Smoked salmon can be eaten straight from the package in slices or used in a number of different recipes. We have inspiration, from soup to sushi.
Once a luxury product, smoked salmon is now a mainstay of supermarket chiller counters and UK dinner tables. There are scrambled eggs with herbs, beetroot, whisky, and other flavors, as well as cheap ones made with scraps of meat. There are options for every taste and budget. Big slices with horseradish on top of a traditional oatcake are our favorite way to eat it, but it’s also great for cooking because the deeply savory flavor is subtle, so a little goes a long way. Advertisement.
We have a lot of ideas for how to serve smoked salmon, whether you want a simple starter, a side dish in the Scandi style, or a hearty main dish. Also, for more ideas, check out our collection of smoked salmon recipes and read our guide on how smoked salmon can help your health.
Cured salmon, also known as gravlax or lox, is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be enjoyed in many dishes. Whether you make your own homemade cured salmon or buy it pre-sliced from the store, it’s important to pair it with flavors and ingredients that complement its rich, salty-sweet flavor.
Here are 10 delicious ideas for what to eat with cured salmon:
1. Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Thinly sliced cured salmon on top of soft asparagus spears with a lemony hollandaise sauce is a classic combination. The grassy flavor of the asparagus balances the fattiness of the salmon.
2. Smoked Salmon and Brie Cucumber Bites
For an easy appetizer, top thin rounds of cucumber with cured salmon, brie, and fresh dill. The cool cucumber, creamy cheese, and herby dill perfectly accent the smoked salmon.
3. Toast with Soft Scrambled Eggs
Put cured salmon slices on toast that has been spread with butter or cream cheese. Top with fluffy, soft scrambled eggs for a satisfying breakfast or brunch. The eggs add protein while the toast soaks up any juices.
4. Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict
For an indulgent twist on eggs benedict, use cured salmon instead of Canadian bacon. Top toasted English muffins with poached eggs, salmon, and hollandaise. The creamy sauce cuts through the saltiness of the salmon.
5. Avocado Toast
Mash avocado onto toasted bread, then top with ribbons of cured salmon and thinly sliced cucumber. The richness of the avocado and pops of fresh cucumber complement the salmon’s texture.
6. Loaded Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are taken up a notch when loaded up with cured salmon. Top russet potatoes with salmon slices, diced tomatoes, fresh dill, and a dollop of sour cream or Greek yogurt.
7. Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Thin shavings of cured salmon pair wonderfully with bitter greens like arugula, endive, or radicchio. Toss the greens with slivered red onion, fresh dill, and a bright lemon vinaigrette.
8. Pasta with Creamy Dill Sauce
For a rich main course, toss hot pasta with heavy cream, lemon juice, fresh dill, and folded in cured salmon pieces. Parmesan cheese can be added for extra flavor.
9. Rye Crostini
Cured salmon is often served on rye bread or crackers For an easy canapé, top toasted rye crostini with a schmear of cream cheese and folded slices of salmon
10. Salmon Salad Sandwiches
Make an easy salmon salad with flaked cured salmon, diced cucumber, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, and pepper. Serve between slices of bread or stuffed in halved croissants.
Cured salmon is endlessly versatile. It can be served warm or cold, paired with creamy crunchy or tangy ingredients. Experiment with different flavor combinations to bring out the best in this unique ingredient. The rich salmon flavor also stands up well to spicy additions like hot mustard, horseradish, or chili flakes.
Some other tasty pairings include cured salmon pizza, salmon tacos with slaw, and salmon flatbreads with goat cheese and capers. The possibilities are endless for creative recipes using smoked or gravlax salmon.
When buying pre-sliced cured salmon from the store, opt for varieties packaged without preservatives or unnecessary additives. Read the label to check the ingredients. For the freshest flavor, consider curing your own salmon at home. With just a bit of salt, sugar, and fresh herbs, you can make your own gravlax easily.
Cured salmon keeps for about 5 days stored in the refrigerator. Whether serving it on bagels, with eggs, or on salad greens, cured salmon is sure to please. Its versatility makes it perfect for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Our favourite ways with smoked salmon
Treat yourself to a deliciously decadent midweek meal with our smoked salmon risotto. This simple dish oozes sophistication. The zesty lemon cuts through the creamy mascarpone base to create a perfectly balanced dish. We guarantee itll become a weekly favourite.
For another easy rice dish, try our smoked salmon kedgeree, which makes a delicious brunch.
Savor the simple delight of smoked salmon slices, a delectable and versatile addition to your plate. If youve not tried salmon with eggs, we recommend you do so soon. Go for this delicious scramble for breakfast. It will leave you with empty plates—who could say no to buttery eggs with a Tabasco kick and a second helping of hot toast? Or, for a fancy starter or brunch, try smoked salmon with coddled eggs, capers, and gruyère cheese.
Adding smoked salmon to scones is a great idea, especially when paired with soft cheese like in our recipe for seeded bagels. For a hearty brunch, serve them with warm fried potato scones. For a festive canapé, try our recipe for mini potato cakes topped with smoked salmon and caper berries.
Blitzing smoked salmon into a creamy pâté allows for use of thrifty fish trimmings. They are much cheaper than regular slices, and once they are cut up really small, no one will be able to tell the difference. I know they sound boring. We love serving smoked salmon paté with golden, butter-laden tear-and-share brioche buns as part of a grazing platter.
This fish is so pretty that it should be the star of the show, but it also goes well with other amazing dishes. A smoked salmon potato bake is perfect for dinner parties or something a little different for Sunday dinner.
There are infinite opportunities to use smoked salmon in the wonderful world of canapés. A traditional way to serve the fish is on a pancake or blini. You can also try it in homemade sushi with cold-smoked salmon, in tortilla rolls with cream cheese, or on toasted crostini.
Potted fish is a vastly underrated starter, traditionally made with crab, shrimps or mackerel. But a mix of both smoked and fresh salmon works a treat. The way Mary Cadogan makes hers is a bit like paté: the fish is flaked until it’s fine and spreadable. Mix the lemon juice and melted butter together. Pour it over the salmon. Let it sit until a hard, bright yellow layer forms on top. Divine!.
Make a rich tart with smoked salmon, dill, and cream. Add some capers and sliced red onion to see what you like. You can serve it with a crunchy salad and flavored creme fraîche. For extra flavor, you can add black pepper, horseradish, or lemon juice.
Try adding smoked salmon to soup and achieve a finish similar to traditional Scottish cullen skink. Add the fish to a base of leeks and potatoes right at the end of cooking to keep its texture but give it a salty, smoked taste.
For those who haven’t finished a whole pack yet, use the last few slices in a pasta dish. Though there are many ways to serve it, lemon, crème fraîche, and light herbs like basil or dill are often the best. You could also try it in place of bacon in a carbonara.
Weve got lots more smoked salmon recipes, or share your own. Leave a comment below…
How to make gravadlax
You can easily find good smoked salmon slices in stores that sell fish, but our simple gravadlax recipe lets you make a cured version that tastes just as good. It’s not that hard, and you don’t have to own a smoke shack in the Outer Hebrides to make it look real. Also view our video above for steps on how to prepare and flavour gravadlax.
You’ll need to buy the freshest salmon fillet you can find. Then, the salmon is cured (so it’s not really smoked) in a brine for two days. Don’t be afraid that the fish won’t be cooked over heat; the saltwater tastes good in the raw flesh.
When Matt Tebbutt makes his version with sherry and anise, he adds spices. Our food editor Barney makes his salmon bright purple by marinating it in beetroot. Gordon Ramsay, meanwhile, takes a Scandinavian approach and cures his salmon with dill to make gravadlax.
Quick Cured Salmon – How to Cure Salmon in 3 Minutes
FAQ
What is salmon usually served with?
What is cured salmon used for?
What goes well with cured salmon?
Chili flakes, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, freshly ground black pepper, and coriander seeds all impart lovely flavors to the cured fish. It’s also tasty to add in the zest of any citrus, such as lemon, lime, grapefruit, or orange. Have you ever seen cured salmon with a touch of magenta around the edges?
Is eating salmon beneficial?
Salmon is beneficial for health and is part of a healthy and balanced diet. Salmon has vitamin D, healthy fats, calcium, selenium, iodine, iron, phosphorus, magnesium, and protein.
What to eat with salmon?
Focaccia is another great option, especially when made fresh with herbs and olive oil. Its airy texture pairs well with the delicate salmon, making each bite truly memorable. For something different, try pairing gravlax with a flatbread or lavash.
What can I use to cure salmon?
There are a huge variety of flavours and ingredients than can be used to cure salmon. Citrus flavours work very well meaning you could add lemon, orange or lime zest to the cure mixture. Spices such as fennel, coriander or anise can be crushed and added to the rub, while dill is a favourite herb pairing with salmon.
What is cured salmon?
Curing is used as a way of preserving meat or fish to prevent spoilage. This technique of curing salmon uses a dry cure which draws out the liquid from the fish as well as add flavour like Galton Blackiston’s gravadlax of salmon with lime sorbet.
What should cured salmon taste like?
The fish shouldn’t have an overly fishy smell and the flesh should be quite firm. The cure: A cure is simply made of salt and sugar, but can be jazzed up with other flavorings. Lemon zest and fresh dill are classic pairings with cured salmon, and they help impart a fresh, bright taste to the fish.