Smoked salmon is an elegant appetizer. If you’re expecting company for breakfast or a holiday brunch, this spectacular Smoked Salmon Platter is easy, impressive, and utterly delicious!

Learn my tips for making a beautiful Smoked Salmon Appetizer! But remember it also makes a delicious meal to start your day.

A Smoked Salmon Platter on a white, leaf shaped ceramic tray.

Why You Must Make!

  • With the holidays approaching (very quickly, in fact!), it’s nice to have an easy elegant breakfast or brunch idea in your back pocket.
  • I’m a huge salmon lover and have made homemade gravlax more than once. But during this crazy season, I head to the market and pick up some roasted as well as smoked salmon to make this morning feast.
  • Along with the salmon, there are a few accouterments that are imperative for a smoked salmon spread. Capers, minced red onion, lemons, dill, and either cream cheese or creme fraiche. Artfully arrange the salmon on a platter and make sure to pick up a variety of bagels and dark bread. Instead of a smoked salmon recipe, this is more of a “how-to” post. Just pick up the ingredients and make them pretty!

Ingredient Notes

Here are some ingredients to have on hand if you’d like to serve smoked salmon to guests. Serving smoked salmon on bagels is a given, but it’s nice to have a few other accompaniments available.

  •  Smoked Salmon or Lox
  •  Roasted Salmon – I find this packaged in the refrigerated section of the grocery store next to the smoked salmon.
  •  Creme Fraiche or Soft Cream Cheese – Bring your cream cheese out an hour early to let it soften before serving or buy the tub of softened cream cheese.
  •  Capers – Pickled in brine. Small capers work best. I bought some larger capers to garnish.
  •  Fresh Dill
  •  Red Onion – Minced
  •  Lemon Slices and/or Wedges
  •  Bagels and/or an assortment of bread – Mini bagels are nice, too, for those with smaller appetites.
Close view of Smoked Salmon Appetizer on a white ceramic tray.

Recipe Tips

  • I have to let you in on a little secret. I put this smoked salmon platter together the night before I had a group of volunteers coming to my house for a coffee. I took the photos and parked it in the fridge. It was only after my company was departing that I took a taste. So it’s easy to make ahead.
  • I had accidentally pulled out the jar of green peppercorns in brine instead of capers. Uh, oh. My mouth started burning after my first bite. Not the pickled caper berries I expected! Those suckers look A LOT alike! But lesson learned. Check your labels. Of course, my lovely guests didn’t say a word.
  • I promise this will delight any guests as long as you use the correct accompaniments! I like to provide whipped cream cheese or creme fraiche, capers, fresh dill, thin lemon slices or wedges, diced or thinly sliced red onions, and sliced or diced tomatoes.
  • PRO-Tip: To cut the sharpness of the red onion, you can soak it in some ice water while you prepare your other garnishes. Drain, pat dry, and add to your platter.
  • Provide whatever you love to eat with smoked salmon, and make sure to go out of your comfort zone and give some new ideas a try!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Smoked Salmon?

Smoked salmon is fresh salmon that undergoes either a hot or cold smoking process. Hot smoking lasts 6-12 hours at a temperature between 120° and 180°. Cold smoking takes 1 day to 3 weeks at 70-90°.

What is Lox?

Lox is brine-cured salmon that is cold-smoked. It is slightly saltier than other smoked salmon. Occasionally lox has some sugar added to the brine that produces a less salty product according to the Food Lover’s Companion.

What Else Can You Do with Smoked Salmon?

Besides topping bagels, smoked salmon is also a delicious addition to pasta, pizzas, frittatas, dips, sandwiches, salads and more.

How to Store Smoked Salmon?

Keep your smoked salmon wrapped airtight in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to four days. It freezes well for up to 3 months.

Smoked Salmon Platter with two kinds of salmon, dill, capers and slice lemons.

You May Also Like:

I adore salmon. Besides tasting wonderful, it is an amazing source of protein and healthy fats. I served salmon fillets for dinner frequently, but I also love using smoked salmon in appetizers, sandwiches, and more. 

Stay in touch through social media @ InstagramFacebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to tag me when you try one of my recipes! And if you love the results, please give it a 5-star rating in the recipe card.

How to Make a Smoked Salmon Platter - An easy , no recipe needed dish to serve for breakfast, lunch or as an appetizer

Smoked Salmon Platter

Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Yield Varies

A simple platter of ingredients that is sure to please all your guests!

Ingredients

  • Smoked salmon or lox
  • Roasted salmon
  • Creme Fraiche or soft cream cheese
  • Capers
  • Fresh Dill
  • Red onion, minced
  • Lemon slices
  • Bagels and/or an assortment of bread

Instructions

  1. Arrange salmon on a platter.
  2. Sprinkle smoked salmon with capers and minced red onion. Top roasted salmon with sliced lemons and dill.
  3. Serve with creme fraiche or cream cheese, bagels, bread, and/or toast.

Notes

Use your favorite accompaniments to serve with smoked salmon.

Recommended Products

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

12

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 107Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 372mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 8g

Thatskinnychickcanbake.com occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although thatskinnychickcanbake.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased can change the nutritional information in any given recipe. Also, many recipes on thatskinnychickcanbake.com recommend toppings, which may or may not be listed as optional and nutritional information for these added toppings is not listed. Other factors may change the nutritional information such as when the salt amount is listed “to taste,” it is not calculated into the recipe as the amount will vary. Also, different online calculators can provide different results. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information obtained is accurate.

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