Shaped to look like ogre eyes, these spooky smoked salmon and cream cheese canapés with dill will give your party a touch of quick elegance. These appetizers are gluten-free, grain-free and keto!
Every Halloween, I struggle to balance cute and terrifying, childish or over-complicated. One appetizer that strikes the perfect balance is smoked salmon canapes, which look festive and taste amazing while also being incredibly easy to make.
These tasty bites will catch the eye of your friends and family (pun intended), offering a sophisticated and healthy alternative to the usual sugary Halloween treats.
In just 10 minutes, you can create spooky smoked salmon canapés that resemble ogre eyes. Made with smoked salmon, cream cheese, pimento olives, and fresh dill, they are a delightful Halloween-themed appetizer at just 60 calories each.
Why You Are Going to Love This Recipe
These easy smoked salmon bites are perfect for your upcoming Halloween party! Trust me, you're going to love this recipe for a few reasons.
- Quick: This easy smoked salmon canapés recipe is incredibly easy to prepare and takes just 10 minutes.
- Few ingredients: These little smokey morsels are created with smoked salmon, cream cheese, pimento-stuffed olives and dill, making them light and delicious.
- Halloween-themed: shaped like bloodshot ogre eyes, they surely stay on theme!
- Healthy Halloween snacks: these canapés are healthier than most Halloween treats out there. Each one has only 60 calories, so you can enjoy them guilt-free. This is a great alternative to indulging in endless candy bars and other sugary treats on Halloween night.
Elegant: This salmon canapes recipe can be served as an elegant appetizer, standing out from the usual greasy party fare. Your guests will appreciate the creativity and care that went into making these unique canapés.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you need for these easy-to-create-themed treats:
- Smoked salmon: High-quality smoked salmon will make all the difference, so be sure to purchase the best you can find.
- Cream cheese: Choose a soft and spreadable cream cheese, ensuring it's easy to work with. You can also use a block of cream cheese, as long as it's softened to room temperature.
- Pimento olives: We'll be using green olives stuffed with pimento peppers to add depth of flavor and a spooky touch to the canapés.
- Dill: Fresh dill adds a touch of brightness and extra flavor to the smoked salmon and cream cheese combination.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Step-by-Step Process
Prep Ingredients:
Start by cutting the smoked salmon into 8 small pieces or strips. Then, slice 16 pimento-stuffed olives into rounds. Be sure to reserve some fresh dill for later decorating.
Create Cream Cheese Eyes:
Take a small amount of cream cheese and shape it into small, 1-inch-sized balls.
Wrap with Smoked Salmon:
Next, carefully place each strip of smoked salmon around each cream cheese ball to create the appearance of eyes. I like it when the salmon hangs over the edge like fleshy eyelids!
Decorate Eyes:
Using small pieces of fresh dill, carefully outline veins on the cream cheese-covered salmon to enhance the eye effect.
Add Olive Pupils:
Finish by placing a sliced olive in the center of each cream cheese-covered salmon "eye" to create pupils.
Serve:
Serve these impressive and delicious Halloween smoked salmon canapés to your guests immediately.
Storage
Storing Halloween smoked salmon canapes effectively is essential for keeping them fresh and maintaining their flavor. Here's what you need to do to make sure my canapes stay fresh:
First, always keep your smoked salmon canapes in the refrigerator to prevent the growth of bacteria. I suggest arranging them on a plate and covering them with plastic wrap, ensuring everything is sealed properly. This helps maintain their moisture and prevents them from drying out or becoming stale.
If you plan to store your smoked salmon canapes for more than one day, consider placing them in an airtight container. This will keep the flavors intact and prevent them from absorbing the smell of other foods in the fridge.
While it's possible to freeze the canapes, remember that the texture can change upon thawing which might impact the quality of your appetizers. I personally find that they can lose their taste and become overly mushy when thawed. Therefore, I typically refrain from freezing them.
Variations
One popular variation of Halloween smoked salmon canapés involves creating cute little pumpkins using smoked salmon, cream cheese, black olives, and green peppers. These offer another healthy alternative for Halloween.
You can position these ogre eyes on top of cucumber slices. Simply cut a cucumber into slices and use each bite-sized piece as a bed for your salmon and cream cheese bomb.
I also enjoy making smoked salmon canapés with cream cheese and dill and layering them on top of blinis or crostinis.
For a different take on flavor, consider adding asparagus, capers, and lemon juice to your smoked salmon canapés.
Top Tips
As a lover of smoked salmon canapés, I want to share a few essential tips collected from various recipes like The Rare Welsh Bit and Hint of Healthy.
First, the choice of bread is crucial. You can use blinis, crostinis, or even simple sliced cucumber for a low-carb option. Make sure to toast the bread lightly for a crispy base that perfectly complements the cream cheese and smoked salmon.
While preparing the cream cheese mix, I recommend using fresh herbs such as dill or chives and adding a bit of lemon zest to brighten up the flavor. You can also try incorporating other ingredients, like artichoke, as seen on Homebody Eats.
To make the canapés visually appealing, try cutting the smoked salmon into different shapes like pumpkins for Halloween, or simply rolling them into small bites. Remember that presentation is key, and garnishing with a sprig of fresh dill or a slice of lemon will add a touch of elegance.
Lastly, you can make the cream cheese mixture ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This will save you time and ensure that your smoked salmon canapés are fresh and delicious when they're served.
Accompanying Dishes
When I host a Halloween party, smoked salmon canapés are always a hit, but it's important to also offer some diverse dishes to please all guests. In this section, I'll discuss a few accompanying dishes that pair well with those spooky smoked salmon canapés.
For a diverse assortment of snacks and treats that perfectly complement your smoked salmon canapes, consider preparing a Halloween Snack Board. This board offers a range of flavors and textures, providing your guests with a variety of choices.
Spruce up your Halloween gathering with a creative twist on a classic dish by serving Halloween Skeleton Elote. The visual appeal and bold flavors of this dish will add a fun and festive element to your celebration.
To round off the meal with a sweet and spooky touch, consider pairing your smoked salmon canapes with Halloween Chocolate Mousse Cups. These delightful cups will perfectly complement the savory and visually captivating nature of your canapes.
Finally, to round out the table, I always make sure to have some crackers on hand as an option for these canapes. Simple Ritz crackers or Mary's gluten-free crackers provide a tasty and classic accompaniment to these delicious smoked salmon canapés garnished with fresh dill.
For more Halloween recipes:
Recipe
Tried and loved this recipe? Please leave a 5-star review below! Your reviews mean a lot to me, so if you've got any questions, please let me know in a comment.
Halloween Smoked Salmon Eye Canapes
Ingredients
- 8 slices smoked salmon
- ½ cup cream cheese
- 16 pimento-stuffed olives
- Fresh dill for decorating
Instructions
Prep Ingredients:
- Cut the smoked salmon into 8 small pieces or strips.
- Slice 16 pimento-stuffed olives into rounds.
- Reserve some fresh dill for decorating.
Create Cream Cheese Eyes:
- Take a small amount of cream cheese and shape it into small, 1-inch-sized balls.
Wrap with Smoked Salmon:
- Gently wrap a piece of smoked salmon around each cream cheese ball to create the appearance of eyes.
Decorate Eyes:
- Using small pieces of fresh dill, outline veins on the cream cheese-covered salmon to enhance the eye effect.
Add Olive Pupils:
- Place a sliced olive in the center of each cream cheese-covered salmon "eye" for pupils.
- Serve your Halloween Smoked Salmon Eye Canapes to your guests immediately, or store them in the fridge for up to 1 day. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
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