Smoked Salmon Dip (Printable)

Smooth cream cheese and salmon dip with fresh herbs and zest. Elegant appetizer ready in minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/4 cup sour cream

→ Fish

03 - 5 oz smoked salmon, finely chopped

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

04 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon lemon zest, finely grated

→ Condiments & Seasonings

07 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
08 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt, optional to taste

→ Garnish

10 - Additional fresh dill or chives for garnish
11 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine softened cream cheese and sour cream. Beat with a hand mixer or whisk vigorously until smooth and creamy.
02 - Fold in the chopped smoked salmon, dill, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt until fully incorporated.
03 - Taste the mixture and adjust salt and pepper as needed to achieve desired flavor balance.
04 - Transfer the dip to a serving bowl. Top with additional fresh dill or chives and arrange lemon wedges around the bowl if desired.
05 - Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld, or serve immediately with crackers, bagel chips, or fresh vegetable crudités.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It takes less time to make than it does to find parking at the store.
  • The lemon and dill make it taste bright and fresh, not heavy like most cream cheese dips.
  • You can make it ahead and it actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a bit.
  • It looks impressive enough that people assume you worked way harder than you did.
02 -
  • Cold cream cheese will not blend smoothly no matter how hard you stir, so leave it out ahead of time.
  • Chopping the salmon too coarse makes the texture weird, aim for pieces about the size of a pea.
  • Taste before adding salt because some smoked salmon is saltier than others.
03 -
  • Let the cream cheese sit out while you prep everything else so it's perfectly soft when you need it.
  • Chop the herbs right before mixing so they stay bright green and fragrant.
  • Save a little salmon and dill to sprinkle on top just before serving, it makes the presentation look intentional.
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