Smoked Salmon Baguette Crostini

It’s Smoked Salmon Crostini, with a twist. Avocado, cream cheese, cucumber and sesame seeds make this crostini taste just like a Philadelphia sushi roll!

Smoked Salmon Appetizers

While I spent one day of culinary school learning to roll sushi rolls, let’s just say I don’t really have enough training to want to go down that path at home.

My rolls at school turned out OK, but the structural integrity was nowhere near what you’d find at even a grocery store sushi counter.

But back in 2020 when my favorite sushi restaurant was closed, and I was craving the flavors of a Philadelphia sushi roll, this smoked salmon crostini is what I came up with. I still love it to this day.

I swapped the sushi rice for toasted bread, but kept all of the flavor of the avocado, smoked salmon, cream cheese and cucumber.

Why you’ll love Smoked Salmon on Crostini

• The vibrant colors of the salmon, avocado and cucumber make for an elegant presentation. They’re perfect for an upscale party!
• Straightforward and easy to prepare. Quick but impressive is what we’re going for.

What is a Philadelphia Roll Salmon Crostini?

When you see a “Philadelphia roll” on a sushi menu, you’ll know to expect a combination of smoked salmon and cream cheese (the “Philadelphia” in the name of the roll being derived from the Philadelphia cream cheese brand).

This distinctly American sushi roll often includes other ingredients like avocado, scallions, sesame seeds, and cucumber.

While you would probably never find a roll like this in Japan, the research I’ve done on the history of the Philadelphia roll indicates that by combining foreign foods like sushi with ingredients Americans were accustomed to, like cream cheese, Japanese expat chefs and restauranteurs in America were able to make sushi less intimidating.

How interesting, right?

Smoked Salmon Baguette Ingredients

• baguette – the base of this crostini, providing a crunchy and sturdy foundation for all of the toppings we’re going to pile on!
• olive oil – for coating the baguette slices before toasting them. I like to just use olive oil cooking spray for ease, but you can also lightly brush the bread with olive oil.
• smoked salmon – the savory, smoky star of this crostini.
• avocado – the rich, creamy texture of the avocado compliments the smoked salmon so well.
• cream cheese – we’re going to mash this into the avocado to add richness and some of that signature Philadelphia roll flavor.
• wasabi – this is optional, if you want to add a little kick of heat to the avocado-cream cheese mixture.
• cucumber – adds a refreshing crunchy element.
• nori – crumbling a small piece of a nori sheet over these crostini adds a subtle umami and reinforces the sushi flavors.
• sesame seeds – for a mild, nutty crunchy.

How to find the ingredients for this Smoked Salmon Crostini:

You should be able to find most of the ingredients at your regular grocery store – baguette, avocado, smoked salmon, whipped cream cheese, cucumber and sesame seeds.

If your grocery store doesn’t carry smoked salmon, my favorite trick is to stop by a bagel shop and just ask for a small portion of smoked salmon in a to-go container (I often do this when I want to make savory cottage cheese or a smoked salmon platter).

Now, for the the nori. It’s completely fine to skip this ingredient if it’s too hard to locate in your area. But, it does add a big burst of umami to the crostini, so I do love it.

While my regular grocery store used to carry nori, it seems in recent months, some of the more “exotic” ingredients haven’t been a priority for them to stock (completely understandable).

So, I headed to my local Asian market to purchase nori. If you’d like to add wasabi to the cream cheese mixture for heat (optional), you’ll want to pick that up at an Asian market, too.

How to make this Smoked Salmon Appetizer

1. TOAST BREAD. Place the baguette slices on a baking pan and spray or brush them with oil. Bake until they are very crisp.
2. MASH. In a small bowl, mash together the avocado, cream cheese and wasabi.
3. ASSEMBLE. Spread each piece of toasted bread with some of the avocado mixture, then top with cucumber and salmon. Sprinkle with nori and sesame seeds.

What to serve with smoked salmon crostini

If I’m serving these crostini for a happy hour at home, as New Year’s Eve food, or a brunch along with a breakfast charcuterie board (see also: how to cook bacon in the oven), I love my best mimosa recipe.

The ginger also works well with the Asian flavors in the crostini. A non-alcoholic option like a Homemade Mango Lemonade is also a great choice. y

If I’m serving these for a light lunch or dinner, a simple salad alongside would be great. Fresh greens dressed with miso dressing or citrus salad dressing are perfect.

If you’re serving them as one of a few brunch ideas for a crowd, a vegetarian quiche would be a great entree to go with this salmon recipe.

Crostini lovers should also check out my crostini pizza bar!