Smoked salmon is a refined and delicious appetizer ingredient With its characteristic smoky, salty flavor and velvety texture, smoked salmon always makes an impact But what foods pair best with smoked salmon to create easy yet elegant starters?
At our house we love entertaining. And smoked salmon appetizers are one of my go-to choices when hosting a cocktail party or casual get-together with friends. Over the years I’ve discovered many tasty ways to serve smoked salmon as a starter.
In this article, I’ll share my favorite appetizers to serve with smoked salmon for any occasion. You’ll find classic combinations, fresh new ideas, make-ahead options, and more. Let’s dive in!
1. Smoked Salmon with Cream Cheese, Capers, and Onion
This popular combo is a smoked salmon classic for good reason. Tangy cream cheese, briny capers, and sharp red onion beautifully complement the smoky richness of the salmon.
To serve:
- Spread cream cheese on bagel chips, crackers or bread slices.
- Top with a slice of smoked salmon, capers, and minced red onion.
- Add a squeeze of lemon if desired.
It takes just minutes to assemble yet always impresses guests.
2. Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites
Pair smoked salmon with cool, crisp cucumber slices for a light and refreshing starter. Fresh dill adds a bright pop of flavor.
To make:
- Slice cucumber rounds and top with a small piece of smoked salmon.
- Garnish with sprigs of fresh dill.
- Drizzle with oil and lemon juice or sauce.
3. Smoked Salmon with Avocado and Radish
Creamy avocado and peppery radish are amazing matches for rich smoked salmon. The textures contrast beautifully.
Assemble bite-sized appetizers on toast:
- Toast bread or crackers.
- Top with mashed avocado, sliced radish and smoked salmon.
- Finish with lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
4. Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs get an upgrade with savory smoked salmon mixed into the filling. They make elegant finger food for a party.
Make them like this:
- Hard boil eggs, peel, and slice in half.
- Scoop yolks into a bowl and mash with mayo, lemon juice, mustard, and smoked salmon.
- Spoon or pipe filling back into egg whites.
5. Smoked Salmon Salad Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
Bright cherry tomatoes make adorable one-bite starters when stuffed with a tangy smoked salmon salad. It’s super easy to make the filling ahead too.
Simply mix together and stuff into tomatoes:
- Flaked smoked salmon
- Finely diced red onion
- Capers, lemon juice, mayo or sour cream, parsley
6. Smoked Salmon Bruschetta
Bruschetta is an Italian classic that welcomes so many creative twists. Topping toasted bread with smoked salmon makes a stellar appetizer.
Build bruschetta with:
- Toasted baguette slices
- Ricotta cheese
- Chopped smoked salmon
- Lemon zest, olive oil, salt and pepper
7. Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball
A smoked salmon cheese ball is a cool twist on a retro classic. The salmon adds a pretty pink swirl and smoky flavor to the herb cheese.
Make it by:
- Mixing herb cheese or cream cheese with minced smoked salmon.
- Form into a ball or log shape.
- Coat with chopped nuts or herbs.
- Chill until firm and serve with crackers.
8. Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
These easy pinwheel roll-ups make an impressive appetizer for a party. Smoked salmon and herbs get rolled up in a tortilla then sliced into spirals.
To assemble:
- Spread cream cheese on tortillas.
- Top with smoked salmon and sprinkle with dill or chives.
- Roll up tightly and chill until firm.
- Slice crosswise into rounds.
9. Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches
Dainty smoked salmon tea sandwiches are ideal when hosting a sophisticated soiree. The lemon dill cream cheese filling is to die for.
Simply put together:
- Softened cream cheese
- Lemon zest, fresh dill, capers, mayo
- Spread on bread and top with smoked salmon
- Cut out into petite sandwiches with a cookie cutter
10. Smoked Salmon Crostini
Crostini are the Italian version of bruschetta, with an even thinner crispy bread base. They are perfect vessels for an easy smoked salmon topping.
Assemble crostini with:
- Toasted baguette or cracker slices
- Whipped cream cheese, ricotta, or fresh mozzarella
- Smoked salmon, capers, and dill
11. Smoked Salmon Celery Sticks
Celery sticks make a fun vehicle for serving smoked salmon as finger food. This retro party snack gets upgraded with cream cheese and savory salmon.
Simply fill celery sticks with:
- Cream cheese or whipped cream cheese
- Chopped smoked salmon
- Lemon zest, capers, and fresh dill
12. Smoked Salmon Puff Pastry Bites
Buttery, flaky puff pastry paired with smoked salmon makes an elegant appetizer. You can make different sizes for passed trays or a cocktail buffet.
Cut puff pastry into squares or circles:
- Bake until puffed and golden
- Top with whipped ricotta cheese and smoked salmon
- Sprinkle with dill and lemon zest
13. Smoked Salmon Flatbread
Easy homemade flatbreads are the perfect quick appetizer for impromptu entertaining. Top with smoked salmon for a pretty pink topping.
Start with storebought dough:
- Roll out and cut into rounds
- Top with smoked salmon, red onion, capers, dill
- Drizzle with olive oil and bake
14. Smoked Salmon Dip
A creamy smoked salmon dip is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Serve with an assortment of crackers, breads, and fresh veggies for dipping.
Simply pulse in a food processor:
- Smoked salmon
- Cream cheese or sour cream
- Lemon juice, shallot, capers, dill
15. Smoked Salmon Lettuce Wraps
Fresh lettuce wraps stuffed with smoked salmon make easy hors d’oeuvres you can pick up and eat with your hands. They’re light and full of flavor.
Fill lettuce leaves with:
- Flaked smoked salmon
- Tangy cream cheese, sour cream, or yogurt
- Chopped onion, capers, parsley
There you have it – 15tempting appetizers to serve with smoked salmon! With inspired combinations, freshly baked breads, and creative serving ideas, you’re sure to find new favorite ways to kick off your next cocktail party in style.
Which smoked salmon appetizers will make it onto your next menu? With so many diverse flavors to pair with it, smoked salmon is a versatile ingredient that allows you to get creative.
I hope these recipes inspire you to think beyond the usual shrimp cocktail and cheese tray. Smoked salmon lets you elevate the experience while still keeping prep easy and festive.
Now get ready to have fun hosting! Your guests will be wowed by your stellar smoked salmon appetizers.
Frequently Asked Questions about Smoked Salmon Appetizers
Still have some questions about working with this elegant ingredient? Here are quick answers to common queries:
What kinds of smoked salmon work best for appetizers?
Thin slices of high-quality smoked salmon are ideal for appetizers. Look for wild caught varieties like Scottish or Norwegian smoked salmon. Go for thin slices rather than thick fillets.
How far in advance can I prepare smoked salmon appetizers?
Most smoked salmon appetizers can be assembled 1-2 hours before serving. Avoid preparing more than a few hours ahead or the crackers, breads, etc may get soggy.
Should smoked salmon be served chilled or room temp?
Smoked salmon tastes best when lightly chilled. Serve appetizers assembled with smoked salmon straight from the fridge for maximum flavor.
What drinks pair well with smoked salmon appetizers?
Sparkling wines, dry whites like Sauvignon Blanc, and wheat beers complement smoked salmon nicely. Avoid sweeter wines that may clash with the smoky flavor.
Can I use leftover smoked salmon from another meal?
Yes, flake leftover smoked salmon into fillings, dips, spreads, etc. Use within 3-4 days for best freshness and flavor.
Should I remove the skin from smoked salmon before serving it?
The thin skin on smoked salmon is edible, so it’s not necessary to remove it. But if desired, it peels off easily in strips after a quick saltwater soak.
What should I avoid pairing with smoked salmon?
Here’s what you’ll need to make it
Smoked salmon. For our platter, we like cold-smoked salmon, but you could use hot-smoked salmon instead, or even a mix of the two. The smoked salmon we bought at Costco came in two packages, which is great because it’s enough for a big party. If we’re not serving a lot of people, we usually freeze the second package.
Creamy dill spread. We made our dill spread with vegan cream cheese and a bit of unsweetened coconut yogurt. You can also use regular dairy-based if that works for you (it obviously won’t be dairy free then). This part of the platter can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge until it’s time to serve.
Crostini, toast and more. If you want to serve smoked salmon as an appetizer, you can use any kind of crusty bread. For the crostini, we sliced the baguette and toasted it in the oven. For the rye and pumpernickel toast, we toasted it in the toasted and the quartered
You can also serve your smoked salmon platter with bagels (bonus points if they’re sourdough bagels), which would be perfect for brunch and some bagel chips or crackers. Whatever you like will work. Just make sure you have a few options for your guests.
Everything else and eve more options. For our platter, I usually keep it pretty basic with cucumbers, capers, onion and lemon wedges. But the options are really endless. Here are some other ideas:
- eggs – jammy eggs, avocado deviled eggs pickled eggs
- sliced radishes
- fresh tomatoes
- smoked salmon goes well with fresh fruit like kiwi and citrus fruits.
- pickles or olives, or even olive tapenade
Why I love this smoked salmon appetizer
I absolutely love smoked salmon. I love both hot smoked salmon and cold smoked salmon, but if I had to choose, I’d go for cold. When we lived in France, we had it all the time. In appetizers, in salads. It was everywhere, and I wasn’t complaining.
Even smoked salmon crostini and tomato bruschetta were on the menu when I catered the English Library’s annual ball. Since then, I enjoy serving smoked salmon as a simple starter, but I no longer enjoy putting together crostini.
Enter, the smoked salmon platter. It’s so simple and so genius. Everyone can put together their own, and you can offer more choices than if you were just making smoked salmon appetizers for each person.
