Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites
Looking for the best protein-packed, bite-sized party snack? This easy Smoked Salmon Bites Appetizer showcases wild-caught smoked salmon, creamy yogurt dill sauce, and capers atop crispy roasted potato rounds. Perfect for casual and elegant gatherings alike!
With game day Sundays and the holiday season in full swing, I’m always looking for fresh, exciting ways to serve smoked salmon as an appetizer. These delicious smoked salmon potato bites are an excellent example! They’re an easy yet impressive dish that will have your guests doing a double take.
Now, this smoked salmon appetizer may look like a fancy schmancy, high-class hors d’oeuvre, but it’s actually quite simple. Just crisp up your potato slices, mix up a creamy yogurt herb sauce, and assemble. The result? Perfectly balanced bites with a healthy punch of protein!
Whether you’re serving them at casual get-togethers or elegant gatherings, these salmon potato bites are sure to stand out. Give them a try, and let me know what you think!
Recipe features
- Just a few steps. Perfect for when you need something impressive without spending hours in the kitchen!
- Healthy choice. Prepare a protein-packed, naturally gluten-free snack that’s perfect for the holidays or any occasion.
- Super versatile. You can customize this easy salmon appetizer from top to bottom. The possibilities are endless!
Ingredients you’ll need
- Russet potatoes. Their starchy nature makes Russets ideal for achieving firm, slightly crispy yet tender potato rounds. You can substitute Yukon Gold, though they may have a somewhat different texture.
- Olive oil. A spritz of extra virgin olive oil helps the potatoes crisp up beautifully. Avocado oil or a light cooking oil spray also works, but don’t use too much. You want to keep the bites light and not greasy.
- Seasoned salt. To season the potatoes. If you don’t have seasoned salt, sprinkle a mix of salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
- Fresh chives. Finely chopped and sprinkled over the cooked potatoes for a mild onion-like flavor and a pop of color.
- Greek yogurt. The rich, tangy base of the sauce. Use plain, unsweetened, full-fat Greek yogurt for the best results. Or substitute it with sour cream if preferred.
- Cream cheese. Enhances the richness and creaminess of the sauce. Make sure it’s softened for easy mixing.
- Capers. These add salty, tangy flavor bursts that pair wonderfully with the smoked salmon. Make sure to drain them well.
- Fresh dill. You’ll use it in the sauce and as a garnish. The bright, herbaceous note complements the salmon and sauce perfectly.
- Lemon juice and lemon zest. Bottled lemon juice can work in a pinch if you don’t have fresh lemons, but the zest is irreplaceable. The zesty brightness lifts every flavor of the dish.
- Salt and fresh cracked black pepper. Simple but essential seasonings for the sauce.
- Smoked salmon. Last but certainly not least –our salmon appetizer’s rich, smoky star. I prefer wild-caught smoked salmon, as it has fewer calories than farmed salmon, more calcium, iron, potassium, and less sodium. Farmed fish also packs three times more saturated fat than wild salmon, so go wild!
How to make smoked salmon appetizer bites
Step 1: Prep the potatoes. After washing the potatoes and slicing them into ¼” thick rounds, soak the rounds in cold water for 15 minutes. Pat the rounds completely dry. You can slice them a bit thicker and adjust the cooking time, if desired.
Step 2: Cook the potatoes. Cook the potato rounds in the air fryer until they turn lightly golden but not crunchy. Refer to my Air Fryer Sliced Potatoes Recipe for the complete step-by-step.
Step 3: Cool and season. Remove the cooked potato rounds from the air fryer, then set them aside to cool to room temperature. Season with finely chopped chives and a little salt and pepper, if desired.
Step 4: Prepare the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, capers, chopped dill, lemon juice, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt until smooth and creamy.
Step 5: Assemble. Top each potato round with 1-2 teaspoons of the yogurt sauce. Place a slice of smoked salmon on top, followed by a few capers, fresh chives, and a small sprig of fresh dill.
Step 6: Serve. Serve the smoked salmon bites on a serving platter at room temperature, and watch them disappear!
Recipe tips and FAQs
- Perfect potato rounds. Don’t skip soaking the potato slices in cold water. This step removes excess starch, which is key to achieving a crisp exterior and tender interior. After soaking, pat the potato slices completely dry, as any excess moisture can prevent them from getting crispy.
- Season to perfection. Sprinkle fresh chives over the potatoes as soon as they come out of the air fryer. The residual heat will help the flavors meld together. Also, be sure to use fresh dill and freshly squeezed lemon juice/ zest in the yogurt sauce and adjust the salt and pepper to taste. This ensures the perfect balance of flavors.
- Assemble before serving. To keep the potatoes firm and crispy, assemble the bites just before serving. You can prepare the components in advance and store them in separate containers in the fridge –just be sure to assemble them at the last minute.
Variations
If you want to customize this smoked salmon appetizer, here are some tasty variations you might like:
- Salmon roll-ups – Skip the potatoes altogether! Instead, spread the yogurt sauce over a slice of smoked salmon, add a few capers, and roll it up like a cigar. Secure with a toothpick and garnish with a sprig of fresh dill for an elegant, low-carb high-protein bite-sized snack!
- Instead of potatoes – Feel free to serve the sauce, salmon, and dill on other sturdy hand held snacks, such as cucumber slices, endive leaves, toasted baguette slices, whole-grain, or gluten-free crackers.
- Caper-free version – If you’re not into capers, finely chopped pickles, olives, or pickled onions can provide a similar briny kick.
Of course! If you don’t have an air fryer, preheat your oven to 425°F. Arrange the potato slices in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet or silicone baking mat. Spritz or brush both sides with olive oil, and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, until the potatoes are lightly golden and tender.
To cut smoked salmon for appetizers, use a sharp knife or kitchen shears to slice it thinly against the grain into small, manageable strips that will sit nicely atop the potato rounds or other bases you choose.
If you want to try something a bit different, try swapping the smoked salmon in this recipe for lox (cured salmon) or smoked trout.
Storing
I highly recommend eating these the same day that they are prepared. However, you can store any leftover potatoes, smoked salmon, and other toppings separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
More simple seafood appetizer recipes
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Smoked Salmon Appetizer Bites
Ingredients
- Recipe for Air-fried potato slices for the base (or refer to other options in the notes)
- 1 tbsp fresh chives finely chopped
- 4 oz plain Greek yogurt
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 tbsp fresh dill finely chopped
- 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ½ tsp fresh lemon zest
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 12 oz wild caught smoked Salmon thinly sliced
- 3 tbsp capers drained of juice
- fresh cracked pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare potatoes (if using) using my air fryer potato slices method. Refer to the recipe post above for oven instructions and see the notes below for potato substitutions.
- Remove the cooked potato rounds from the air fryer, then set them aside to cool to room temperature. Season with finely chopped chives and a little salt and pepper, if desired.
- Whisk together Greek yogurt, cream cheese, chopped dill, lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt until smooth and creamy.
- Top each potato round with 1-2 teaspoons of yogurt sauce, a slice of salmon, a few capers, fresh chives, and a small sprig of fresh dill.
- Serve the salmon bites on a serving platter at room temperature.
Notes
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- Salmon roll-ups – Skip the potatoes altogether! Instead, spread the yogurt sauce over a slice of smoked salmon, add a few capers, and roll it up like a cigar. Secure with a toothpick and garnish with a sprig of fresh dill for an elegant, bite-sized low-carb high-protein snack!
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- Instead of potatoes – Feel free to serve the sauce, salmon, and dill on other sturdy hand held snacks, such as cucumber slices, endive leaves, toasted baguette slices, whole-grain, or gluten-free crackers or bagel chips. Baked garlic pita chips are a personal favorite swap. I love the contrasting textures with the cracker and chip base.
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- Caper-free version – If you’re not into capers, finely chopped pickles, olives, or pickled onions can provide a similar briny kick.
Nutrition
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Seriously drooling. What a brilliant idea!!
Thank you so much Karli! ๐
I love the idea of using potatoes instead of crackers!
Thank you Pam! I like adding a healthy twist. ๐
Amee, these look awesome! Such a perfect party dish. I just finished recipe testing a dish using sweet potato rounds- great minds…!
Thank you Sonali! I’m looking forward to seeing what you created!:)
THE most important reason for wild salmon is Taste. There is absolutely no comparison between the two. Farmed salmon has no flavor what-so-ever and I will never buy it again. I’m “native american” and know salmon.
Agreed! I love wild salmon!!