Smoked Salmon Canapes

Smoked salmon and cream cheese is such a fresh and delicious combination and layered on top of crostini with some cucumber and asparagus it makes the perfect bite-sized party food to really impress your guests. These smoked salmon canapes can be assembled in minutes and they are easy to adapt.

Whether you call them canapés, hors d'oeuvres or appetisers, these are seriously delicious. But, the best thing is they are SO easy. Canapes with smoked salmon look and taste far more impressive than they actually are. Serve these up with a glass of something fizzy when your guests arrive and they will be very happy.

Just 6 ingredients is all you need to make these salmon canapés, but they are also easy to adapt with other vegetables and crackers. They are best assembled right before serving, but that's no problem because these take less than 5 minutes and you can prepare some of it in advance.

If you are looking for other ways to use salmon, then why not try our 2 Minute Salmon Bagel, easy Smoked Salmon Pasta, tasty Salmon Fish Cakes, comforting Smoked Salmon Risotto or our quick 10 Minute Salmon Gnocchi?

Ingredients and Substitutions

A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.

• Crostini - Canapés traditionally have some kind of pastry or bread base, and we went with a crostini as they are nice and crispy, which makes them a sturdy base. You could use our Bagel Crisps or Melba Toast as a base too.
• Cream cheese - We used a plain cream cheese for these canapes using smoked salmon, but you could use a flavoured one like garlic and herb to add some extra flavour. We recommend using the best quality cream cheese you can, as the cheaper ones tend to be watery and won't taste as creamy.
• Cucumber - We used a full sized English cucumber and sliced it and then cut the slices in half, so they fit on. However, you could use mini cucumbers which would look nice.
• Smoked salmon - The star of the dish. We used cold smoked salmon (lox), rather than cured salmon, but that would work too. Try to buy the best quality you can, as it really does make a difference. However, if you are on a budget, then smoked salmon trimmings would work too. You could also use a grilled and flaked salmon fillet instead if you prefer. Canned salmon would also work.
• Asparagus - An easy way to add a pop of colour and make these extra nutritious too. Save some time and cook these in advance so you can assemble everything before your guests arrive.
• Dill - This adds some lovely freshness to the canapés. You could use chives instead if you prefer.

Variations

Cracker - We used crostini for this smoked salmon canape recipe, but you could use melba toast or any good quality crackers. You don't even have to use a cracker. We like to slice up rounds of new potatoes and then roast them until crispy. They make a delicious, and sturdy, base for smoked salmon and cream cheese. It makes them more filling too.

Cheese - We think that smoked salmon and cream cheese go really well together, and they are perfect on this. We used a plain cream cheese, but you could use a garlic and herb one if you prefer. You could also swap it for burrata or a soft goats cheese. You don't want anything with too strong a flavour, because it will over power the salmon. If you wanted to make these lighter, than a reduced fat creme fraiche or Greek yogurt would work too. Just make sure that it is thick, so it doesn't slip off the base.

Fish - The smoked salmon really is the star of this canapé and what makes it really special. However, you could used canned salmon or even canned tuna if you wanted to make it budget friendly. Maybe do a mixture of them all to bulk out the tray of canapés. Mackerel works well too.

Vegetables - You can freshen these up a little by adding a tiny sprinkle of lemon zest on top. It adds a nice pop of colour too, and the yellow contrasts nicely with the green of the asparagus. Add an extra green boost with a small spinach leaf on top of the cream cheese.

Extras - We added some dill on top, because it goes so well with the salmon. But you could swap it for chives if you prefer. Want to make these super indulgent and impressive? Add a little caviar on top. I know, I told you it was indulgent. It's not for us, but it is an option if you want to go all out - a little does go a long way.

How To Make Smoked Salmon Canapes - Step by Step

1. Step 1: Cook the asparagus spears for 3-5 minutes until tender, but not floppy.

2. Step 2: Spread the crostini with the cream cheese then add a cucumber slice.

3. Step 3: Top that with a thin slice of salmon.

4. Step 4: Top each canapé with an asparagus tip and then add a small sprig of dill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe

Smoked Salmon Canapes

By: Dannii Martin

Smoked salmon and cream cheese is such a fresh and delicious combination and these Smoked Salmon Canapes are assembled in minutes and are easy to adapt.

Low Fat

5 from 12 votes

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Course: Appetizer, Party Food

Cuisine: British

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 5 minutes mins

Total: 10 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 104kcal

Allergens:

Dairy

Fish

Gluten

Ingredients

• ▢ 12 Crostini
• ▢ 100 g (0.5 cups) Garlic and herb cream cheese
• ▢ 0.25 Cucumber - halved then sliced
• ▢ 60 g (2 oz) Smoked salmon
• ▢ 70 g (2.5 oz) Asparagus tips
• ▢ 4 tablespoon Fresh dill

Instructions

• Cook 70 g Asparagus tips in boiling water for 3-5 minutes until tender, but not floppy.
• Spread 12 Crostini with 100 g Garlic and herb cream cheese then add a slice of 0.25 Cucumber to each. Top each one with a thin slice 60 g Smoked salmon.
• Top each canape with an asparagus tip and then add a small sprig of the 4 tablespoon Fresh dill.

Recipe Tips

• Make sure that whatever you are serving the salmon and cheese on is sturdy, as these are meant to be eaten as finger food. Try not to load them up too much so all the toppings don't fall off.
• If you are cooking the asparagus in advance, make sure to put it in an ice bath after it is cooked. This will stop it from continuing to cook (and going mushy) and it will also keep the vibrant green colour.
• Keep the smoked salmon in the fridge until you are ready to start layering everything, so it keeps fresh.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1canape | Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 274mg | Potassium: 65mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 143IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.