Friday, July 30, 2010

Chilly Cucumber Cups w/Spicy Mousse - Simple Saturday

Here's one of those "it looks so fancy, but it's not" kind of appetizers.
Chilly Cucumber Cups
w/Spicy Avocado Mousse
and a Mini-Melon topper
The ingredients just sing Summer Time and everything can be prepped ahead of time, held in the refrigerator and put together when needed for serving. I've made these from 100 at a time for parties to just 12 of them for a luncheon (amuse bouche). The flavor combination is bright and spicy.
RECIPE: Cucumber cups w/Spicy Mousse

1 English Cucumber (but others will do fine, also)
1 tsp. chopped Jalapeno pepper
1/2 Avocado
1/2 lime (juice and 1 tsp. zest)
1/2 cup (4oz) whipping cream
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 cantaloupe
salt/pepper to taste

To make the stripes down the cucumber: drag the tip of a peeler or a wide skewer down the length of the cucumber in even intervals.
Cut the cucumber into 1/2 inch slices, scoop a small amount out of each middle and drain upside down on a paper towel to remove moisture.
To make the mousse: In a bowl, mash the avocado with the minced Jalopeno, the juice and the zest, salt & pepper. In a separate bowl, whip the cream with the sugar until it's fluffy and soft. Add the avocado mixture and fold all together, leaving no white streaks.

To make the Mini-Melon ball toppers: Using a small melon baller, scoop out the melon balls and drain on a paper towel (you could also cut small cubes from the melon if you don't have a melon baller handy).

All of these ingredients can be held, separately, in containers in the refrigerator over night and put together the next day.
To SERVE: To each Cucumber cup, add a dollop (or use a pastry bag) of Avocado mousse to fill the cup up, then lightly press one melon ball to top. * optionally - sprinkle a few grains of Olive Salts or Fleur de Sale.
You are now fancy (and even healthy)! Happy Summer.

4 comments:

The Cookbook Apprentice said...

That looks like such a perfect summer appetizer!

Nancy said...

Hi Cathy!!

This looks fantastic!! Your timing is perfect - needed a quick and fresh tasting appetizer for an upcoming party and this will be fabulous!!

Khali//Bandit and the Scene Stealers said...

So perfect. And those photos are awesome. what a perfect plate for those. The colors just put me at a party right away.

showfoodchef said...

The Cookbook APprentice: Thank you SO for stopping by. I hope you got a chance to try this.

Nancy: LOVE that you left word, and hope you tried the appetizer.

Boots,etc: Always appreciate your photo comments, they inspire me.