Smoked Salmon Pinwheels Appetizer
Ingredients
- 8 ozblock-style cream cheese
– softened to room temperature
- ½whole lemon)
(2 tsp juice + ½ heaping tsp zest
- to taste flakey sea salt & ground black pepper
- 3tbs chives
– rough chopped
- 2tbs fresh dill leaves
– gently packed
- 1 ½tbs capers
– drained
- 10 ozpre-sliced smoked salmon
see notes
- ¼ smallred bell pepper)
– stem and seeds removed: cut into long thin slices (julienne
- 1whole sweet mini pepper )
– stem and seeds removed: cut into long thin slices(julienne
- 1 smallradish)
– cut into long thin slices (julienne
- ¼whole seedless cucumber)
– cut into long thin slices (julienne
- ¼ripe avocado)
– cut into long thin slices (julienne
- 1 smallcarrot)
– peeled & cut into long thin slices (julienne
- ½whole seedless cucumber
– sliced into thick rounds the same size as crackers
- 14whole crackers or toast points)
(rye or pumpernickel
Directions
- 1
Make the Cream Cheese Filling: To the bowl of a food processor, add the cream cheese, 2 teaspoons lemon juice, and a heaping ½ teaspoon lemon zest. Season with a pinch of sea salt and pepper. Cover the bowl and process the ingredients until they're whipped and fully combined. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the bottom and the sides of the bowl. Then, process the ingredients again for 30 seconds. Add the chives, dill, and capers to the bowl. Pulse until the herbs are finely chopped and the cream cheese filling is well blended. Set aside in the refrigerator. (Make ahead tip: Cover the cream cheese and store in fridge up to 3 days.) (Optional: Set aside a few tablespoons of the cream cheese filling if you plan on serving the pinwheels on crackers.)
- 2
Start Smoked Salmon Roll: Place a large piece of plastic wrap down on a clean work surface, making sure it’s at least 16 inches long. Lay the slices of smoked salmon on the plastic wrap, overlapping the pieces and arranging the salmon to form a long rectangle about 12-inches-long and 6 inches wide. Gently press down on the salmon to adhere the pieces together.
- 3
Add Cream Cheese Filling and Veggies: Remove the cream cheese mixture from the fridge and dollop it all over the center of the salmon. Use a rubber spatula to gently spread the mixture all over the salmon, leaving a small boarder around one long edge bare. If using vegetables in your filling, evenly lay the julienne slices of veggies on top of the cream cheese, along the long edge of the salmon closest to you. (Tip: The bare edge will act as your seal. Keep the bare long edge AWAY from you.)
- 4
Roll the Smoked Salmon Appetizer: Starting at the long end with the julienne veggies, tightly roll the smoked salmon into a log - jellyroll style, up and over the filling. Use the plastic wrap to help get the roll started, peeling the plastic away from the salmon as you roll - so the plastic wrap is always on the OUTSIDE of the roll. (Tip: Take your time and roll the salmon as tightly as you can, using your fingers and the plastic wrap to tuck the filling in while rolling the salmon up and over the cream cheese. The pinwheel must be tightly rolled to hold together.)
- 5
Wrap and Chill Salmon Roll: Tightly wrap the log of smoked salmon and cream cheese in the plastic wrap. Transfer to the fridge and chill for at least 1 ½ hours to firm, or overnight. Alternatively, place the salmon roll in the freezer for 25-45 minutes. (Note: Chilling the roll is essential as it firms it up, making it MUCH easier to slice. I prefer the freezer method.)
- 6
Slice Smoked Salmon Roll into Pinwheels: Transfer the salmon roll to a clean cutting board. Remove and discard the plastic wrap. Use a sharp slicing knife to cut the smoked salmon roll into thick ¾ to 1-inch-wide pinwheels.
- 7
Serve Smoked Salmon Pinwheel Appetizer: Arrange the crackers on a serving tray and top with cucumber rounds. Place an individual smoked salmon pinwheel on top of each cucumber. Garnish each smoked salmon appetizer with a sprig of fresh dill and enjoy!
Smoked Salmon Pinwheels Appetizer
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About this Recipe
Looking for an elegant yet effortless appetizer that will impress your guests without keeping you in the kitchen? These Smoked Salmon Pinwheels Appetizer are your secret weapon for stress-free entertaining, delivering sophisticated flavors in a snap.
This smoked salmon pinwheels appetizer shines because it's genuinely fuss-free, requiring just 10 minutes of active prep time and no cooking at all. The secret lies in combining the delicate richness of Nova smoked salmon with a vibrant, herbaceous cream cheese filling, brightened by zesty lemon, fresh dill, and briny capers. It's a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that comes together beautifully, ensuring a standout appetizer for any occasion.
You'll savor the delicate, rich flavor of Nova smoked salmon perfectly complemented by a bright, herbaceous cream cheese filling, bursting with zesty lemon, aromatic dill, and briny capers. Each smoked salmon roll up offers a delightful balance of creamy, savory, and fresh notes. The soft salmon and smooth cream cheese are beautifully contrasted by the crisp crunch of fresh, finely julienned vegetables like red bell pepper, radishes, and cucumbers, along with the creamy richness of avocado. These are designed as the perfect two-bite treat, making them ideal for mingling.
Customization is simple with these smoked salmon roll ups. Feel free to adjust the fresh vegetables to your liking; the recipe includes red bell pepper, sweet mini pepper, radish, cucumber, and avocado. You can swap these for other finely julienned vegetables you enjoy, ensuring you use a firm, block-style cream cheese for the best rollable texture. If you don't have fresh chives or dill, dried herbs can work in a pinch, though fresh offers the best flavor.
These elegant smoked salmon appetizer bites are ideal for holiday gatherings, dinner parties, or any occasion where you want a sophisticated starter that feels special yet is incredibly simple to prepare. Serve them alone for a sleek presentation, or atop crisp cucumber rounds or your favorite rye or pumpernickel crackers for added texture and flavor.