Smoked Salmon Dip (Printable Page)

Rich and creamy dip blending cream cheese with smoked salmon, fresh herbs, and bright lemon. Elegant and effortless.

# What You Need:

→ Dairy Base

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

→ Fish

03 - 5 oz smoked salmon, finely chopped

→ Fresh Herbs and Aromatics

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

→ Seasonings

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

→ Optional Garnish

10 - Additional fresh dill or chives for topping
11 - Lemon wedges for serving

# Steps:

01 - Combine softened cream cheese and sour cream in a medium mixing bowl. Beat with hand mixer or whisk vigorously until completely smooth and creamy, approximately 1-2 minutes.
02 - Gently fold chopped smoked salmon, dill, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt into the cream base. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the mixture.
03 - Sample the dip and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice according to personal preference.
04 - Transfer dip to a serving bowl. Top with additional chopped fresh herbs and arrange lemon wedges around the edge if desired for presentation.
05 - Refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled with crackers, bagel chips, or fresh vegetable crudités.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The balance of rich cream cheese against the delicate smokiness of the salmon creates this incredible depth that store bought dips can never match.
  • You can whip it up in literally 10 minutes flat when unexpected guests arrive, making you look like a culinary genius without breaking a sweat.
02 -
  • Overmixing after adding the salmon can turn your beautiful pink-speckled dip into an unappealing grayish color, so fold gently and know when to stop.
  • The dip tastes significantly better when made with full-fat dairy products, as I discovered when trying to make a lighter version that fell disappointingly flat in flavor and texture.
03 -
  • When choosing smoked salmon, look for pieces from the center of the fillet which tend to have the perfect fat content and most consistent flavor for dips.
  • If your cream cheese isn't quite soft enough and you're short on time, unwrap it and microwave in 5-second bursts, turning between each until just pliable but not melted.
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