10 Minute Smoked Salmon Dip

This quick and easy smoked salmon dip is cool and creamy with zesty lemon flavors, hints of Old Bay seasoning, tons of flakey smoked salmon, and plenty of fresh dill. It comes together in less than 10 minutes and pairs perfectly with crunchy crackers or crispy crostini. This smoked salmon dip will be a crowd-pleaser at your next picnic, brunch, or party!

 

You Will Love This

• There is SO much flavor in this delicious smoked salmon dip but it’s made with minimal ingredients! The ingredient list for this salmon dip is short but it’s loaded with bold flavors that blend together perfectly to make a seriously amazing dip for any gathering or just a random Tuesday night at home. A timeless pairing of lemon and dill is showcased in this creamy dip while also highlighting the delicious flavors of the smoked salmon.
• If you loved this smoked salmon recipe, be sure to check out my pellet grill smoked salmon, dill yogurt sauce, and creamy salmon pasta recipe.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Cream Cheese – You’ll get the best flavor and texture in this dip by using full-fat cream cheese. This is not the time to use low fat cream cheese – to be honest, I’m not sure that there’s ever a time to use low fat cream cheese, but I digress.
• Sour Cream – Full-fat sour cream is also the way to go for this salmon dip recipe to get the best creamy consistency and flavor. This dip relies on full-fat sour cream and olive oil for the creaminess and a bit of fat instead of using mayonnaise.
• Olive Oil – This is our family’s favorite brand of olive oil. Feel free to use avocado oil or grapeseed oil instead.
• Lemon Zest – Lemon zest adds the signature zing to this dip – don’t skip it! I prefer just use the zest but you could also add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice as well.
• Worcestershire Sauce – Worcestershire sauce adds a delicious depth of flavor that is subtle, but it will be missed if you skip it! You can sub with soy sauce or tamari if you don’t have Worcestershire.
• Dijon Mustard – Dijon mustard’s mellow tang balances everything out and adds another layer of flavor. Feel free to sub with whole grain or stone ground mustard if you prefer.
• Garlic Powder – I typically recommend fresh garlic, but for this recipe, garlic powder does the trick and adds just the right amount of garlic flavor without taking over. Freshly minced garlic would be way too powerful in this dip recipe.
• Old Bay Seasoning – Old Bay seasoning was literally made to go with seafood so adding it to this salmon dip was an obvious choice. It has a great salty/spicy ratio that takes this dip to the next level!
• Smoked Salmon – My simple smoked salmon recipe is delicious and super easy. The best part is it can be prepped in advance, so you can throw this dip together at a moment’s notice. 
• Capers – Capers pair beautifully with most fish dishes and they add an unexpected pop to this salmon dip. They have a fantastic, briny flavor that perfectly complements the other ingredients. If capers aren’t your thing, you can leave them out, but I highly recommend trying this dip at least once with the capers.
• Fresh Dill – Fresh chopped dill really ties everything together in this salmon dip. With a bright, sweet flavor, dill easily pairs with all the other ingredients.
• Sliced Chives – Chives are another one of my go to’s for elevating the flavor of a fresh dip. If you’re not a fan, you can leave them off, but I love their light, subtle onion flavor that doesn’t overpower. Thinly sliced green onions will work also. If you are a big onion fan, try add some finely diced red onion as well!

Instructions

Add cream cheese, sour cream, olive oil, lemon zest, Worcestershire, Dijon, garlic powder, and Old Bay Seasoning to a food processor.

Pulse until smooth and creamy.

Transfer to a medium bowl and add flaked salmon, capers, dill, chives, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper.

Stir ingredients together and season to taste with Kosher salt and black pepper. Transfer the mixture to the serving dish. For best flavor, chill dip in the fridge for an hour or two before serving.

Garnish with capers, dill, and chives, and serve with Ritz crackers!

Tips

• If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a high speed blender, or an electric mixer to combine the cream cheese and sour cream. Alternately, you can also just mix everything together by hand, but the use of a food processor or mixer is going to give your dip that extra creamy texture.
• I like large pieces of flaked salmon, capers, and herbs throughout my dip, but if you prefer a more uniform consistency, you’re welcome to add the smoked salmon, capers, chives, and dill to the food processor when you blend the other ingredients together. This will give you a uniformly smooth and creamy dip with little textural variations.
• I like to use freshly smoked salmon for this recipe, but if you don’t have time to smoke your own, your favorite store bought smoked salmon will work just as well!
• This dip tastes best after it’s chilled in the fridge for an hour or two. It will taste delicious right after making it as well, but if you give the ingredients a chance to marry together in the fridge for a bit, it tastes even better!

Are you new to smoking?

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Serve Smoked Salmon Dip With

Serve with your favorite cracker or bread! This salmon dip is so versatile and goes with pretty much any of your favorite dippers. I usually go with the classic buttery, salty flavors of a Ritz cracker or that crispy crunch of homemade crostini. But some of our family’s other favorites include:

• bagel chips
• pretzels
• cucumber slices
• sliced baguette
• fresh vegetables

FAQ

Make-Ahead and Storage

• Make-Ahead: This smoked salmon dip is perfect for making ahead because the flavors just get better with time! You can throw this dip together up to 5 days in advance and keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve it! Just be sure to season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.
• Storage: Store leftover salmon dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Season to taste before serving.

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