All you need is 4 ingredients to make this smoked salmon cucumber appetizer recipe.
These tasty appetizers are very elegant yet super simple to make. Their subtle flavor makes it easy to serve with almost any meal.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
How to make smoked salmon cucumber appetizers
- First, combine the softened cream cheese, chopped dill, and smoked salmon into a smooth spread. Then, peel the cucumber into thin strips using a vegetable peeler.
- You’ll want to blot each cucumber slice with a paper towel to absorb any moisture on the cucumber. This will really help with spreading the smoked salmon cream cheese spread on top.
- Now spread the smoked salmon spread on top and tightly roll each sliced cucumber up.
TIPS to make smoked salmon cucumber appetizer.
- I like to use a “Y” shaped peeler to get wider strips of cucumber.
- Also, pat the sliced cucumber with paper towels to dry them so the cream cheese mixture doesn’t slide around.
- If you use room temperature cream cheese, it will really help better incorporate the smoked salmon.
Can I make smoked salmon cucumber rolls ahead of time?
Unfortunately, these appetizers are best served an hour or 2 after making them. So, you can’t make them too far in advance or they may get a little soggy. Also, make sure to keep them refrigerated until ready to serve.
Can I use lox or cold smoked salmon instead of hot smoked salmon?
Technically, you can, but the texture and taste will be different than with hot smoked salmon.
What is the difference between cold smoked and hot smoked salmon?
Cold smoked salmon often referred to as lox is cured in a salt and sugar rub or brine. Hot smoked salmon is actually smoked and cooked with heat.
This recipe was inspired by one of my first recipes published on my blog, smoked salmon appetizers. I’ve decided to make a low-carb, and healthier version of the first salmon appetizer on my blog. And to my surprise, this healthier version of the recipe is more popular!
If you love salmon, try these other salmon recipes:
Salmon Wellington– Salmon and cheesy spinach wrapped in puff pastry.
Panko Crusted Salmon– with lemony garlic mayonnaise and crispy panko Parmesan crust.
Pesto Butter Salmon– baked with fresh basil pesto butter.
These are the best smoked salmon cucumber appetizer you've ever tried. They're so simple yet so elegant looking.
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 tbsp dill chopped
- 3 oz smoked salmon
- Combine softened cream cheese, chopped dill, and smoked salmon into a smooth spread.
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel the cucumber into thin strips.
- Spread the smoked salmon spread onto each strip and roll up.
- Serve chilled.
This recipe was originally posted on July 12, 2016. As you can see, it has been updated since. Here are some of our older images.
These look so elegant! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you Anna! 🙂
So does the salmon have to be cooked? Or can I use raw salmon? For my hubby for his bday party 🙂 yummy!!
Hi Sarah, there are 2 different types of smoked salmon (hot smoked and cold smoked). This recipe calls for applewood smoked salmon which is hot smoked, therefore it is cooked. I hope you all enjoy this recipe 🙂
Can this be prepared the day before?
Hi Kay, its best to prepare it the day of. It will probably get soggy if you do it too far in advance.
I would say cooked
Hi Dina!
Can i prepare the filling a few days in advance? And then assemble before serving..
Hi Di, yes you can definitely make the filling in advance. Just keep it refrigerated in an air tight container.
wow, just what I was looking for, even a guy should be able to handle this one, lol
Hi Travis, that’s great! Hope you enjoy them 🙂
If you finely mineed pimento or red pepper and mixed it in the salmon spread it would make the red/green contrast really spectacular for Christmas…
If you finely minced pimento or red pepper and mixed it in the salmon spread it would make the red/green contrast really spectacular for Christmas…
Great idea for a Christmas party Sandra!
Sorry. I meant ‘minced’.
This looks fabulous! I’m going to be popular tomorrow. Thanks a lot.
Aroha
Haha you’re welcome Aroha!
I used this as an appetizer for a potluck of 85, they were gone before they even made it to the table! Great recipe I will for sure use it again!
Thank you Molly! That’s awesome 🙂
Hi! I’m getting married this summer and planning on making some apps for our guests post-dinner when everyone is drinking and could use some nibbles (I’m on a major budget, so can’t cater in post-dinner food).
These look delish and I think it would be a great item to serve, but I’m wondering how long these will keep? If I were to make them on a Thursday, would they last till Saturday evening?
Any other ideas on easy apps to pre-make (serving about 100 guests) would be so super appreciated!!
Hi Anna, congratulations! These smoked salmon cucumber rolls won’t taste as fresh if you make them to early in advance. You don’t want to eat them any later than 1 day after making them. I have a smoked salmon appetizer that would probably last 1 day longer and it’s very budget friendly as well. Here is the link… https://simplyhomecooked.com/salmon-cream-cheese-cups/
Wow, those look delicious! I have to make today haha. Thank you for the recipe 🙂
You’re welcome Victor, enjoy! 🙂
Hi, these look so good. I can’t eat cream cheese though. Is there something else I can use instead? Would a Greek yogurt work?
Hi Diane, I don’t think Greek yogurt will work. It will be too runny compared to cream cheese.
tell me how to peel the cucumber. Do you peel off the peel first? If you do that, how to you get the pretty dark green edge? Do you recommend a seedless English cucumber?
Hi Faye, no I do not peel off the outer dark green peel. I recommend a seedless cucumber.
How do you get them to stay together when you roll them up?
Hi Emily, mine stayed together when I rolled them. If they aren’t staying together, maybe try putting a toothpick through the rolls?
Hi 🙂 Is it possible to make the filling the day before and keep it in the fridge?
Hi Mai, yes the filling can be made a day in advance, as long as it’s refrigerated.
Where did you get your salmon from? Can a different kind of salmon be used? For instance something like this http://www.publix.com/pd/vita-classic-salmon-atlantic-nova-sliced-smoked-premium/RIO-PCI-101169
Hi Tanya, the salmon you linked is lox. It won’t work because it won’t flake the same way. It will change the texture of the cream cheese mixture making it very hard to spread onto the cucumber slices.
I am so excited to try this recipe, I was just curious if you cook the salmon at all, or if it is precooked? Thanks so much!
Hi Meghan, the salmon is precooked 🙂
Hi there I can’t find anywhere how many syns there are in these please?
Ps I’ve just made them for a party and they’re delicious!
Hey Ruth, I’m glad you enjoyed them! At the bottom of the recipe, in the print version, it should say that it makes about 30 rolls.
Replaced dill with a dash of lime chopped chilli and corriander. Both recipes are amazing
Thank you Mila 🙂
One thing that I found when spreading the spread on the cucumber slices is that the moisture from the cucumber caused the spread to slide around. What I did to remedy this was to blot the cucumber slices between two pieces of paper towel to take away the moisture. Then the salmon cream cheese spread well.
Thanks for the tip Matt!
Hey! Can I use something else instead of salmon? As tuna for example?
Hi Lorena, you could use tuna if you prefer the taste more 🙂
Can i use smoked salmon in a pkg ?
Hi Margaret, I’m not too sure what you mean. The salmon I used in the recipe is hot smoked (packaged) salmon.
Could I use can crabmeat in place of the salmon? Thank you!!
Hi Lynne, I’ve never tried it with crabmeat, but if you prefer the taste of crab over smoked salmon, give it a try 🙂
Hey how do I get the spread to stick to the cucumber
Hi Amanda, you can try to pat the cucumber with a paper towel if tis too wet.
Could you use crab meat, real or imitation?
Hi Melody, you could use imitation or real crab meat but it will have a different taste compared to the smoked salmon.
what kind of peeler are you using for the cucumber? I’m just learning how to cook so I appologize for sounding stupid. I tried a potatoe peeler and it didn’t work. Help. Karin
Hi Karin, don’t worry, potato peelers are more common so it would only make sense to use what you have. This recipe requires a “Y” type of peeler. Here is a link to where you can purchase one. Most stores should have them as well 🙂 https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Y-Peeler/dp/B00004OCIU/ref=sr_1_6?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1531028050&sr=1-6&keywords=vegetable+peeler
Hello!
I made these yesterday and they were really delicious. However, they got SUPER soggy and watery, which took away the magic of the creamy cheesy filing. Do you have any tips on how to make it so the cuke does slobber all over over time?
Hi Michelle, it really helps to blot the sliced cucumber with a dry paper towel before spreading on the cream cheese 🙂
Hi! I’m planning on making this for dinner for my wife. Is there any meal that would go well with this?
Hello Esa, these cucumber rolls would probably pair best with a summer dish. Any gilled meat would go well here.
Can you use dried dill ?
Typically if a dish requires cooking, you can get a away with using dried herbs since cooking them will extract more flavor. In this case, I would stick with fresh herbs since there is no cooking required here.
Can these be made with canned flaked salmon? I plan to make them for my Herb Club Harvest Dinner!
Hi Donna, you can use flaked canned salmon but it will taste a little different than the smoked salmon.
We made these for a shower and they are beautiful and delicious. But we only got 13 out of a recipe and we doubled the salmon. How do you get 30? We want to do these again.
Hi Polly, I’m glad to hear you enjoyed them 🙂 I think the number of servings depends on the size of the cucumber.
These look awesome! What is the carb count? I didn’t see it in the nutrition info. I’m looking for net carbs. Either for the who recipe or per roll please..
Thank you, Shelly. That’s a great question. I don’t seem to see any carb count in the nutrition info. I will look into that and see why it doesn’t display the number of carbs. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.