Smoked salmon is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can be paired with many different foods and flavors. In the opening paragraphs, we’ll provide quick answers to common questions about smoked salmon pairings before diving into more details below.
Quick Answers
What tastes good with smoked salmon? Some of the most popular pairings for smoked salmon include:
- Cream cheese or goat cheese
- Capers
- Red onion
- Cucumbers
- Toast or bagels
- Eggs
- Fresh dill
- Lemon wedges
- Champagne or sparkling wines
What food goes with smoked salmon? Good accompaniments for smoked salmon platters or appetizers include crackers, crostini, crudités, and fresh bread. Smoked salmon also pairs well with salads, pasta, rice or grain bowls, omelets, frittatas, and quiches.
What is the best drink to have with smoked salmon? Top drink choices include sparkling wines, lighter white wines like pinot gris or sauvignon blanc, Pinot Noir, green or herbal teas, and fresh vegetable juices.
Cheeses
One of the most classic pairings with smoked salmon is cream cheese or other soft, tangy cheeses. The creamy texture and lactic acidity of these cheeses complement the fattiness of the salmon while offering a pleasant contrast to the smoke. Spread some cream cheese on bagels or toast points and top with slices of smoked salmon for an easy crowd-pleasing appetizer. Or add dollops of cream cheese, goat cheese, or ricotta to a smoked salmon flatbread or pizza. Soft cheeses also pair beautifully in smoked salmon omelets, frittatas, and scrambles.
Recommended Cheeses
- Cream cheese
- Whipped goat cheese
- Mascarpone
- Ricotta
- Brie
- Camembert
Cured Foods
Since smoked salmon has a pronounced salted, cured flavor, it also does well when paired with other cured or brined foods like olives, pickles, and capers. These all provide a tangy, salty contrast. Try garnishing smoked salmon with sliced pickled vegetables, olive tapenade, or capers. Or use cured meats like prosciutto or salami and smoked salmon together on pizza, flatbreads, antipasto platters, and more.
Recommended Cured Foods
- Capers
- Cornichons
- Olives
- Salami
- Prosciutto
- Dill pickles
Fresh Vegetables
For some crunch and brightness, pair smoked salmon with fresh raw veggies. Plenty of vegetables complement the rich fish without overpowering it. Try thinly sliced cucumbers, radish, fennel, bell peppers, or any pickled vegetables. Fresh herbs like dill and chives are also excellent choices. For heartier cooked vegetable side dishes, go for roasted beets, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, or potatoes.
Recommended Fresh Vegetable Pairings
| Raw Vegetables | Cooked Vegetables |
|---|---|
| Cucumbers | Roasted beets |
| Radishes | Brussels sprouts |
| Fennel | Asparagus |
| Red onion | Potatoes |
| Bell peppers | Carrots |
| Dill | Broccoli |
| Chives | Green beans |
Citrus Flavors
Bright, acidic citrus flavors pair excellently with rich smoked salmon. Lemon and lime juices as well as zest cut through the fattiness and accentuate the smoky flavor. Salmon and citrus are often combined in ceviches for this reason. For smoked salmon, try dressing it with a squirt of lemon or lime juice, or adding citrus segments, as garnish. Thinly slice some lemons or limes to lay on a smoked salmon platter. Salmon and orange also pair surprisingly well together – add some orange segments or dressing to the fish.
Recommended Citrus Fruits
- Lemon
- Lime
- Orange
- Grapefruit
Breads and Grains
Carbs like toast, crackers, and baked goods make excellent vehicles for serving smoked salmon. The bread or grain provides a neutral, sturdy base that complements the salmon’s texture perfectly. Classic pairings include rye bread, pumpernickel, and bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Or try smoked salmon on crostini, bruschetta, or flatbread. Hearty grains like faro, quinoa, or brown rice also balance beautifully with smoked salmon in salad or bowl recipes.
Recommended Breads and Grains
- Baguette
- Sourdough
- Rye
- Pumpernickel
- Bagels
- Rice cakes
- Crostini
- Pita chips
- Quinoa
- Brown rice
- Barley
- Couscous
Egg Dishes
Rich, protein-packed egg dishes pair wonderfully with smoked salmon. Eggs and salmon are often combined in appetizers like deviled eggs, and in brunch classics like eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. Or add flaked smoked salmon to omelets, frittatas, scrambles, and quiches. The creamy egg base meshes perfectly with the salty, smoky salmon. Eggs can also be prepared simpler, like soft boiled or poached and served atop bread or a salad with smoked salmon.
Recommended Egg Dish Pairings
- Deviled eggs
- Eggs Benedict
- Omelets
- Frittatas
- Scrambled eggs
- Poached eggs
- Quiche
Crunchy Toppings
For some added texture, top smoked salmon with crunchy garnishes. Toasted nuts like almonds, pine nuts, or pecans contrast the smooth, tender salmon. Toasted breadcrumbs or croutons also pair well and add body. Crunchy veggies like shredded cabbage or thinly sliced radishes or cucumbers add freshness. Granola and muesli make tasty toppings on salmon rice bowls or salads, too.
Recommended Crunchy Toppings
- Sliced almonds
- Chopped walnuts
- Pine nuts
- Pecans
- Sesame seeds
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Croutons
- Shredded cabbage
- Julienne radishes
- Thin sliced cucumbers
- Granola
- Muesli
Dressings and Sauces
Smoked salmon welcomes many bright, acidic dressings and sauces that cut through the richness. A squeeze of fresh lemon or drizzle of vinaigrette pairs simply with salmon. For sauces, options like herb aioli, mustard dill sauce, creamy horseradish, tartar sauce, and hollandaise all complement smoked salmon wonderfully.
Recommended Dressings and Sauces
| Dressings | Sauces |
|---|---|
| Lemon Vinaigrette | Horseradish Cream |
| Red Wine Vinaigrette | Caper Aioli |
| Balsamic Vinaigrette | Tartar Sauce |
| Champagne Vinaigrette | Hollandaise |
| Herb Vinaigrette | Mustard Dill Sauce |
| Citrus Vinaigrette | Soy Ginger Sauce |
Sparkling Wines
Bubbly wines make fantastic pairings for rich smoked salmon. Champagne, prosecco, cava, and other sparkling wines cut through the smoked fish’s fattiness with their brisk effervescence and acidic bubbles. The dryness also cleanses the palate between bites of salmon. Break out bubbly wines for special brunch occasions featuring smoked salmon. Or enjoy smoked salmon blinis with a mimosa or bellini cocktail for a little decadence.
Recommended Sparkling Wines
- Champagne
- Cava
- Prosecco
- Cremant
- Sparkling rosé
White Wines
Lighter-bodied white wines also pair nicely with smoked salmon, cutting through the smoky richness. Go for bright, acidic varieties like sauvignon blanc, unoaked chardonnay, Vinho Verde, Albariño, Grüner Veltliner, and Assyrtiko. Pinot Gris brings out subtle smoky notes as well. Avoid oaky, buttery chardonnays that may overpower the salmon’s delicate flavor.
Recommended White Wine Pairings
| White Wine Varietal | Region(s) |
|---|---|
| Sauvignon Blanc | New Zealand, France |
| Unoaked Chardonnay | Global |
| Pinot Gris | Oregon, Alsace |
| Vinho Verde | Portugal |
| Albariño | Spain |
| Grüner Veltliner | Austria |
| Assyrtiko | Greece |
Rosé
During warmer months, a chilled glass of rosé complements rich smoked salmon beautifully. Dry rosés made from salmon-friendly grapes like Pinot Noir and Grenache pair best. The delicate pink wines have zesty acidity and a refreshing juiciness that balances the salmon’s fattiness. For easy drinking, serve a rosé with smoked salmon appetizers at your next brunch gathering or summer soirée.
Recommended Rosé Wine Regions
- Provence, France
- Oregon, USA
- Rioja, Spain
- Piedmont, Italy
- Napa, California
Teas
For an alcohol-free beverage pairing, brew up some tea! Green teas have a fresh, delicate flavor that won’t overwhelm smoked salmon. Herbal teas like peppermint, chamomile, and lemon verbena also make pleasant pairings. The brightness and aromatics complement the salmon without covering up its taste.
Recommended Teas
- Green tea
- White tea
- Peppermint tea
- Chamomile tea
- Lemon verbena tea
- Honeybush tea
- Rooibos tea
Vegetable Juices
For a light, healthy pairing beverage try vegetable juices like tomato, carrot, beet, or green juices. Their brightness and acidity work like a squeeze of lemon to accentuate the salmon’s flavor. Juices made with ginger, citrus fruits, or spices make particularly good matches. Enjoy your smoked salmon with a refreshing glass of vegetable goodness.
Recommended Vegetable Juices
- Tomato juice
- Carrot juice
- Beet juice
- Green juice
- Ginger juice
- Celery juice
- Spicy Bloody Mary juice
Conclusion
When searching for the perfect pairings for smoked salmon, look for bright, acidic flavors and crunchy, creamy textures to contrast the rich oily fish. Popular options include tangy cheeses, briny cured foods, fresh vegetables and herbs, citrus fruits, toast and bagels, creamy eggs, and crunchy nuts and seeds. Vibrant dressings and sauces, as well as light sparkling wines, white wines, rosés, and teas all make excellent drink accompaniments. With so many tasty choices, it’s easy to create delicious dishes and meals to enjoy your smoked salmon to the fullest.