Smoked Salmon Appetizer – Four Ingredients

Appetizers & Starters, Fish and Seafood
Smoked Salmon Appetizer - A quick & easy appetizer of smoked salmon, capers and onion mjskitchen.com

This smoked salmon appetizer is a delicious bite that will make everyone happy, and that honestly, takes no more than 15 minutes to make if you use prepackaged smoked salmon. Of course if you decide to smoke the salmon yourself, then is will take longer.

You’ll love hearing your guests going “YUM” with the first bite. If you enjoy smoked salmon and want to celebrate its flavor, not hide it, this is a great little appetizer. Four ingredients are all you need – salmon, capers, onion and just a touch of mayo. Crackers or crispy toasts (o.k. that’s five) are used to serve it. Apples can be used in place of crackers or just added to the plate as a sweet crispy accompaniment.

Smoked Salmon Appetizer

Smoked Salmon Appetizer - A quick & easy appetizer of smoked salmon, capers and onion #salmon #appetizer @mjskitchen
Smoked Salmon, Capers & Onion Appetizer – Recipe
Prep
15 mins
Total Time
15 mins
 
A quick and easy appetizer that your guests will love.  Can easily be doubled or tripled.  The basic recipe below yields about 1 1/2 cups.


“*” See Kitchen Notes for more information or links to special ingredients.

Course: Appetizer
Yields: 4 servings
Recipe Author: MJ of MJ’s Kitchen
Ingredients
  • 6 – 7 ounces smoked salmon with about 1 Tbsp. of juice if available*
  • 2 tsp. capers*, rinsed and minced
  • 1 ½ Tbsp. sweet onion or shallot, minced
  • 1 heaping tsp. mayonnaise*
  • Crackers*
Instructions
  1. Put the salmon in a mixing bowl and break it up with a fork.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients (except for crackers) and mix to combine.
  3. Taste. Adjust ingredients if needed.*
  4. Transfer to a serving dish and serve with crackers, toasts, and/or apple slices.
Kitchen Notes

Smoked Salmon – Not all smoked salmon is the same, so use what you enjoy.  We buy the ready-to-eat packets from Seabear.  We love their salmon and the little individual packets can be stored in the pantry without taking up a lot of space. Each packet has just enough juice to add some to this appetizer and to share the rest with the cat.

 

Capers – The amount of capers you use if really based on your personal taste.  Even Bobby and I disagree on the amount of capers.  He likes more than I do, but I find more than 2 tsp. makes this appetizer too salty.  So start with 2 tsp. and go up from there.

 

Mayonnaise – The mayonnaise is used to just hold things together so you can transfer it to a cracker; that is why you only need 1 teaspoon. If the salmon doesn’t have any juice with it, then you might need to add a little more mayonnaise.

 

Crackers – We’ve eaten this with several different types of crackers and most any cracker works.  And as I mentioned before, slices of apples can also be used in place of crackers.  You could also put it on a bagel.  When I do this, I’ll substitute the mayonnaise with 3 Tbsp. of cream cheese spread so that it sticks to the bagel better.

 

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This appetizer is a great dish for several occasions – light lunch, afternoon snack, picnic or potluck. I’ve taken it to several parties and it’s always been a hit. If you keep smoked salmon packets in the pantry, it is the perfect snack to make when a friend drops by for a visit.

A quick & easy appetizer of smoked salmon, capers and onion #salmon #appetizer @mjskitchen

If you enjoy smoked salmon, then you’ll also love this smoked salmon with cucumber salad that my friend Su Anne turned us onto a few years ago. Adding a packet of smoked salmon to this Asian noodle dish makes a nice high protein lunch.

52 Comments

  1. I need to make this… Oh you know, TODAY… For lunch. Yes I certainly do! 🙂

  2. Smoked salmon is my fave. I am trying to teach my mom to enjoy salmon, going to add this to the list of educational eats. Thanks love. 🙂

  3. How come I have missed this gorgeous appetiser??? (Sorry for being so late).
    It looks so elegant and sounds absolutely luscious, easy and healthy, so… what am I waiting for??? It’s just perfect!

    • You’re right…what are you waiting for? 🙂 If you are a smoked salmon fan there is not an easy or tastier way to enjoy it. If you try it, let me know how you like it. Thanks Darlin!

  4. I love salmon in any way! Just made a salmon appetizer a few weeks ago too, isn’t that weird? I’ve always loved your culinary mind, MJ! Thanks for sharing! Pinning on my group entertainment board!
    Happy Valentine’s Day!
    Roz

  5. And you forgot to mention how easy it is to put together! I’m ging to try this – I have Japanese mayo but I think it’ll work out. We love smoked salmon and my son and I love capers, so we will probably finish most of this alone. 😉 Sounds delicious and simple!

  6. I love smoked salmon, this recipe is such a good idea!

  7. Pingback: Smoked Salmon Appetizer - Yum Goggle

  8. I’m probably one of the few people that doesn’t care for smoked salmon but my husband and our friends do. This would definitely make them happy.

    • My goodness – you don’t like smoked salmon? Well, there are foods that I don’t like that would surprise people, so you’re forgiven. 🙂 I’m sure it will make friends happy! Thanks!

  9. This sounds so good, MJ, and only 4 ingredients! I use smoked salmon in a pasta dish but usually buy more than I need for that one dish. This would be a perfect — and tasty — way to use the leftover salmon. Serving it with sliced apple would be wonderful!

    • I love smoked salmon and pasta as well! I make a pasta with smoked salmon and asparagus during asparagus season. Love it! Apple works great – Thanks!

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  11. I love how this can be made so quickly! And it’s so beautifully presented. There are a few in this house who just adore smoked salmon xx

  12. Sounds delicious but I must add that I thought it was a bowl of granola in the first pic. Then, I saw the light. 🙂 Great appetizer for SB50!

  13. My kind of appetizer for sure, so tasty and simple. And I love capers but not always easy to use.

  14. Oh simplicity! I like the addition of capers — just the right balance with sweet salmon. Nice one, MJ.

  15. Mmmm… this looks so yummy! I love all the flavors you have going on here. I don’t know if I could share this with anyone… i would hide and eat it all by myself happily. 🙂

  16. So delicious and so easy. This appetizer is right up my alley!

  17. Sounds delicious, and I love the idea of serving it with apples — such a cool contrast!

  18. Locally, Phil’s Fish Market always has the best smoked salmon. Last time I visited I almost brought some home, but wasn’t sure how to prepare it. Next trip, I’m bringing some home to make this fabulous appetizer!

  19. I love smoked salmon, I would happily eat it breakfast lunch and dinner!
    This would make a delicious starter, capers and smoke salmon belong together 🙂
    Thanks for sharing
    Julie
    Gourmet Getaways

  20. Great idea for a quick and tasty appetizer MJ! Smoked salmon and capers are a “perfect pairing”… Your photos are really pretty too. 🙂

  21. My husband would absolutely love this – maybe it will be his game day nosh this weekend!

  22. I love smoked salmon so this sounds wonderful to me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it though where you can store it in the pantry vs. the refrigerator.

    Nice recipe!

  23. A quick and elegant appetizer!

  24. Capers! Yes! What a great idea. We make something somewhat similar, but have never used — nor thought of! — adding capers. Definitely will — this is awesome. Thanks!

  25. I like this smoked salmon appetizer and for just 15 minutes. . . very doable for me. I chuckled on your “provided you don’t smoke the salmon” caveat there. But if you do, add another 6 hours there. Hahaha! I hope you are having a fun week, MJ. Take care my friend.

    • The price of smoked salmon is so worth it. 🙂 This is really one of my favorite ways to eat it. I am having a great week thank you! Hope you are having a good one as well.

  26. I can eat smoked salmon every which way, though I hated it as a kid! Great appetizer!

    • Growing up in Louisiana, we didn’t eat much smoked salmon. Lots of catfish and other fresh water fish, but never salmon. Once I tried it as an adult, I was in heaven. I think you’d love this snack!

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