A smoked salmon spread featuring smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, dill, and freshly squeezed lemon. Perfect for spreading on bagels or as a tea sandwich filling!
Lox bagels are one of my husband's favorite savory breakfast treats. The lox bagel usually consists of a toasted bagel, loaded with a heavy schmear of cream cheese, topped with hunks of smoked salmon, thinly sliced red onion, and capers, and while I usually can't resist stealing a bite or two of his beloved bagel...a bite or two is usually all I can handle first thing in the morning. Cause the lox bagel? It's a strong one. Especially first thing in the morning
However, regardless of the time of day, the flavor combination is undeniably perfect, and when I saw Ina Garten throw together a toned-down version of the lox bagel in the form of a cream cheese spread, I was hook, line, and sinker. We are talking salmon after all...and I sure do love a little wordplay.
Over the years, the spread quickly evolved into one of my own, and the horseradish and sour cream called for Ina's recipe were omitted and other goodies were brought in.
WHAT'S IN SMOKED SALMON AND CREAM CHEESE SPREAD
The base of the smoked salmon spread consists of cream cheese, mayonnaise, and unsalted butter. This combination makes for a perfectly smooth and creamy spread. Finely chopped smoked salmon, shallot (a mildly flavored onion), capers, lemon zest and juice, and freshly minced dill are added in. Every single ingredient in the spread complements the other, and like I said before -- there is no denying its perfection.
I've served up this smoked salmon and cream cheese spread countless times over the years, and not only do I love serving it in it's most classic brunch form, smeared over bagels, it also makes for a great canape spread at cocktail parties. Not to mention it just so happens to pair particularly well with a glass or two of Brut champagne. Bonus.
And last, but certainly not least, is the daintiest, most adorable way to serve up this lox spread -- as a tea sandwich filling. If you love tea sandwiches or are gearing up for a party, be sure to try these Cucumber Tea Sandwiches too!
HOW TO MAKE SMOKED SALMON AND CREAM CHEESE TEA SANDWICHES
To turn this spread into the filling for a tea sandwich, I would highly suggest centering it between two slices of rye bread. Smear the inner part of the bread with a small amount of room temperature butter. The butter serves as a barrier between the spread and the bread and helps to keep the bread from getting wet. This way the sandwiches can be made the night before, making entertaining preparations easier on the hostess. We could all use a little more of that, right? Right.
After the bread is good and buttered, schmear the bread with a few tablespoons of smoked salmon and cream cheese spread and spread to the edges. Then, using a sharp knife, remove the crusts, and cut the sandwich on the diagonal. For a prettier set of tea sandwiches, very carefully, wipe the blade of the knife clean after each cut using a damp dishtowel.
This is lox spread I can get down with any time of day, and any which way you choose to serve it, you truly can't go wrong. It's perfectly creamy, just the right spreadable consistency, and has the perfect amount of smoked salmon in every single bite. It's make-ahead, full of flavor, and easy to throw together -- food just doesn't get much better than that.
Love salmon? Try our easy Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon for dinner!
A smoked salmon spread featuring smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, dill, and freshly squeezed lemon.
- 6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 ounces (about ⅓ cup) finely chopped smoked salmon
- 2 tablespoons minced shallot
- 2 tablespoons capers, rinsed and dried
- Generous pinch of lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon freshly minced dill
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- Generous pinch of Kosher salt
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Add the cream cheese, butter, and mayonnaise to the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. If you do not have a stand mixer, use a large mixing bowl and a handheld mixer. Mix on medium-high speed until well-combined.
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Add the salmon, shallot, capers, lemon zest and juice, dill, pepper, and Kosher salt to the bowl. Mix on low until combined. Serve right away or transfer to an airtight container for up to 3 days.
The butter must be room temperature for this recipe.
[social_warfare]
Claudia Lamascolo says
I love sandwiches like this, they are so gourmet and you made them look so easy I must try this!
Katie Crenshaw | A Fork's Tale says
I love the combinations of cream cheese, capers, and smoked salmon. This lox spread looks fantastic! This will be perfect for my next brunch. YUM!
Kelly Anthony says
Oh, yay! Thank you, Katie!!!
Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites says
Lox always sounds so fancy, but I love how easy you make this recipe! Sounds like a great way to start the day!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you so much, Lauren!
Cindy Gordon says
This recipe is going to be a new favorite for my husband! I know he's going to love it!
camila says
this spread sounds delicious! I am going to pin this for later! love it!
Kelly Anthony says
Thank you, Camila!
Heidy says
This recipe was outstanding. I enjoyed all the delightful flavors and textures of this smoked salmon dip right down to those salty capers which made the spread really pop. Pinned.
Pam Greer says
This spread is genius!! I love bagels and lox too, but this is so much easier and honestly I love it so much more!!
Denise says
Love this! I can not wait to get to the grocery store to buy the ingredients to make this. Thank you so much for sharing!
Andrea Howe says
I have always loved salmon cream cheese, but never though to make it myself. I'm so glad I did because this was crazy delicious!!
Jacqui DeBono says
Smoked salmon and cream cheese is one of my favourite combinations. It is so good on a bagel for a special brunch! Obviously a glass or two of something sparkly is always a bonus.
Leslie says
I would love to make this for our next gathering! I think it will be a big hit!
Ashley Marie Lecker says
This was an immediate must make for me! The capers, the dill, the lemon, the salmon....so much yum! I love with on my morning bagel!
Veronika says
This is a genius idea to make a spread with salmon and cream cheese! It looks absolutely delicious and I want to make it this weekend!
Chandice Probst says
Yum I love that the salmon is right in the spread so you don’t have to layer… Thank you
Aline says
Served this for brunch yesterday with homemade bagels, while sipping on some rose! Best brunch we've had in a looooooong time!!! Will definitely be making it again!