Smoked salmon is a luxurious and delicious ingredient that can instantly elevate a basic breakfast into something special. From classic flavor pairings to creative recipes, there are so many tasty ways to enjoy smoked salmon in the morning. This article will provide 10 delicious smoked salmon breakfast recipes, serving suggestions, tips for buying and storing smoked salmon, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Classic Smoked Salmon Breakfast Recipes
These tried-and-true smoked salmon breakfast dishes are delicious easy to make and full of flavor.
Bagels with Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, and Garnishes
This classic combination is a go-to breakfast for smoked salmon lovers. Spread cream cheese on a toasted everything or plain bagel top with slices of smoked salmon and garnish with capers, red onion, tomato, and fresh dill. The creaminess of the cheese perfectly complements the smoky salmon.
Smoked Salmon Omelet or Frittata
Beat eggs with milk or cream, then sauté with your choice of vegetables like onions mushrooms, or spinach. Fold in flaked smoked salmon just before eggs are set. Top with crumbled feta or goat cheese.
Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict
Poached eggs and smoked salmon on an English muffin, napped with lemony hollandaise sauce is decadent yet easy to make. Toast muffins, top with salmon, poached eggs, and hollandaise.
Smoked Salmon on Toast with Avocado
Creamy avocado, briny smoked salmon, and crisp toast is a mouthwatering combination. Mash avocado with lemon juice and spread on toast. Top with salmon and finish with everything bagel seasoning, red pepper flakes, or black pepper.
Creative Smoked Salmon Breakfast Recipes
Take your breakfast up a notch with these unique recipes featuring smoked salmon.
Smoked Salmon Breakfast Tacos
Wrap scrambled eggs, smoked salmon, diced tomatoes, and sliced avocado in a warmed corn or flour tortilla for a grab-and-go breakfast.
Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese Crostini
Top baguette slices toasted with garlic-herb butter with whipped goat cheese, smoked salmon, and fresh dill for an elegant appetizer-style breakfast.
Smoked Salmon Latkes with Sour Cream and Caviar
Fried potato pancakes or latkes topped with sour cream, smoked salmon, and caviar or salmon roe makes for an indulgent brunch.
Smoked Salmon and Broccoli Quiche
A quiche filled with smoked salmon, broccoli, cheese, and egg is perfect for breakfast on the go. Serve slices warm or at room temperature.
Smoked Salmon Scramble with Dill and Chives
For a quick and protein-packed breakfast, combine flaked smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lemon.
How to Serve Smoked Salmon for Breakfast
Beyond classic smoked salmon recipes, there are so many easy ways to enjoy smoked salmon in the morning:
- On bagels, toast, or English muffins with cream cheese or butter
- Scrambled into eggs or folded into an omelet or frittata
- Mixed into hash browns or potato pancakes
- On top of waffles or crepes with sour cream and dill
- With yogurt, cottage cheese, or ricotta cheese and fresh fruit
- Rolled up inside crepes or blintzes with herbs and vegetables
- On top of avocado toast for added creaminess
- Inside breakfast sandwiches instead of deli meat
- As a topping for hot cereals or oatmeal
Tips for Buying and Storing Smoked Salmon
Follow these tips to get the most out of your smoked salmon:
- Look for wild-caught salmon for better flavor and texture
- Choose salmon cured with natural wood smoke, not liquid smoke flavoring
- Opt for salmon cured with salt rather than lots of preservatives
- Store smoked salmon sealed in the fridge for 5-7 days maximum
- Freeze smoked salmon for up to 2-3 months if you won’t use it in time
- Thaw frozen smoked salmon overnight in the fridge
Frequently Asked Questions
Is smoked salmon healthy to eat for breakfast?
Yes! Smoked salmon is high in protein and healthy omega-3 fatty acids. It provides vitamins D, B12, selenium, potassium, iron, and more. However, it is high in sodium, so enjoy in moderation.
What drinks pair well with smoked salmon breakfasts?
Try sparkling wines, orange juice, grapefruit juice, green tea, coffee, or English breakfast tea with milk.
How can I tell if smoked salmon has gone bad?
Signs of spoiled smoked salmon include off or sour odors, slimy texture, dull or grey appearance, or mold growth. Discard if any of these are present.
Is it safe to eat smoked salmon during pregnancy?
Pregnant women should take caution and only eat smoked salmon that has been frozen or cooked to 165°F to kill any potential listeria bacteria. Check with your doctor.
What are good smoked salmon substitutes for vegetarians?
Try smoked tofu, eggplant, mushrooms, or marinated tempeh for similar smoky flavors. Beets, carrots, and sweet potatoes also work for desired pink hues.
With so many easy recipes and serving suggestions, there’s no reason not to enjoy delicious smoked salmon for breakfast any day of the week. From bagels to tacos, smoked salmon can upgrade any morning meal.
The difference between hot and cold smoked salmon
My favorite smoked salmon is thelox or cold smoked style. It has an almost raw texture that melts in your mouth. It is smoked for a long time at a low temperature that cures the salmon without cooking it. The best tastes salty, mildly sweet, and smoky.
Hot smoked salmon has a cooked texture. Cures and marinade recipes tend to get more creative. Teriyaki, maple and candied salmon are some popular flavors of hot smoked salmon. It is smoked at a higher temperature for less time than cold smoked fish and can be chopped or flaked into chunks to use.
How To Slice Lox/Cold Smoked Salmon
To slice a filet or piece of lox or cold smoked salmon, youll want to start with a long and very sharp knive. A carving knife with small grooves in the blade can help prevent the salmon from sticking to the blade and tearing.
Keep your fish cold until slicing. Hold your knife at a 45 angle. Starting at the tail (narrower end) slice away from the wider part, towards the end of the tail as thinly as you can. Lay each piece of fish on a plate and continue slicing until done.
Want to know how much to buy? Read A Guide To How Much Salmon Per Person For A Serving.
The picture below is the knife I own and use. It was recommended by a friend of mine that is a sushi chef because of the grooves that help keep the salmon from sticking to the knife. If you are new to this, watch this video on how to slice smoked salmon. Below is the Victorinox knife I use for slicing lox and cold smoked salmon.
Perfect for the holiday season, these are the easiest smoked salmon brunch recipes if youre feeding a crowd. Cream cheese, capers, hard boiled eggs, lemon, red onion, fruits, veggies and more pair up with bagels or crackers for big, beautiful breakfast boards, platters and buffets.
Smoked salmon pate, spread and dip is a great make-ahead dish that compliments many brunch buffets. Serve alongside toasted English muffins, crackers or toast and eggs. A delicious savory recipe for any breakfast.
From the classic breakfast sandwich with a jammy egg to a Scandinavian rye bread version known as smørrebrød and lots in between, here are the best recipes for smoked salmon breakfast toast and sandwiches! (These are my personal favorite ways to eat smoked salmon.)
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Eggs and smoked salmon are a classic combination and for good reason. Delicate omelets, pillowy scrambled eggs, sunny side up and eggs benedict with a runny yolk are decadent and comforting at the same time. Check out these salmon breakfast recipes including a classic eggs benny and a lightened up version with yogurt sauce.