Smoked Salmon Crostini Recipe

By
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 05/27/21
smoked salmon crostini
Leah Maroney
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 12 servings

These simple and bright salmon crostini are sure to impress at any breakfast, brunch, or holiday celebration. Fresh herbs, ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and smoked salmon shine beautifully in this dish. Gone are the days of having to make complicated appetizers for an event. Instead, this recipe only takes a few ingredients to make a beautiful appetizer.

Fresh herbs are a must for this recipe. Make sure to wash them thoroughly and finely chop them with a sharp knife. Don't chop them too far ahead of time to prevent them from browning. If you can find the fina-style ricotta cheese make sure to use it. It has the best texture and blends nicely with the herbs and smoked salmon. If you can't find that style it will definitely still work very well with regular ricotta cheese. Try to find a fresh or local brand for the best flavor. 

If you can find wild-caught smoked salmon, that will also provide the best flavor, texture, and color for this dish. Specialty fish shops and grocery stores that specialize in wild-caught and natural fish will have this option in the packaged fish section. You can also buy the smoked salmon at delis that special in bagels and lox. 

Ingredients

  • 1 French baguette

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 15 ounces ricotta cheese

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill, plus sprigs for serving

  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus wedges for serving

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 4 ounces smoked salmon

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Preheat the oven to 400 F. Slice the french baguette on an angle into 1/4-inch slices. Place them on a baking sheet. They can lay close together, but don't have them overlap. 

  3. Use a pastry brush to brush the olive oil over each baguette slice. If you don't have a pastry brush you can also drizzle the olive oil over the slices. 

  4. Bake in the oven for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly browned. Watch them closely to make sure they don't burn. Remove the baguette slices from the oven and allow them to cool on a cooling rack.

  5. Whip together the ricotta cheese, chopped herbs, and lemon juice in a medium-sized bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. If you are planning on making these crostini ahead of time, then place the ricotta mixture into the refrigerator and place the cooled baguette slices in a plastic bag until you are ready to serve. 

  6. Slice or separate the smoked salmon into baguette slice sized portions. 

  7. Place a tablespoon of the ricotta mixture onto each baguette slice. Top with a slice of smoked salmon and garnish with a small sprig of dill. 

  8. Serve with extra lemon and enjoy immediately!  

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
229 Calories
7g Fat
31g Carbs
12g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12
Amount per serving
Calories 229
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 574mg 25%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 1g 5%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 12g
Vitamin C 5mg 23%
Calcium 129mg 10%
Iron 2mg 14%
Potassium 140mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)