Most appetizers that use cold smoked salmon typically rely on a handful of ingredients such as cream cheese and capers for flavor.
And this can feel rather limiting especially if you want to surprise the guests at your afternoon party with something new.
Fortunately, there are still plenty of creative ways you can mix those painfully familiar ingredients into something more exciting.
Swedish Sandwich Cake for instance, is made with the staple cream cheese dip, chives and lemons, but it also adds finely chopped eggs and mayo to the mix.
This creative mix up along with its presentation make it stand out from most traditional cold smoked salmon appetizers.
But let’s not get ahead of myself. After all, there are thirteen more appetizer ideas we must check out.
14 Cold Smoked Salmon Appetizers
Smoked Salmon Phyllo Appetizers
These smoked salmon appetizers feature cups of crispy phyllo pastry filled with cream cheese, capers, salmon and dill.
Phyllo pastry, if you aren’t familiar with the term, are basically rolled out sheets of dough which are often used for Balkan dishes such as Bulgarian Banitsa and Leek Pie.
As you might expect, the most challenging part in assembling these appetizers are the phyllo cups.
Fortunately, you can buy those from the supermarket and simply toast them for a few minutes.
Check recipe at: Graceful Dame
Smoked Salmon Pinwheels
These Smoked Salmon Pinwheels may look like an appetizer that requires a lot of effort, but there’s nothing further from the truth.
To make them you’ll need to spread some cream cheese over a tortilla, layer a few pieces of cold smoked salmon and roll everything up.
Afterwards, you simply cut the tortilla into equally sized pieces and serve on a platter with a few slices of lemon.
Check recipe at: She Loves Biscotti
Smoked Salmon Crostini
If you’re looking for an hors d’oeuvre with an elegant presentation, then you gotta try these Smoked Salmon Crostini.
They’re made with tiny slices of smoked salmon, layered over a French baguette and topped off with a dollop of cream cheese.
The cherry on the top are the sprigs of dill and capers that are placed over the cream cheese, resembling tiny trees.
Check recipe at: Real House Moms
Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites
Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites are a classic appetizer that’s served at potlucks, dinner parties and get-togethers.
This particular rendition is assembled with sliced cucumbers, cream cheese and smoked salmon rosettes.
The rosettes may seem a bit tricky to pull off, but all you really have to do is roll them into a spiral.
Check recipe at: Delicious Meets Healthy
Smoked Salmon Poke
This deceivingly simple Smoked Salmon Poke packs a ton of different flavors in a bite-sized package.
If this is the first time you’re hearing about poke, it’s essentially finely chopped raw or smoked fish that’s marinated in a variety of ingredients.
In this case it translates to mayo, chives, coconut aminos, chickpea miso, rice vinegar, Sriracha sauce and garlic powder.
You can serve this delicacy over an avocado or some cucumber slices.
Check recipe at: The Fit Cookie
Smoked Salmon Platter
In case you have a ton of smoked salmon that’s just sitting around your kitchen, you can always serve it over a platter with some veggies and cream cheese.
This smoked salmon platter includes a bunch of sliced cucumbers, onions, radishes, lemon wedges, bread and crostini.
You can serve it over brunch, bring it to a potluck or use it for an afternoon tea party.
Check recipe at: From Valerie’s Kitchen
The Best Smoked Salmon Dip
While it’s not a whole meal in of itself, this Smoked Salmon Dip can still be used as an appetizer along with some crackers.
Unlike most dips which are made from cream cheese alone, this one also incorporates tiny bits of smoked salmon.
If you want to make it look more appealing, you can garnish it with a lemon slice, some finely chopped chives and dill.
Check recipe at: Dinner At The Zoo
Smoked Salmon Pate
This Smoked Salmon Pate has a rich creamy taste and a delicate texture which makes it perfect for spreading over a piece of toast or a cracker.
You can also slather it on top of a bagel or use it to make a sandwich in case you have leftovers.
And since it comes together in less than five minutes, you can also use it as an appetizer of a last resort.
Check recipe at: Life Currents
Smoked Salmon Tea Sandwiches
Speaking of sandwiches, you gotta give these Smoked Salmon Sandwiches a shot especially if you’re prepping for a tea party.
They’re loaded with cream cheese, require little time to make and pair exceptionally well with an afternoon high tea.
The key ingredient that you’ll need to assemble these sandwiches is Brioche. You can also use regular white bread, but you’ll lose out on some of the flavor.
Check recipe at: Billy Parisi
Elegant Smoked Salmon Appetizer
This Elegant Smoked Salmon Appetizer stands out from most other salmon appetizers by the way it is presented.
It’s served in glass cups which are filled with a sour cream dip and topped off with smoked salmon and a dash of salmon caviar.
This also allows you to make it ahead of time so you can have more free time for your other dishes.
Check recipe at: Uncomplicated Chef
Smoked Salmon Canapes with Cucumber
The taste of these Smoked Salmon Canapes isn’t anything spectacular, but they do have an elegant presentation.
They’re made with a piece of bread which is layered with piped cream cheese artichoke dip and a garnish of cucumber and smoked salmon.
The cucumber is folded into a ribbon, while the salmon is shaped as a rosette.
So if you’re more keen on the visual presentation of your appetizer then be sure to check these canapes out.
Check recipe at: Home Body Eats
Smoked Salmon Wrap
Тhis Smoked Salmon Wrap recipe is ideal if you’re searching for an appetizer that’s more than just a bite sized hors d’oeuvre.
It features a filling of cream cheese, roasted red pepper, chopped chives, capers and cold smoked salmon.
Making it is just as easy as you might imagine.
You simply mix the cream cheese with the chives, spread it over a piece of flatbread, sprinkle the rest of the ingredients and wrap everything up.
Check recipe at: Simply Home Cooked
Smoked Salmon Sandwich Cake
Make sure you save this recipe for a special occasion where you want to surprise your guests.
Also known as smorgastarta, this Smoked Salmon Sandwich Cakes is made of alternating layers of egg and smoked salmon filling.
Once the cake is assembled, it gets coated in a mixture of mayo and cream cheese and garnished with cucumbers, smoked salmon rosettes, and lemons.
The end result looks truly astonishing.
Check recipe at: Happy Food’s Tube
Salmon Rillettes
These Salmon Rillettes come together in less than 20 minutes, but they’re full of nuanced flavors.
The rillettes are made with a combination of fresh and cold smoked salmon which is mixed with butter, sour cream, mayo, horseradish and lime juice.
Once everything is mixed up, the rillettes are filled in ramekins and topped off with smoked salmon.
Check recipe at: Recipe Winners
Wrapping up
There’s a large variety of cold smoked salmon appetizers that can be served at brunch or an afternoon tea party.
Most of them are made with a limited amount of ingredients, but as long as you’re creative, you can carve out something entirely new.
By the way if you’re also researching main course ideas with smoked salmon and not just appetizers, just skim through my list of recipes with smoked salmon.