A smoked salmon platter makes an easy and elegant appetizer or brunch spread. Dress it up with as many or as few toppings as you’d like. Dill, capers, and something creamy (cream cheese, sour cream or crème fraîche) is classic, but let your imagination run wild! Use what you have on hand and what’s in season.
Table of Contents
Why We Love This Recipe
For starters, we’re seriously salmon-obsessed here. But more than that, we love a no-fuss stunning appetizer or boozy brunch spread. And this salmon platter is that through-and-through. Stunning, simple and totally versatile.
We love how you can play around with the flavors and accompaniments. Here, we’ve arranged it for a winter brunch. In the summer, swap out the oranges for fresh berries and melon. In the fall opt for apples and warm-spiced jams.
Ingredient Notes
Make this board as simple or as involved as you like. We prefer a more simple and streamlined approach with only a handful of classic toppings. Not only is it easier on you as the cook, but it’s refined, elegant, and easier to eat.
Buckwheat Blini
Blini are a classic vehicle for smoked salmon and cream cheese. If you’re looking for something less hands-on, try mini bagels or crackers.
Smoked Salmon
Plan for about two ounces per person as an appetizer and three ounces per person as a brunch spread. Use cold-smoked salmon or lox.
Creamy Spread
Feel free to use regular cream cheese, sour cream or crème fraîche. Creme fraiche is a bit more elegant, while cream cheese and sour cream are more familiar. For a healthier option, use labneh (thick strained yogurt spread, or “yogurt cheese”). We like to stir some fresh dill into whatever creamy spread we’re using.
Allium
Every great salmon platter needs some form of onion. Use what you like or have on hand. Chives, scallions, shallot or red onion are all great options.
Briny Toppings
Include something briny and tangy such as capers, cornichons, or minced dill pickles. We also like olives, or even pickled onions.
Herbs
Fresh dill is an obvious choice, but parsley is also a great option. Fresh lemon wedges are also welcome.
Other Topping Ideas
Adapt this board to include toppings you like. Consider what’s in season and what you already have on hand. Here are some additional ideas:
- Fresh fruit (berries, oranges, watermelon)
- Sliced cucumbers (English or Persian)
- Cooked bacon
- Soft cooked eggs (jammy 6-minute eggs)
- Minced hard boiled eggs
- Avocado
- Fresh sweet corn
- Sliced radishes
- Butter
- Jam
- Honey or maple syrup
Make it a menu and serve this smoked salmon board with these stunning Ginger Blood Orange Mimosas!
Test Kitchen Tips
- Use a large platter so everything can be all in one place.
- Add something sweet whether that be fresh fruit or jam to balance out all of the savory flavors.
- Use high-quality lox or cold-smoked salmon. Avoid any packages where the salmon has appeared to brown around the edges. Always check the best by date on the package and opt for smoked salmon with few additives and little added sugar.
- Plan for about 2-ounces per person as an appetizer and 3-ounces per person as a brunch spread.
- Always add something fresh. Smoked salmon is bold in flavor and benefits from fresh veggies and herbs.
Other Recipes to Try
- If you love smoked fish, try our Smoked Trout Dip or Smoked Salmon Dip.
- On the board train? Learn How to Make the Perfect Cheese Board or try our Tuna Nicoise Salad.
- For the seafood lovers, you’ve gotta try our Light & Delicious Seafood Soup.
- And if you’re serving this platter at brunch, consider serving it alongside our Crustless Quiche Lorraine and Spicy Candied Bacon.
If you love salmon, be sure to check out my go-to Pan Seared Salmon and these delicious Salmon Poke Bowls.
FAQs
Tear the pieces apart into smaller bite-sized pieces then layer them into a large pile. Add a fork or small set of tongs for serving.
The short answer is 4-6. The longer answer—plan for about 2-ounces per person as an appetizer and 3-ounces per person as a brunch spread.
We have two options for you! Try our Dill Ranch Dressing or make our Lemon Butter Sauce and add some chopped fresh dill.
Absolutely. It’s all about preference. Use the smoked salmon you like best. If you are serving hot-smoked salmon, plan to include a bit more sauce.
Smoked Salmon Platter with Blini
Description
Ingredients
- 8 ounces plain cream cheese, crème fraîche or sour cream
- 1 heaping tablespoon chopped fresh dill, plus more for serving
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 (2-3 ounce) jar capers, drained
- 1 recipe buckwheat blini, or mini bagels/crackers of choice
- 12 ounces cold-smoked salmon or lox
- ⅓ cup chopped chives
Accompaniments
- Fresh orange segments or berries
- Minced shallot or red onion
- Soft boiled eggs, 6-minute eggs or minced hard boiled eggs
- Avocado
- Sliced cucumber
- Bacon
- Salted butter
- Jam/honey/maple syrup
Instructions
- Combine cream cheese, dill, and ½ teaspoon black pepper; season with additional dill and black pepper to taste. Transfer cream cheese to small serving bowl and set on larger platter. Add capers to separate small bowl and arrange on platter.
- Arrange blini (or bagels/crackers), smoked salmon, and chives on platter around cream cheese. Garnish platter with fresh dill. (Add orange segments, if using to a small bowl and arrange on platter).
Notes
Nutrition
Making this platter for our Christmas Eve party! Everyone in my family loves smoked salmon, this is going to be a real treat. (also making your French 75 and Kir Royale cocktails). Thank you for all the amazing recipes
yay! I can’t wait to hear how it all goes!