Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Dip (Print Version)

Rich, creamy blend of smoked salmon, cream cheese, and fresh herbs for tasty appetizers.

# Components:

→ Dairy

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

→ Fish

03 - 5 ounces 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

→ Garnish

10 - Additional chopped dill or chives
11 - Lemon wedges

# Directions:

01 - In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and sour cream using a hand mixer or whisk until smooth and creamy.
02 - Gently fold in smoked salmon, dill, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, black pepper, and salt until evenly combined.
03 - Taste the mixture and modify seasoning as preferred.
04 - Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and garnish with extra dill or chives and lemon wedges if desired.
05 - Chill for at least 30 minutes to enhance flavors or serve immediately alongside crackers, bagel chips, or vegetable crudités.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 10 minutes, so you can go from 'what should I bring?' to 'look what I made' without the panic.
  • That smoky, briny salmon flavor tastes sophisticated enough for a dinner party but feels cozy enough for a quiet night with friends.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and pescatarian, which means fewer ingredient swaps when people ask if they can have some.
02 -
  • Never skip softening the cream cheese—cold cream cheese will never fully blend and you'll end up with lumpy dip no matter how hard you whisk.
  • The salmon is already salty, so go light on salt at first; you can always add more but you can't take it back.
03 -
  • Buy smoked salmon from the deli counter or a specialty grocer rather than the packaged section—it's fresher and tastes noticeably better.
  • Make this dip up to a day ahead and store it in an airtight container; the flavors actually deepen as it sits in the fridge.
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