Description
Ina Garten’s smoked salmon dip delivers creamy, tangy elegance perfect for entertaining. Guests will savor rich flavors and smooth texture that complement crackers or fresh vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 225 g (8 oz) cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 oz (115 g) smoked salmon, finely chopped
- ½ cup (120 ml) sour cream
- 1 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoons prepared horseradish, drained
- ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Cream Cheese Preparation: Utilize an electric mixer with paddle attachment to whip cream cheese until silky smooth and lump-free, creating a luxurious base for the dip.
- Flavor Infusion: Combine sour cream, lemon juice, dill, horseradish, salt, and pepper into the cream cheese, blending thoroughly to create a harmonious and vibrant flavor profile.
- Salmon Integration: Gently fold flaked smoked salmon into the creamy mixture, ensuring delicate distribution while preserving the fish’s distinct texture and preventing over-manipulation.
- Flavor Melding and Serving: Refrigerate the dip for 45-60 minutes to allow ingredients to harmonize and develop depth, then serve chilled alongside crisp crackers, toasted baguette, or fresh vegetable crudités for an elegant appetizer experience.
Notes
- Whip Cream Cheese Precisely: Beat cream cheese until completely smooth, which takes 2-3 minutes using an electric mixer with paddle attachment to eliminate any lumpy texture.
- Balance Flavor Carefully: Add horseradish and lemon juice gradually, tasting as you mix to achieve perfect tangy-creamy balance without overwhelming the delicate salmon.
- Handle Salmon Gently: Fold salmon minimally to preserve its delicate flakes and prevent breaking down the fish’s texture during mixing.
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigeration isn’t just about cooling; it allows ingredients to marry and develop deeper, more complex taste profiles, enhancing overall dip quality.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 201
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 422 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg