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Craving something easy yet satisfying? Discover our Small Smoked Salmon Platter – a simple and elegant dish perfect for any setting. Ideal for a light meal or impressing at a small gathering, this platter is hearty, tasty, and sure to delight smoked salmon enthusiasts. With diverse flavors and textures, it’s a great alternative to the usual charcuterie board and can be tailored to your preferences. The ingredients strike a balance between being fulfilling and light, making it a superb choice for a complete snack or meal.
If you’re searching for more small batch appetizers perfect for a light meal, explore our selection of tasty options. Try our Crispy Buffalo Cauliflower for a zesty kick, Jalapeño Poppers for a cheesy, spicy treat, classic Nachos loaded with flavorful toppings, and Bruschetta with its fresh, vibrant taste. Each of these appetizers is wonderfully satisfying and easy to make.
Why You’ll Love This Smoked Salmon Platter
- Versatility: Perfect for various occasions, whether it’s a cozy meal for one or two, or a small gathering.
- No Cooking Required: Simply assemble and enjoy, making it perfect for busy days or when you don’t feel like cooking.
- Customizable: Easily tailor it to your taste with different ingredients or accompaniments.
- Light Yet Satisfying: Filling enough to be a meal, yet not too heavy.
- Visually Appealing: A beautiful alternative to a traditional charcuterie board.
Ingredients
A smoked salmon appetizer platter is very easy to customize. The beauty of it lies in the flexibility to use your favorite ingredients alongside the salmon. Here are some recommended items for a superb salmon platter:
- Smoked Salmon: Choose high-quality smoked salmon for the best flavor. Consult our buying guide below or ask the seafood department for recommendations.
- Bread or Crackers: Toasted pumpernickel bread is my go-to, but toasted French bread, rye bread, or even a bagel work well. Water crackers are also a fantastic choice.
- Cream Cheese: Whipped cream cheese is recommended for its ease of spreading.
- Red Onions: Adding chopped or thinly sliced red onions not only tastes great but also enhances the platter’s visual appeal.
- Tomatoes: Use a handful of chopped cherry or grape tomatoes, or thinly slice a Roma tomato.
- Capers: Their salty, briny flavor is irresistible. You might also enjoy pickled onions, olives, roasted red peppers, or pickled mushrooms.
- Dill Sprigs: Dill and smoked salmon are a match made in heaven.
- Cucumbers: A crisp and refreshing complement to the smoked salmon.
Optional Ingredients:
- Hard-Boiled Eggs: Include them chopped or sliced.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning: A sprinkle over cream cheese and bread adds a flavorful twist.
- Radishes: Their peppery flavor is a great addition, but they can be omitted if desired.
- Fruit: Berries, grapes, and sliced strawberries offer a sweet contrast.
- Avocado: Add some slices for a creamy and colorful touch.
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small salmon platter recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
How To Buy Smoked Salmon
Choosing the right smoked salmon is key to the success of your platter. Here’s what to look for when buying:
- Appearance: Steer clear of salmon that has dark spots on the flesh. These spots can indicate poor quality or aging.
- Texture: Smoked salmon should have a subtle shine, indicative of its natural oiliness, but it shouldn’t appear overly oily or slimy. A slimy texture can suggest improper curing.
- Curing Process: Opt for salmon cured only with salt. Avoid varieties with added sweeteners or spices, as they can overpower the natural flavor of the salmon.
Paying attention to these details will ensure you get the best smoked salmon for your appetizer platter.
Assembling Your Smoked Salmon Platter
Creating a visually appealing and delicious smoked salmon platter is simple. Here’s how to do it:
- Start with Cream Cheese: Place a small bowl of cream cheese in one corner of the platter.
- Add Capers: On the opposite side, place another small bowl filled with capers.
- Arrange the Ingredients: Neatly lay out the toasted bread, slices of smoked salmon, cucumber, sliced onions, radishes, and any other chosen ingredients around the platter.
- Serving Suggestions: Guests can enjoy the ingredients individually or create their own combination. A popular way is to spread cream cheese on the bread, top it with a slice of smoked salmon, and then add some capers for an extra burst of flavor.
Expert Tips
- Balance Flavors: Mix salty, creamy, and fresh elements evenly for a well-rounded taste.
- Quality Matters: Choose high-quality smoked salmon for the best flavor.
- Slice Onions Thinly: Thinly sliced red onions are less overpowering and more palatable.
- Chill Salmon: Keep the salmon chilled until ready to serve for freshness.
- Don’t overthink it: Make it fun and simple to enjoy.
- Perfect for Entertaining: A smoked salmon platter is visually stunning for guests. Simply increase the quantity of each ingredient based on the number of attendees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Definitely! Place the cream cheese in a bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. You can also slice the vegetables and store them in airtight containers or plastic zip topped storage bags and refrigerate them.
Serve chilled, ideally on a wooden board or a large plate.
After opening a package of smoked salmon, cover any remaining pieces with plastic wrap or transfer them to an airtight container. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
The key difference lies in their preparation. Smoked salmon is cured or brined and then smoked, whereas lox is only cured and not smoked. Both can be used interchangeably in this recipe.
Delicious Single Serving Appetizer Recipes
Explore a variety of single serving appetizer recipes that are perfect for individual enjoyment or small gatherings:
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you would like additional information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page. For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this mini smoked salmon platter or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Small Smoked Salmon Platter
Ingredients
- Smoked salmon
- Toasted pumpernickel bread
- Cream cheese
- Capers
- Chopped tomatoes
- Sliced cucumbers
- Sliced radishes
- Sliced red onions
- Dill sprigs
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Start with Cream Cheese: Place a small bowl of cream cheese in one corner of the platter.
- Add Capers: On the opposite side, place another small bowl filled with capers.
- Arrange the Ingredients: Neatly lay out the toasted bread, slices of smoked salmon, cucumber, sliced onions, radishes, and any other chosen ingredients around the platter.
- Serving Suggestions: Guests can enjoy the ingredients individually or create their own combination. A popular way is to spread cream cheese on the bread, top it with a slice of smoked salmon, and then add some capers for an extra burst of flavor.
Notes
- Balance Flavors: Mix salty, creamy, and fresh elements evenly for a well-rounded taste.
- Quality Matters: Choose high-quality smoked salmon for the best flavor.
- Slice Onions Thinly: Thinly sliced red onions are less overpowering and more palatable.
- Chill Salmon: Keep the salmon chilled until ready to serve for freshness.
- Don’t overthink it: Make it fun and simple to enjoy.
- Perfect for Entertaining: A smoked salmon platter is visually stunning for guests. Simply increase the quantity of each ingredient based on the number of attendees.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Great recipe.