Easy Salmon Dip Recipe — Zestful Kitchen (2024)

This easy Salmon Dip makes an elegant and unique appetizer for holidays, dinner parties or appetizers-for-dinner kind of nights. This salmon dip is made with canned salmon, cottage cheese, dill and a touch of horseradish. It’s creamy and luscious and gets topped off with zesty olive-drenched olives. It’s a retro yet elevated appetizer that will impress.

Ingredients Needed

  • Cottage cheese: use whole milk cottage cheese for the creamiest flavor. You’ll need 1 cup, so if you buy a big container use the leftover cottage cheese to make my Cottage Cheese Cake, Cottage Cheese Pancakes or Cottage Cheese Lasagna.
  • Salmon: this salmon dip is made with canned salmon. You’ll need 1 (6-ounce) can of wild salmon. I like to use Wild Planet Salmon for this dip and to make my Salmon Patties.
  • Herbs: for this recipe you’ll need some fresh dill and fresh chives. I have tons of recipes that use both herbs, so don’t worry if you have leftovers. Use both in my Sour Cream Potato Salad as well as my Shrimp Rolls.
  • Mayonnaise: just a tablespoon is needed to add some savoriness and depth of flavor.
  • Horseradish: use purchased horseradish sold in the refrigerated section. Avoid the creamy prepared horseradish. You’ll need 1 tablespoon.
  • Olive Oil, salt and pepper: three pantry ingredients! Use good olive oil. I develop my recipes with Morton kosher salt which is saltier by weight than Diamond Crystal. If you are using Diamond Crystal, use a bit more or just be sure to season to taste at the end.
  • Olives: you’ll need pitted green olives, I recommend using Castelvetrano or Frescatrano olives. One thing to keep in mind, if they’re cheap, they’re cheap for a reason.
  • Lemon: you’ll need just 1 lemon and you’ll be zesting it. Save the zested lemon for juicing for another recipe.
Easy Salmon Dip Recipe — Zestful Kitchen (1)

How to Make Easy Salmon Dip

  1. Drain the cottage cheese in a fine mesh strainer for 15 minutes. Straining the cottage cheese with remove excess liquid and make for a very creamy and rich dip.
  2. Blend the drained cottage cheese in a mini food processor until very smooth, about 1 minute. (A large food processor won’t process 1 cup of cottage cheese as smoothly as a mini food processor. If you don’t have a mini food processor, use a blender.)
  3. Add the salmon, dill, mayonnaise, horseradish, olive oil, salt and pepper to processor with cottage cheese and process until smooth. Spread the dip onto a medium plate.
  4. Add the drained olives to a medium mixing bowl. Pat the olives dry a bit with a paper towel then toss the olives with olive oil, zest of 1 lemon and chives and toss to coat.
  5. Spoon the olives over the dip and serve with chips.
Easy Salmon Dip Recipe — Zestful Kitchen (2)

What to Serve Salmon Dip With

  • Since this dip feels retro, I recommend serving it with potato chips. Nothing better! You can also serve this dip with thin crackers, pretzel crisps or pita chips.
  • If you’re looking for other appetizers to serve this with, try my Vegetarian Stuffed Mushrooms or Spinach Artichoke Mac ‘n Cheese Cups.
  • For a fun take on the classic Smoked Salmon Platter, serve this dip with Buckwheat Blini as apart of a brunch spread.

FAQs

Do you think trout would work just as well with this recipe?

Absolutely, that sounds delicious! I also have a Smoked Trout Dip recipe if you’re interested in that.

Can I add a few drops of liquid smoke to make this a smoked salmon dip?

Sure, that sounds delicious! And a great way to add flavor. If you want to make a salmon dip with smoked salmon, try this Smoked Salmon Dip.

What can I use instead of cottage cheese?

Whole milk Greek yogurt will do.

Easy Salmon Dip Recipe — Zestful Kitchen (3)

More Dip Recipes to Try

  • My Labneh Dip is another dairy dip that’s loaded with protein and delicious tangy. I top mine with picked dried cherries and a pistachio dukkah.
  • Edamame Hummus is a vibrant and satisfying dip. It’s a really fun take on a classic hummus. If you’re in the mood for hummus, try my Sweet Potato Hummus too!
  • Ajvar is a really delicious and unique roasted red pepper dip hailing from the Balkans. It would pair nicely with the salmon dip.
  • If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, try Roasted Tomatillo Salsa or Tomato Chipotle Salsa.

Salmon Dip Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Yield 6 servings

Category Appetizer

Cuisine American

Description

This salmon dip is made with canned salmon, cottage cheese, dill and a touch of horseradish. It’s creamy and luscious and gets topped off with zesty olive-drenched olives. It’s a retro yet elevated appetizer that will impress.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk cottage cheese
  • 1 (6-ounce) can Wild Alaska Pink Salmon, drained
  • 2 tablespoons chopped dill
  • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1 (10-ounce) jar pitted green olives, drained
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons chopped chives
  • Potato chips, for serving

Instructions

  • Place 1 cup cottage cheese in a fine mesh sieve set over a bowl; drain 15 minutes.

  • In a mini food processor, blend drained cottage cheese until smooth; about 1 minute.

  • Drain and add 1 (6-ounce) can wild salmon, 2 tablespoons chopped dill, 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon horseradish, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Blend until smooth; season to taste with additional salt and black pepper.

  • Spread dip onto a large plate.

  • Add drained olives to a medium bowl and pat dry with paper towels. Add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil, minced zest of 1 lemon, and 2 tablespoons chopped chives. Spoon olives over top and serve with potato chips.

Equipment

mini food processor

Notes

It’s important to drain the cottage cheese—this will remove excess moisture and make for a creamy dip.

Use whole milk cottage cheese for the best texture and flavor. Lower-fat cottage cheese will make for a less creamy, more watery dip.

This dip can be made up to 1 day ahead of time. Leftovers will last for 3 days in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 recipeCalories: 175kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 8gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 24mgSodium: 647mgSugar: 1g

Like this? Leave a comment below!I love hearing from you and I want to hear how it went with this recipe! Leave a comment and rating below, then share on social media @zestfulkitchen and #zestfulkitchen!

Easy Salmon Dip Recipe — Zestful Kitchen (4)

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About The Author

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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Easy Salmon Dip Recipe — Zestful Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Easy Salmon Dip Recipe — Zestful Kitchen? ›

Drain and add 1 (6-ounce) can wild salmon, 2 tablespoons chopped dill, 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon horseradish, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and ½ teaspoon kosher salt. Blend until smooth; season to taste with additional salt and black pepper.

How do you make Captain Jim's salmon dip? ›

Smoked Salmon Dip

Warm cream cheese to room temperature. Add two cans of Captain Jim's Gourmet Alaskan Smoked Salmon (including skin and oil). Mix together with fork; shape into a ball; refrigerate for two hours to blend flavors. Ground nuts or finely chopped parsley may be added for garnish.

How to eat canned salmon easy? ›

5 things to do with canned salmon
  1. Add canned salmon to macaroni and cheese.
  2. Spread salmon salad over whole-grain crackers or pita wedges.
  3. Mix a can of salmon into mashed regular or sweet potatoes.
  4. Spread salmon salad into ribs of celery or over thick slices of red pepper.
May 6, 2022

How do you get the fishy taste out of salmon patties? ›

Back to the milk. Apparently, the proteins present in milk can bind to the fatty acids that have been exposed to air and give salmon its fishy odor or taste and mitigate them to be more neutral. (Fishiness is caused by the oxidation of fatty acids.)

How to make canned salmon taste less fishy? ›

Sugar + acid is your friend.

Whether you use honey, teriyaki, or miso, glazed salmon is all the rage. There's a reason for it! For one, it's delicious. But from a scientific standpoint, the sugar and acid cut through salmon's fishiness.

What is salmon dip made of? ›

Stir salmon, cream cheese, sour cream, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, dill, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl.

Should you drain canned salmon? ›

You should absolutely drain canned salmon before eating, as this liquid can dilute flavors and affect the texture of your dish (making it overly soft and squishy), no matter what you're putting the salmon in. You can even rinse the meat to dilute the fish smell if you don't like it.

Should you eat the skin in canned salmon? ›

Skin & bones are left in because there is no waste in canned salmon – the liquid, skin, and bones are all edible and supply important nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus.

What is the white stuff coming out of my salmon patty? ›

That white gunk seeping from your salmon is called albumin. It's a protein—not fat—that pushes to the surface of the fish when you heat it. "Once this protein reaches temperatures between 140 and 150 degrees, its moisture is squeezed out, and it congeals and turns white," according to America's Test Kitchen.

What kills the fishy taste in salmon? ›

This can be done by cooking the fish in foil or by adding other ingredients to the recipe that will help to mask the strong fishy taste of the fish. Also, you can marinate the fish in a mixture of lemon juice, vinegar, and water for 30 minutes. This will help to neutralize the fishy taste.

What's a good dip for salmon patties? ›

Make the spicy mayo: In a bowl, whisk the mayonnaise, mustard, co*cktail sauce, Sriracha, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Taste for seasoning and add more Sriracha or lemon juice, if you like.

What is the best way to eat canned salmon? ›

You can use it like you would canned tuna: in healthy dinner salads, weeknight pasta dinners, as a burger base, or as a substitute for raw fish in sushi bowls. Check out our top 15 canned salmon recipes for ideas—we bet you'll pick up a can or two on your next grocery trip.

How do you enhance the taste of salmon? ›

Use either, salt and pepper, household spices, store-bought rubs, marinades, glazes, or sauces. Season the fish at least 5 minutes before cooking. If desired, add more seasoning once cooked.

Is canned salmon healthy? ›

Canned salmon is every bit as nutritious as fresh salmon. It contains a variety of key nutrients, including protein, calcium, vitamins B & D, and healthy omega-3 fatty acids which promotes a healthy brain. By now, the health benefits of salmon are well-known.

How to make smoked jarred salmon? ›

Recipe yields approximately 16 pint-sized jars.
  1. Smoke salmon fillets for 4 hours at 140 degrees F. ...
  2. Boil mason jars and new canning lids for 10 minutes.
  3. Remove jars and lids, add several sprigs of herbs, 1 garlic clove, and 1/4 tsp of the salt at the base of each jar.
Jun 28, 2019

How do you crush bones in canned salmon? ›

When it comes to softened pin bones, you may be able to pulverize them with your fingers while you're breaking down the salmon chunks into smaller parts. If you're making a tasty salmon patty and are putting the fish into a food processor or blender, the pin bones will be crushed as a result.

How to make your own canned salmon? ›

directions
  1. stuff salmon tightly in canning jar place 1/2 tsp salt and 1 tsp.
  2. white vinegar on top.
  3. rub the top of jar with a vinegared papertowel to ensure all grease and salmon is off the top, very important step for sealing jar.
  4. place lid and tighten ring.
  5. put in pressure canner and add three quarts water.

Is salmon in pouches cooked? ›

We hand pack premium raw wild salmon steaks to retain vital Omega-3 oils and nutrients and then slow cook them to perfection.

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