Smoked Salmon Platter

Impress party guests with this easy and elegant smoked salmon platter. Assemble everything you see here in just 15 minutes, for a brunch buffet or cocktail party.

This Salmon Charcuterie Board is a Crowd Pleaser

We spent a lot of time in culinary school building appetizer and snack boards for various events the school would host. One of the most popular ones we’d put together was a smoked salmon board.

Kind of like a charcuterie board, but focusing on smoked salmon and an array of traditional accompaniments for it, like cream cheese, capers, cucumbers, herbs and bread.

Today, I’m walking you through exactly how to put together a smoked salmon platter that is perfect for brunches, parties and family gatherings.

What to Eat With Smoked Salmon

There are so many good flavor pairings with smoked salmon! My favorites, that I’ve included on this smoked salmon platter, are:

• Cream cheese – I like the whipped kind, it’s easier to spread! Save the block kind for a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting for dessert.
• Sour cream – another “creamy” option besides cream cheese.
• Red onion – chopped or thinly sliced red onion adds such a pretty purple color to the platter.
• Chives – these grow like crazy in my garden, so I always have them around! I also love chives in pimento mac and cheese.
• Capers – I love the salty, briny bite of these.
• Hard boiled eggs – I served them chopped on this board, but you can also serve them simply cut in half.
• Tomatoes – I chopped up some grape tomatoes. You can also serve thin slices of Roma tomato with this smoked salmon appetizer.
• Dill sprigs – smoked salmon and fresh dill is a classic flavor pairing!
• Homemade everything bagel seasoning – I sprinkle this on smoked salmon in savory cottage cheese, too.
• Water crackers – Or whatever kinds of crackers you like. Water crackers are a blank slate for other flavors.
• Toasted pumpernickel bread – or rye or baguette slices.
• Lemon wedges – I can’t ever serve fish without lemon (see also: salmon alfredo)
• Sliced cucumbers – I also use cukes to make smoked salmon crostini.
• Sliced radishes – they’re not everybody’s cup of tea, but I love their sharp, peppery bite.

Other items that are delicious to include on a smoked salmon appetizer platter

• Crème fraîche (which is just a really fancy sour cream)
• Caviar – also fancy!
• Bagels or mini bagels – because I can never resist a bagel and lox.
• Pickled red onions – even tastier than fresh, in my opinion!
• Avocado – I love avocado paired with smoked salmon in sushi rolls, or just on a cracker!
• Fresh fruit, like berries or grapes – just for snacking on alongside the salmon.
• Egg salad with pickles – an upgrade option to hard boiled eggs. Love this on an Easter charcuterie board, too.

Tips For Buying Smoked Salmon

First of all, just like with salmon with pasta and really, all of my salmon recipes, it’s all about quality of the fish.

You want to buy a good quality smoked salmon for this smoked salmon platter. If you have a local bagel shop that makes their own smoked salmon or lox, you’re probably in for a treat.

FYI – Smoked salmon is cured or brined, then smoked. Lox is cured, but not smoked. They’re slightly different, but either one will work on this salmon platter.

You can also ask the seafood person at your grocery store for the best quality smoked salmon or lox that they have (and also pick up some fresh salmon for grilled sockeye salmon for a salmon sandwich for dinner another day).

You can even order it online these days, if you want. If you end up with any extra after serving your smoked salmon appetizer platter, I recommend a smoked salmon BLT, a smoked salmon pizza, or using smoked salmon in place of shrimp to make seafood deviled eggs

For the best flavor, let the smoked salmon come to room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. Serve this smoked salmon appetizer with forks or a small pair of tongs so that people can pick up the delicate slices.