Ingredients
Scale
For the Cream Cheese Spread:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
For Assembly:
- 1 large English cucumber (about 24 slices, ¼-inch thick) OR 24 sturdy crackers
- 8 ounces smoked salmon, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
- ¼ small red onion, very thinly sliced
- Fresh dill sprigs for garnish
- 1 tablespoon everything bagel seasoning (optional)
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, chopped dill, chopped chives, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Use a spatula or spoon to mix everything together until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. The mixture should be creamy, spreadable, and full of flavor.
- Prepare Your Base: If using cucumbers, wash the English cucumber and pat it completely dry. Cut it into ¼-inch thick rounds, aiming for about 24 slices. Pat the slices dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture – this prevents the bites from getting soggy. If using crackers, simply arrange them on your serving platter.
- Assemble the Base Layer: Place cucumber rounds or crackers on a large serving platter or cutting board. Leave a little space between each one for easy picking up later. If you have a piping bag, fill it with the cream cheese mixture and pipe a small rosette or dollop onto each cucumber slice or cracker. If you don’t have a piping bag, use a small spoon to add about 1-2 teaspoons of the cream cheese mixture to each base, spreading it slightly to create an even layer.
- Add the Smoked Salmon: Take your smoked salmon and cut or tear it into bite-sized pieces, roughly 1-2 inches each. Gently fold or roll each piece to create an attractive presentation, then place one piece on top of the cream cheese on each bite. The salmon should sit nicely on top without overwhelming the base.
- Add the Toppings: Now for the finishing touches! Top each salmon bite with 2-3 capers, a thin slice or two of red onion, and a small sprig of fresh dill. If using everything bagel seasoning, sprinkle a small pinch over each bite for extra flavor and visual appeal.
- Garnish and Serve: Arrange your completed smoked salmon bites attractively on the serving platter. Add lemon wedges to the platter for guests to squeeze over their bites if desired. Fresh dill sprigs around the platter make for beautiful presentation. Serve immediately, or cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
Notes
- Make-Ahead Tip: You can prepare the cream cheese mixture up to 3 days in advance and store it covered in the refrigerator. Slice cucumbers up to 4 hours ahead, pat dry, and store between paper towels in the fridge.
- Keeping Cucumbers Crisp: If assembling more than 30 minutes before serving, wait to add the cream cheese until closer to serving time to prevent cucumber from releasing water and getting soggy.
- Cracker Selection: Choose sturdy crackers that can hold the toppings without breaking. Water crackers, Ritz crackers, or Triscuits work wonderfully.
- Salmon Quality: Invest in good-quality smoked salmon for the best flavor. The salmon is the star, so quality matters here.
- Piping for Presentation: Using a piping bag with a star tip makes these look incredibly professional and elegant, but a spoon works just fine for casual gatherings.
- Dietary Adaptations: These are naturally gluten-free when served on cucumber and can be made dairy-free by using dairy-free cream cheese alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook Assembly
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 bites
- Calories: 125
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 445mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 30mg