What makes a creamy dip, crispy latke, or cheesy puff even more irresistible? A smoky garnish, like a ribbon of cold-smoked salmon or a dusting of smoked paprika salt. Put out one of these flavorful appetizers, many of which use store-bought shortcuts like smoked fish, ahead of your next dinner party or holiday gathering, and give the event an instant upgrade.
Gougères with Smoked Salmon, Caviar and Prosciutto
Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Ruth Blackburn / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman
Made with nutty Gruyère, these airy cheese puffs are the perfect vessel for silky smoked salmon and crème fraîche. Garnish them all with salmon and caviar, or mix it up with a few slices of prosciutto.
Smoked Salmon Dip
Smoked salmon is blitzed into a base of mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese for this velvety dip. Fresh dill, chives, and lemon juice keep things bright.
Smoked Trout Toasts
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christine Keely
Crispy fried challah is topped with a creamy hot-smoked trout salad, then coated in crunchy sesame seeds for this tasty snack from chef Evan Bloom.
Pizza with Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraîche, and Caviar
Topped with tender smoked salmon and black or golden caviar, this chive-laced pizza from legendary chef Wolfgang Puck is the perfect high-low combination for any party.
Smoked Bluefish Spread
This easy and luscious dip from culinary historian Jessica B. Harris combines smoked bluefish with fluffy whipped cream cheese, tangy whole-milk yogurt, and dashes of tangy hot sauce and horseradish.
Barbecued Oysters with Smoky Uni Butter
A smoked paprika uni butter takes these roasted oysters from chef Brandon Boulet over the top. They’re perfect with a squeeze of lemon.
Smoked Sausage Wreath
This holiday-ready appetizer comes together easily thanks to store-bought puff pastry, smoked sausage, and lingonberry jam.
Smoky Pineapple Tequila Punch
Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
A pureed cold-smoked pineapple is the secret to this crowd-pleasing tropical cocktail with reposado tequila, nutty orgeat, and lime juice.
Smoked Fish Dip
You can use any kind of oily fish like amberjack, mackerel, or trout for this creamy dip, which gets seasoned with lemon juice, mustard, horseradish, and Old Bay.
Smoked Cheese Cocktail Cookies
Flavored with smoked Gouda and sharp cheddar cheese, these buttery and savory cookies from famous cookbook author Dorie Greenspan get a little kick from a pinch of cayenne.
Potato Pancakes with Smoked Salmon, Caviar and Dill Cream
These crispy pancakes from Wolfgang Puck are a perfect match for smoked salmon and caviar, especially when served with dill-flecked crème fraîche.
Smoked Salmon Smørrebrød
Serve guests a hearty appetizer with these open-faced rye sandwiches from chef Claus Meyer, topped with buttery smoked salmon, a tangy horseradish cream sauce, and a fennel apple salad.
Smoked Bluefish Pâté
This creamy, smoky pâté from chefs Gabriel Frasca and Amanda Lydon is brightened up with fresh parsley and lemon juice.
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Chef Michael Mina upgrades a classic deviled egg filling with chopped smoked salmon, Dijon mustard, and cornichons.
Cracklings with Smoked Paprika
These jalapeño and coriander-seasoned pork cracklings from chef Michael Symon are fried to crispy perfection, then rolled in a smoked paprika salt for what might just be the perfect drinking snack.
Smoked Salmon Crisps
For these iconic canapés from chef Thomas Keller, buttery tuiles are topped with melt-in-your-mouth smoked salmon and tangy crème fraîche.
Smoked Salmon-Stuffed Puffs
The surprise inside these ethereal puffs from chef Gabriel Kreuther: a smoked salmon and cream cheese filling that gets a little tang from Dijon mustard.
Smoked Trout and Caper Cream Cheese Toasts
These loaded English muffins would be equally appropriate served at a party or special brunch. They’re easily adaptable to any smoked fish or bread you have on hand.
Smoked Salmon Toasts with Mustard Butter
These crostini from chef David Tanis are smeared with a softened lemony mustard butter, then topped with luscious slices of smoked salmon and bright dill.
Salmon Martini
Channel bagel-and-lox vibes into a savory cocktail with this Martini riff from Bar Bruno in Los Angeles, which features a smoked salmon-infused gin and caperberry garnish.
Herbed Salmon Tartare with Chips
This light and tangy tartare from chef Nadine Levy Redzepi gets its smoky flavor from hot-smoked salmon and is brightened up with cucumbers and cornichons.
Crab Cakes with Smoky Onion Remoulade
Replicate the flavor of smoked onions by charring them under your broiler, then transform them into a smoky-sweet mayonnaise-based sauce to serve with these crispy crab cakes from chef Marc Forgione.
Texas Smoked Salmon Tartare
This snack from chef Dean Fearing is inspired by the classic combination of smoked salmon, red onion, and capers. Here, all three are joined by roasted garlic, lime juice, and jalapeño for a Southwestern spin, then served on a tortilla chip.
Zucchini Latkes with Red Pepper Jelly and Smoked Trout
Inspired by zucchini fritters, these crispy zucchini-potato latkes from chef Rachel Klein are perfectly balanced by hot-smoked trout and spicy-sweet jelly.
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