Whether you are serving brunch or an appetizer, this easy Smoked Salmon Platter is the perfect plate! Learn exactly how to create this charcuterie-style smoked salmon with onions, capers, dill and all the right toppings for loading onto bagels or crostini.
Serve thinly sliced smoked salmon with all the best and tastiest accompaniments – and make it beautiful!
We’ll start with a homemade mustard dill sauce and cream cheese for spreading on mini toasts or bagels. Then fill in the platter with hard boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber and avocado, and of course some thinly sliced red onion and capers!
Everyone at the party will be able to make their own bagel (or crostini) with lox or smoked salmon – exactly the way they like it.
How to Serve Smoked Salmon
- On this beautiful and easy platter – While everyone enjoys smoked salmon with toppings, we all like it a little bit differently, so serving the salmon with the veggies and toppings in this way makes it simple for your guests to serve themselves.
- With classic flavors – There’s nothing very surprising on this salmon plate – it’s filled with everything you could possible want to pair with sliced smoked salmon, including a delicious homemade sauce made with mustard and dill.
- And fresh vegetables – Sliced avocado, tomato, cucumber, and red onion add gorgeous color to the smoked salmon platter, and make it a flavorful and nutritious appetizer that requires absolutely no cooking!
- For breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner! This bagels and lox platter will be enjoyed no matter what time of the day you decide to serve it. It’s very versatile that way.
What to Serve with Smoked Salmon
Here’s what you need to make this platter of smoked salmon with all the fixings!
- Thinly Sliced Smoked Salmon: I often buy pre-sliced smoked salmon (aka lox) at the grocery store. You may also choose to buy a whole side of smoked salmon and slice it yourself. If your store has different flavors of smoked salmon, go for one that is plain or seasoned with dill.
- Crostini and Bagels: You should have something on the platter that guests can load up with salmon and veggies. It’s easy to make homemade crostini with French baguette, and you can pick up some bagels from the bakery too. If you’d rather not make crostini, use crispy crackers instead.
- Dill Mustard Sauce: This is one of my favorite things to enjoy with all types of salmon! My mustard dill sauce recipe is easy to make with just six ingredients, and can be made up to a week ahead of time.
- Cream Cheese: Softened cream cheese garnished with a bit of everything bagel seasoning is my go-to. You might even like to stir in some freshly chopped chives for even more flavor.
- Cucumber and Tomato: Fresh vegetables are perfect for layering with salmon and sauces.
- Avocado: One whole ripe avocado, sliced thinly.
- Onion and Capers: Just like your favorite deli or bagel shop would serve!
- Hard Boiled Eggs: Two hard boiled eggs add some extra protein to the platter. I like to steam eggs rather than boil them, or I sometimes make eggs in the instant pot!
- Dill and Lemon: These fresh garnishes go wonderfully with smoked salmon, and add a beautiful finishing touch to our platter.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make a Beautiful Salmon Platter
- Set up the Sauces: Place the softened cream cheese in a small bowl and sprinkle it with everything bagel seasoning. Place the dill mustard sauce in another small bowl, then position the bowls on either side of a large platter (one in the front, and one in the back).
- Arrange the Salmon Slices: Fold each slice of smoked salmon and arrange the slices in between the two bowls on the platter. You can be as loose or precise as you like with this step.
- Fill in with Eggs and Veggies: Add the quartered hard-boiled eggs to the platter in two different spaces, then add crostini, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, and avocado (squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice over the avocado once you’ve sliced it so that it keeps its vibrant color).
- Garnish and Serve: Scatter thinly sliced red onion and capers over the smoked salmon, then garnish with sprigs of fresh dill. Add lemon wedges for guests to squeeze over their salmon, and sliced, toasted bagels on the side.
Tip!
It’s best to put this platter together just before serving, but you can assemble it and keep it refrigerated for an hour or two before your guests arrive if you need to.
Recipe Tips
- Get Creative with the Presentation. The way I’ve explained how to arrange a salmon platter here works really well, but you can alternate the placement of the ingredients any way that looks good to you. Be sure to spread out the items that are similar in color to make it more visually appealing.
- Garnishes: I like to put the fresh dill, capers, and onions directly on the salmon, but you can also put them in small ramekins with forks for people to pick up exactly how much they want.
- Try Other Toppings: Roasted red peppers, radishes, microgreens, sliced pickles or mini cornichons, olives and lemon slices will all go well with smoked salmon too.
Storing Tips
This platter of smoked salmon and toppings is best served right away. If needed, any leftovers can be wrapped and stored in the fridge for up to a day.
What To Serve With a Smoked Salmon Board
Here are some of my favorite brunch recipes! Pair this savory salmon board with something sweet and your favorite brunch cocktails like mimosas, bloody marys, or my raspberry sorbet bellini.
- Croissant Bread Pudding
- Fruit Salad with Whipped Cream
- Cinnamon Coffee Cake
- CranberryOrange Muffins
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
- Dutch Baby German Pancake
Recipe FAQs
Is there a difference between lox and smoked salmon?
Lox is a cured salmon taken from the belly of salmon. It generally has a strong salmon flavor because it doesn’t have any smoky notes. The alternative is “cold-smoked” salmon which is both cured and then smoked at low temperatures. Either can be used in this recipe, so use whichever you prefer.
Can I make this platter ahead of time?
There are parts of this recipe that can be done ahead of time. The dill sauce can be made up to a week ahead of time, and the cream cheese can be added to a bowl, covered, and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
The fresh veggies can be sliced and assembled on the platter up to 1 day ahead of time. Right before it’s time to serve, add the salmon, avocado, and eggs.
More Ways to Enjoy Salmon
All Seafood Recipes →
Have fun creating this beautiful Smoked Salmon Platter with yummy fresh toppings! Your family or party guests are going to love this, so be sure to save the recipe, and share it too.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Smoked Salmon Platter
Equipment
- Lage Platter
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (225 g) cream cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon Everything Bagel Seasoning
- 1 recipe Dill Mustard Sauce
- 16 ounces (450 g) smoked salmon
- 2 hard-boiled eggs quartered
- Crostini
- 8 ounces (225 g) cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ English cucumber thinly sliced
- 1 ripe avocado sliced
- 1 small red onion thinly sliced
- ¼ cup capers drained
- Fresh dill for garnish
- Lemon wedges for serving
- Bagels sliced
Instructions
- Place the softened cream cheese in a small bowl and sprinkle the Everything Bagel Seasoning on top. Place the dill mustard sauce in another small bowl.
- Position the bowls on two sides of a large platter, with the bowl of cream cheese at the back and the dill mustard sauce in front or vice versa.
- Arrange the smoked salmon in folds between the two bowls on the platter.
- Place the quartered hard-boiled eggs on different sides of the platter, followed by the crostini, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, avocado (squeeze a little bit of fresh lemon juice for the avocado to keep its vibrant color).
- Scatter the thinly sliced red onion and capers over the smoked salmon. Then garnish with sprigs of fresh dill. Place lemon wedges around the platter for guests to squeeze over their salmon.
- Slice and toast bagels, and serve them on the side of the platter.
Notes:
- Get the recipes for homemade crostini, everything bagel seasoning, and mustard dill sauce.
- Get Creative with the Presentation. The way I’ve explained how to arrange a salmon platter here works well, but you can alternate the placement of the ingredients in any way that looks good to you. Be sure to spread out the items that are similar in color to make it more visually appealing.
- Garnishes: I like to put the fresh dill, capers, and onions directly on the salmon, but you can also put them in small ramekins with forks for people to pick up exactly how much they want.
- Try Other Toppings: Roasted red peppers, radishes, microgreens, sliced pickles or mini cornichons, olives, and lemon slices will all go well with smoked salmon too.
- Storing Leftovers: This platter of smoked salmon and toppings is best served right away. If needed, any leftovers can be wrapped and stored in the fridge for up to a day.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
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