Impress party quests with this simple and easy smoked salmon platter using smoked salmon fillet. Easy with cheddar cheeses, crackers and complimented by horseradish cream sauce. So, if you’ve been thinking about how to serve smoked salmon, this is a great idea for your next wine tasting party.
Grazing boards are such an easy way to entertain and one of my favorite things to throw together. Easy no-cook platters that are a breeze to make ahead and have ready when guests arrive.
A simple idea I got from an appetizer I ordered at dinner years ago at the Grand Lake Lodge, a famous resort in Colorado.
Crackers with butter, smoked salmon, and Colby or Cheddar cheeses, served with a horseradish cream sauce.
The horseradish cream sauce is simple and it goes with so many things, famously for Prime Rib Roast.
Smoked salmon is a versatile food that can be used to make tasty appetizers for any event. Smoked salmon is a classy addition to any appetizer spread, whether you’re having a fancy cocktail party or a casual get-together with friends. We’ll look at some creative ways to serve smoked salmon as an appetizer in this article.
Simple Platter
One of the easiest ways to serve smoked salmon is on a platter with traditional accompaniments Arrange thin slices of smoked salmon on a serving platter. Surround the salmon with lemon wedges, hard-boiled egg halves, capers, sliced red onions, chopped fresh dill, and crackers or bagel chips. The tangy, briny flavors complement the rich smoked salmon beautifully. For variety, use both traditional smoked salmon as well as flavor-infused types like peppered, bourbon, or brown sugar smoked salmon
Smoked Salmon Dip
Smoked salmon dip is a crowd-pleasing appetizer that comes together quickly. Simply blend together 8 ounces of cream cheese, 1/4 cup sour cream 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 tablespoons drained capers, 1/4 cup chopped onion, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill. Fold in 6-8 ounces of chopped smoked salmon. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and top with extra capers and minced fresh dill. Serve with crackers, bagel chips, or sliced vegetables for dipping.
Smoked Salmon Rolls
For an easy yet elegant passed appetizer, make smoked salmon rolls. Lay overlapping slices of smoked salmon on a large sheet of plastic wrap. Spread with a layer of softened cream cheese and sprinkle with minced onion, capers, and fresh dill. Roll up the salmon tightly in the plastic wrap. Chill until firm, then slice into 1-inch rounds. Top each roll with a sprig of dill and serve on a platter.
Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites
To make these tasty treats, you put smoked salmon and herbed cream cheese on top of slices of cucumber. Cut unpeeled cucumbers into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Melt 4 ounces of cream cheese and mix it with 2 tablespoons of chopped fresh dill, 1 teaspoon of lemon zest, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Put a small piece of smoked salmon on top of each cucumber slice, then cover it with the cream cheese mixture. Add more dill on top to finish.
Smoked Salmon Crostini
For an easy crostini, lightly toast baguette slices, then top with a smear of cream cheese. Add a slice of smoked salmon and a sprinkling of minced red onion, capers, and fresh dill. The crunchy baguette, creamy cheese, and salty smoked salmon make a delicious flavor combination.
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs get a gourmet twist with smoked salmon. Simply blend together egg yolks, mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Pipe or spoon the mixture into halved hard-boiled egg whites. Top each deviled egg half with a small piece of smoked salmon and minced chives or dill.
Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms
These stuffed mushrooms make a lovely passed appetizer for a cocktail party. Clean and trim small white button or cremini mushrooms. Bake at 400°F for 10 minutes to get rid of extra water. Four ounces of goat cheese, two tablespoons of cream cheese, one tablespoon of lemon juice, two tablespoons of finely chopped dill, salt, and pepper should be mixed together. Put this mix into the mushroom caps, then add a small piece of smoked salmon on top and sprinkle with extra dill.
Smoked Salmon Salad Boats
For a lighter option, serve smoked salmon salad in Belgian endive leaves. Make the salad by mixing flaked smoked salmon with lemon juice, sour cream or yogurt, minced red onion, capers, and dill. Spoon the salmon salad into endive leaves and garnish with extra capers and chopped dill.
Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
These tasty spirals are made by wrapping smoked salmon and cream cheese in tortillas. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese on a tortilla or lavash wrap. Layer smoked salmon slices on top. Roll up tightly, then slice into 1-inch pinwheels. Secure each pinwheel with a decorative toothpick. Garnish with lemon wedges, fresh dill fronds, or chopped chives.
Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches
Dainty tea sandwiches are an easy, elegant appetizer for bridal showers, afternoon tea parties, or holiday gatherings. To make them, cut the crusts off sliced white sandwich bread. Spread one slice with a thin layer of cream cheese or lemon-dill cream cheese. Top with sliced smoked salmon, cucumber slices, and fresh dill sprigs. Top with another bread slice, cut into quarters, and arrange on a serving platter.
Smoked Salmon Pizza Bites
For a trendy appetizer, top bagel thins, naan rounds, or mini pizza crusts with smoked salmon and garnishes. Spread each base with cream cheese. Arrange thinly sliced smoked salmon, red onion, capers, and fresh dill on top. Add a squeeze of lemon and a grinding of black pepper. Cut into wedges to serve.
With so many tasty options, there’s no wrong way to serve up smoked salmon appetizers. Use premium-quality smoked salmon and pair it with fresh garnishes like lemon, dill, capers, and onion. Offer an assortment of crackers, breads, and vegetables alongside for variety. Your guests will devour these elegant smoked salmon bites!
Ingredients You’ll Need, What to Serve with Smoked Salmon
- Blue cheese: Either medium blue or sharp blue will work.
- If you want to eat smoked salmon, get a fillet instead of salt-cured salmon, which is sliced thinner and is usually served on a bagel with capers. These fillets from the Honey Smoked Fish Company are the most popular and easy to find. You can buy them at Safeway and Costco. And we all know that salmon is very good for you in many ways.
- I picked an aged white cheddar cheese to go with the smoked salmon. Manchego is a strong Spanish cheese that would go well with this. A nutty buttery Gouda would be wonderful. Or look for Parrano. A nutty flavor with a creamy texture. Parrano is also a wonderful cheese to serve with fruit. And cream cheese is always a good choice for smoked salmon plates.
- Crackers: For smoked salmon, pick a strong cracker with a mild taste. A buttery cracker like Ritz or Townhouse Crackers. There are also crackers with very mild flavors that I like to add. Carr Water Crackers or Pita Crackers work well.
- Horseradish Cream Sauce.
- Garnish: Fresh chives or fronds of fresh dill.
The ingredients above are suggestions to make a simple smoked salmon platter. And this is how the smoked salmon appetizer was served at the lodge. Here are some ideas for how to serve smoked salmon if you want to make a bigger plate.
- Grapes: Place grapes in-between items on the platter. Red, green or black grapes will work beautifully.
- Cornichons are a wonderful addition. Cornichons are very small dill pickles that taste sour and are great for putting on top of any charcuterie board.
- Sprinkle some nuts on top of the platter here and there. You can eat raw almonds, roasted pistachios without the shells, or lightly salted cashews.
- Olives: A little bowl of olives would be lovely. If you choose olives from an olive bar instead of a jar, they will taste better.
- Fruit: A bowl of raspberries would add some color.
- Boiled eggs: sliced or cut in half is always a nice way to add color.
Smoked Salmon is fully cooked and needs no further preparation. When you’re ready to serve, just take the fillet out of the package and put it in the middle of your platter.
The salmon fillet meat is so tender it easily flakes apart. Using a fork will easily break a bite sized piece of the meat to build your cracker appetizer.
Anything left over should be wrapped in plastic wrap or put in a zip lock bag once it’s out of the package. Store in the refrigerator for a week to 10 days. You can also freeze smoked salmon for up to six months.
Please use hot smoked salmon for this “cold” salmon appetizer. Cold smoked salmon is smoked at a low temperature and yields a smooth silky texture. Hot Smoked salmon is smoked at a higher temperature. The result is a flaky piece of salmon that resembles a baked salmon fillet.
Smoked Salmon Appetizers
FAQ
How do you serve ready to eat smoked salmon?
How do you present smoked salmon at a party?
What to eat with smoked salmon appetizer?
What are the best crackers to serve with smoked salmon?
What to serve with smoked salmon?
Parrano is also a wonderful cheese to serve with fruit. And as always, cream cheese is a popular choice for any smoked salmon plate. Crackers: Choose a sturdy cracker with a mild flavor. A buttery cracker like Ritz or Townhouse Crackers. I also like to add some very mild flavored crackers like Carr Water Crackers or Pita Crackers work well.
Is smoked salmon good for you?
Salmon is a source of high-quality protein, magnesium, and selenium. In addition, it provides healthy fatty acids for the body. It contains large amounts of omega 3, which prevents cardiovascular diseases, has anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents certain types of Cancer.
How do you eat smoked salmon?
To make a smoked salmon party platter, put the fish on a serving plate with cucumbers, hard-boiled eggs, capers, onions, cream cheese, and mini bagel wedges. Incorporate smoked salmon into your breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipes with a smoked salmon omelet, smoked salmon chowder, or smoked salmon pasta.
Can I use hot smoked salmon for a cold salmon appetizer?
Please use hot smoked salmon for this “cold” salmon appetizer. Cold smoked salmon is smoked at a low temperature and yields a smooth silky texture. Hot Smoked salmon is smoked at a higher temperature. The result is a flaky piece of salmon that resembles a baked salmon fillet.