Smoked Salmon Dip (Printable)

Smooth cream cheese dip with delicately smoky salmon, fresh herbs, and bright lemon notes. Elegant and effortless.

# Ingredient List:

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

→ 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 chopped dill or chives
11 - Lemon wedges

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese and sour cream. Beat with a hand mixer or vigorous whisk until smooth and creamy.
02 - Fold in the smoked salmon, dill, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt until fully incorporated.
03 - Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
04 - Transfer to a serving bowl. Garnish with extra dill or chives and lemon wedges if desired.
05 - Chill for at least 30 minutes for best flavor, or serve immediately with crackers, bagel chips, or vegetable crudités.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like you spent an hour in the kitchen but only takes ten minutes of actual work.
  • The smoky salmon paired with bright lemon and fresh herbs feels fancy without any fuss.
  • You can make it ahead and let it sit in the fridge, which means less stress when guests arrive.
  • It works for everything from casual snacking to holiday spreads without changing a thing.
02 -
  • Cold cream cheese will not blend smoothly no matter how hard you mix, so always let it soften at room temperature first.
  • Chopping the salmon too coarsely leaves big chunks that do not spread well, so take the extra minute to chop it finely.
  • Tasting before serving is essential because smoked salmon brands vary wildly in saltiness.
03 -
  • Use a microplane to zest the lemon directly over the bowl so you catch all the fragrant oils that spray out.
  • If you are making this for a crowd, double the recipe and serve it in a hollowed out bread bowl for a presentation that looks like you tried way harder than you did.
  • Fresh herbs matter here, dried dill and chives will not give you the same bright, grassy flavor that makes this dip special.
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