Maple-glazed Salmon and Pickled Cucumber Bagels

Ingredients

Pickled cucumber and glaze:

1 cucumber
200mL pure maple syrup (preferably amber syrup for its rich taste)
200mL maple vinegar
2 star anise
2 bay leaves
5 white peppercorns

4 bagels
2 salmon fillets (skin off)
2 tomatoes
4 Tbs cream cheese
2 Tbs fresh dill, chopped
1/2 pickled cucumber
1 Tbs pure maple syrup (preferably golden colour for its delicate flavour)
1 spring onion, sliced, to serve
1 handful micro greens, to serve
1 lemon, cut into wedges

Method

Pickled cucumber:

Thinly slice the cucumber to a 2 mm thickness.??

Pour the maple syrup and maple vinegar into a pan then bring to the boil.??

Add the star anise, bay leaves and white peppercorns, then pour half the hot mixture into a jar.??

Leave to cool, then add the sliced cucumber.??

Transfer your jar to the fridge for at least three hours, preferably overnight.???

Boil the remaining mixture until you get a nice sticky glaze, then turn off the heat and set aside to use for your salmon.

Bagels:

Preheat your oven to 180 C.??

Put the salmon fillets on an oven tray with baking parchment paper and brush on half the cucumber glaze.

Cook for 15 minutes then add the rest of the glaze and set the salmon aside.

In a bowl, mix the cream cheese, maple syrup and chopped dill.??

Season with salt and pepper.??

To assemble:

Cut and toast the bagels.??

Spread the cream cheese mixture on each side.??

Fill the bagels with pickled cucumbers, flakes of maple glazed salmon and tomatoes.?

Top your filling with sliced spring onion and microgreens of your choice and serve with a lemon wedge.

Credits: Maple from Canada

Photo Credits: Maple from Canada