Rainbow Smoked Salmon Salad In Puff Pastry - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
6 ounces cream cheese (softened)
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried dill
6 ounces smoked salmon (finely shaved slices)
16 fresh grape tomatoes (sliced)
2 eggs (hard-boiled, halved & sliced)
1 carrot (sliced in 1/4 in coins & cooked crisp-tender to tender, your pref)
8 canned asparagus spears (use green asparagus spears cut to 4-in length or cooked fresh asparagus cut to 4-in length)
1/2 white onion (halved again & thinly sliced, may use boiler or pearl size thinly sliced in rings)
1 tablespoon capers (optional garnish)
1/2 tablespoon dried parsley flakes (optional garnish)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375\u00b0F.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out cold pastry sheet. Cut 4 5x5 in squares. Using a dull kitchen knife, gently score cut squares 1/2 in inside all cut edges to create a 4x4 in inside square.
Dock the 4 in inside square of the pastry to prevent excessive puffing (This is done by piercing the dough at 1/2\" intervals w/the tines of a fork).
Line the 4-in inside square w/foil or parchment paper & place dried beans or rice on it to stop the pastry base from rising excessively in the oven.
Gently transfer squares to baking sheet & bake 15-18 min or till golden brown. Remove from oven & set aside to cool.
While pastry is baking, cook carrot coins to desired doneness, prepare other ingredients & set aside.
Combine cream cheese, Dijon mustard, lemon juice & dried dill. Mix well & set aside.
To Assemble Salads: Gently remove any excess puffed pastry from the 4x4 in inside square so that surface is relatively flat. Spread each scored 4-in pastry area w/approx 1 1/2 tbsp of the cream cheese dressing.
Then assemble salads all at 1 time in rows using the following order & begin at the top as you face the pastry shells:
Row 1: Layer 4-inch row of sliced grape tomatoes -- Row 2: Place 2 cut-to-size asparagus spears -- Row 3: Layer 4-inch row of shaved smoked salmon slices -- Row 4: Layer 4-inch row of sliced egg halves -- Row 5: Layer 4-inch row of carrot coins.
Scatter thinly sliced white onion rings (or segments) over the top of all salads.
Garnish w/capers &/or dried parsley flakes as desired. Serve immediately or refrigerate till ready to serve.
NOTE: Edited to add after RSC concluded -- If you prefer to eliminate the use of puff pastry, these salads assemble easily on a salad plate of mixed greens -- not near as elegant, but just as pretty!