Description
Delightful Christmas Smoked Salmon Crostini featuring toasted baguette slices topped with a creamy dill and lemon infused cream cheese spread, cold smoked salmon, and garnished with capers and fresh dill for a festive appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crostini
- 1-2 baguettes, enough to get about 30-35 ¼th inch slices
- Olive oil spray
For the Cream Cheese Spread
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened (not melted)
- 1 small lemon, juiced
- 2 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
- 1 fresh garlic clove, crushed
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
For the Topping
- 8 oz cold smoked salmon
For Garnish
- Capers
- Fresh dill sprigs
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for toasting the baguette slices.
- Slice Baguette: Cut the baguette into ¼th to ½ inch slices to yield approximately 30 to 35 pieces, suitable for crostini.
- Prepare Crostini: Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet. Spray both sides lightly with olive oil for crispiness and flavor enhancement.
- Bake Crostini: Bake the slices at 350 degrees for about 9 minutes, flipping halfway through to achieve even golden crispy texture. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
- Make Cream Cheese Mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, lemon juice, chopped dill, crushed garlic, a pinch of salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
- Prepare Piping Bag: Optionally, spoon the cream cheese mixture into a piping bag for easy and neat application.
- Assemble Crostini: Once crostini are cooled, arrange the slices on a serving platter. Place a piece of cold smoked salmon atop each slice evenly.
- Add Cream Cheese Dollop: Pipe a small dollop of the cream cheese mixture on top of each salmon piece to add creamy flavor and decoration.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish each crostini with a few capers and a sprig of fresh dill for added flavor and festive appearance. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened but not melted to achieve the best spreadable texture.
- If desired, use a serrated knife for slicing baguette to avoid squashing the bread.
- Capers add a nice briny contrast; rinse if you prefer less saltiness.
- These crostini can be assembled shortly before serving to maintain crispiness.
- For a dairy-free alternative, consider using a vegan cream cheese substitute and verify smoked salmon ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 crostini
- Calories: 85 kcal
- Sugar: 0.5 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg