Smoked Salmon Cucumber Bites
Cool cucumber rounds topped with lemony dill cream cheese and silky smoked salmon — all the flavor of a lox bagel in a crisp, no-cook bite.
Nutrition per serving
4 bites- Net carbs
- 2.9g
- Calories
- 98kcal
- Protein
- 5g
- Fat
- 7.4g
- Total carbs
- 3.4 g
- Fiber
- 0.4 g
Calculated from USDA FoodData Central values for each ingredient (optional ingredients excluded). Brands vary — check your labels if you track closely.
Ingredients
Dairy-free (avocado): A lemony avocado-dill smash replaces the cream cheese. It’s fresh and creamy and naturally dairy-free.
- Mash the avocado with the dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, pepper and a pinch of salt until fairly smooth. Assemble no more than 30 minutes before serving so the avocado stays bright green.
Shrimp: Chilled poached shrimp in place of smoked salmon — a party classic for anyone who prefers shellfish to lox.
- Drop the shrimp into simmering salted water and poach 2–3 minutes, just until pink, curled and opaque (145°F/63°C). Chill in ice water, drain and pat dry.
- Set one shrimp on each cream-cheese-topped round, then finish with the capers and dill.
Estimated cost $9.06 for 6 servings ($1.51 each) · how we estimate
Instructions
-
Pat the cucumber rounds dry with paper towels. If you like, scoop a shallow well into the center of each with a melon baller or ½-teaspoon measure to hold the filling.
-
Beat the cream cheese with the chopped dill, lemon zest, lemon juice and a few grinds of pepper until smooth and spreadable.
-
Pipe or spread about 1 tsp of the cream cheese onto each cucumber round.
-
Top each with a folded ribbon of smoked salmon, a caper or two and a small dill sprig. Serve chilled.
Tips for success
-
English (hothouse) cucumbers have thin skin and tiny seeds, so there’s no need to peel or seed; striping the skin with a peeler looks pretty. - Assemble no more than 2 hours ahead and keep cold — cucumber slices weep as they sit.
- Same flavors, even faster: skip the cucumber and roll the salmon around the dill cream cheese for “lox roll-ups.”
Nice to have, not needed
- A piping bag makes neat swirls of filling — a small spoon or butter knife works fine.
Storage & meal prep
- Best eaten fresh
Reheat: Serve cold
Prep tip: Make the dill cream cheese up to 4 days ahead and slice the cucumber on the day; assembly then takes about 10 minutes.
Refrigerate the dill cream cheese up to 4 days; assemble the bites shortly before serving.
Variations
2 variations, each with its own ingredients and macrosDairy-free (avocado)
DietA lemony avocado-dill smash replaces the cream cheese. It’s fresh and creamy and naturally dairy-free.
- cream cheese → ripe avocado
2.4 g net · 72 kcal · 4.4 g protein · 4.6 g fat · ≈$1.48 per serving (−0.5 g net carbs vs the original)
Shrimp
ProteinChilled poached shrimp in place of smoked salmon — a party classic for anyone who prefers shellfish to lox.
- smoked salmon → shrimp (about ½ lb)
2.9 g net · 107 kcal · 9.1 g protein · 6.8 g fat · ≈$1.34 per serving (same net carbs as the original)
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