pale golden brown.
Step 6	Remove them from the oven and allow to cool before splitting them in half and filing them.
Step 7	Filing and Chive Cream: Make the chive cream by mixing all the ingredients together; place in the fridge for 30 minutes to chill and firm up.
Step 8	Spoon the chive cream onto one half of the split scones, then tear the smoked salmon into small pieces and divide it between all of the scones. Replace the other half of the scone at an angle, so you can see the filling and serve.
Step 9	The scones can be made ahead of time and frozen.