Cured or Smoked Salmon Appetizer Platter

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This smoked salmon platter requires little effort, but the spread makes a big impression.

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Prep Time:
15 mins
Active Time:
15 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings
  • This smoked salmon platter brings together a variety of veggies that are rich in vitamins and fiber.
  • Wild-caught salmon offers cleaner fish with more omega-3s than farm-raised salmon.
  • Use store-bought crackers or make your own to complement the platter's delicious elements.

Add some color and pizzazz to your table with this gorgeous Cured or Smoked Salmon Appetizer Platter. Guests will love putting their own appetizers together with a choice of smoky salmon and all the fixings. From cucumber, onions and tomatoes to potatoes, hard-boiled eggs and radishes, the combinations are endless. Capers, caviar and fresh dill add the finishing flair. Be sure to include hearty crackers or baguette slices for people to build their creations on. Keep reading for our expert tips, including why wild-caught salmon is best.

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

  • You can make this with smoked salmon, lox or gravlax. Smoked salmon comes either cold-smoked or hot-smoked and then cured. The cold-smoked variety is smooth, moist and silky, while the hot-smoked is flaky and dry. Lox and gravlax appear similar to cold-smoked salmon, but lox is cured in only a brine, and gravlax is cured in spices and herbs.
  • When it comes to salmon, smoked wild salmon is the best choice. Wild salmon are allowed to live in their natural environment, resulting in fish that are cleaner, less contaminated and richer in omega-3 fatty acids than farm-raised salmon.
  • Store-bought crackers are a convenient option that pairs nicely with this platter and saves time. However, you can easily make your own with our recipes for Homemade Multi-Seed Crackers or Spiced Crackers.
  • Smoked salmon can remain on an appetizer tray at room temperature for about 2 hours before it needs to be returned to the refrigerator. It should not be left out for more than 1 hour on days when temperatures reach 90°F.

Nutrition Notes

  • Smoked salmon is loaded with rich, smoky notes, as well as heart-healthy fats and protein. While it might be tempting to pile it on for more health benefits, smoked salmon has quite a bit more sodium than salmon that hasn't been smoked. So if your body is really sensitive to sodium or you're watching your intake due to a health condition like high blood pressure, go easy on the smoked salmon.
  • The vegetables on this platter are suggestions—feel free to swap in or add your favorites. Ones that can be sliced to fit onto a cracker work best. Vegetables in general provide a wide range of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which help calm inflammation and lower your risk of disease. And the fiber in veggies has loads of benefits, including gut health perks.
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 8 ounces baby purple, red and/or yellow potatoes

  • 8 ounces sliced cured or smoked wild Alaskan salmon, lox or gravlax (see Tips)

  • ½ medium red onion, halved and thinly sliced

  • 1 cup thinly sliced English cucumber

  • 1 cup thinly sliced radishes

  • ½ cup sliced cherry tomatoes

  • 2 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled and sliced

  • 8 teaspoons wild salmon roe (caviar)

  • 8 teaspoons capers, rinsed

  • 1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, plus dill sprigs for garnish

  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions

  1. Bring about 1 inch of water to a boil in a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Add 8 ounces potatoes, cover and steam until just tender, 4 to 5 minutes. Spread on a plate or clean cutting board in a single layer until cool.

  2. Arrange 8 ounces salmon, potatoes, 1/2 medium onion, 1 cup cucumber, 1 cup radishes, 1/2 cup tomatoes, 2 eggs, 8 teaspoons roe, 8 teaspoons capers and 8 lemon wedges on a platter (or platters). Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon chopped dill and pepper. Garnish with fresh dill sprigs, if desired.

To make ahead

Boil the eggs and steam the potatoes 1 day ahead. Refrigerate overnight in covered containers.

Equipment

Large saucepan, steamer basket

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can everyone eat cold-smoked salmon?

    Unfortunately, not everyone. Because there are different methods of smoking, children, older adults and people with compromised immune systems or who are pregnant should avoid cold-smoked salmon and should heat hot-smoked salmon before consuming it.

  • Is this appetizer platter gluten-free?

    As long as you pair it with gluten-free crackers and bread, then yes, this platter is gluten-free.

  • What sauces go well with cured or smoked salmon?

    A tangy dill mustard sauce is perfect with smoked salmon! Or try a creamy dill sauce with yogurt, scallions, dill and parsley. Instead of a sauce, you can make a creamy dill spread for smoked salmon tea sandwiches. Pick your favorite or make them all for a nice variety to choose from.

  • What's the easiest way to hard-boil eggs?

    There are several variations on how to boil an egg, but all you have to do is place eggs in a single layer in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook at the barest simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat, pour out hot water and cover the eggs with ice-cold water. Let stand until cool enough to handle before peeling.

  • What can I serve with cured or smoked salmon?

    This smoked salmon platter is the ultimate festive appetizer. Serve it with all the fixings—capers, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, red onion and steamed potatoes. Lay out everything listed in the ingredients or just a few of the elements, along with an assortment of crackers, cocktail bread or sliced baguette.

EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2013

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

98 Calories
4g Fat
7g Carbs
9g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 98
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 7g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 9g 18%
Total Fat 4g 5%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 88mg 29%
Vitamin A 229IU 5%
Vitamin C 6mg 7%
Folate 20mcg 5%
Sodium 306mg 13%
Calcium 37mg 3%
Iron 1mg 8%
Magnesium 35mg 8%
Potassium 249mg 5%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Additional reporting by
Carrie Myers, M.S.,
Carrie Myers
Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic.
Jan Valdez,

Jan Valdez has years of experience working in test kitchens, primarily in research and development and product development. Her experience in the Good Housekeeping test kitchen in New York City launched a career in professional test kitchens.

and
Linda Frahm
Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications.