So as I move closer to my due date, even with the end in sight I am getting more and more annoyed with the restrictions of pregnancy. The physical ones are bad enough (I feel like I am wearing super tight spandex and then I realize that is just my skin) but I miss some things. We’ve already covered the alcoholic beverages I miss, but today we’re talking about smoked salmon. I am a huuuuuuuge smoked salmon fan and I have been missing it hard. But then I had a brainwave that while I could never have that luscious smooth texture of the best lox, I could have the smoky flavor, so here is my super quick and easy recipe for cheaty smoky salmon toast.

Smoked paprika is one of my favorite ingredients because it imparts such a wonderful distinct smoky flavor to everything it touches. Smoked food is so wonderful, but rigging up a home smoker is a bit of fuss that I have not yet brought into my life. One day perhaps! As a vegetarian for many years I used smoked paprika to emulate flavors of smoked meats that I wasn’t willing to use and I’ve never dropped the habit.

This is just a very simple smoked paprika and salt rubbed salmon fillet, cooked quickly on the stovetop, then crumbled on toast with the usual bagel fixings of herby cream cheese and cucumber. I love pumpernickel for this. I am just using toast but of course this would be beautiful on a bagel as well.

This preparation is also perfect for canned salmon, simply drain the salmon and sprinkle with the smoked paprika and mix. If you want the smoked paprika to sear onto the salmon you could quickly warm it up in a pan with a little butter as well. Either way you get smoky goodness, just a matter of your preferred texture.

For those who might not make fish too often, don’t be afraid. Salmon is delicate yes, but it’s also very quick to cook so even if it’s your first time and you want to stand by the pan the whole time it’s cooking, it will be over in just 5 minutes.

This recipe also calls for mixing dill and scallions into your cream cheese and it makes more than you need for the recipe. You can of course make the salmon again, use it in sandwiches or on crackers or as I did, eat it the next day on toast again but this time with chopped boiled egg in place of salmon. Yum!

Cheaty Smoky Salmon Toast

Pumpernickel toast slathered in herby cream cheese and topped with a mound of smoked paprika rubbed salmon and cucumber slices.

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Course Snack

Servings 3 as a snack or 1 as a main

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 6 oz salmon fillet (or 1 6 oz can of salmon)
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• salt to taste
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh dill chopped
• 4 scallions chopped
• pepper to taste
• 2-4 slices pumpernickel bread
• cucumber slices to serve
• lemon juice to taste

Instructions

 

• If you are using a can of salmon, simply drain it and transfer the flaked salmon to a bowl and add the smoked paprika and salt to taste. Skip the cooking salmon steps!
• Pat your salmon fillet dry with a paper towel. It's fine to use one with skin on or off, just know that if you are using skin on you will peel it off after you cook it. Sprinkle the fillet with salt generously and the smoked paprika.
• Let the pan warm up for a few minutes on medium high heat. Add the butter and let it melt and swirl in the pan (this should go quickly with your pan quite hot). Add the salmon fillet skin-side down (if using skin on) and cover with a lid to steam and cook for about 3 minutes.
• After three minutes check on the salmon, if it's a thinner piece it may already be lighter in color and cooked through. Flip it quickly onto the other side and cook for another minute with the lid on the pan. If your salmon is cooked through (you can test by poking it with a finger, it should feel quite firm, or you can stick it with a knife and see if it is opaque orange all the way through). If you are not pregnant and can eat the salmon a rare then cook to your preference! take it off the heat and let it cool down.
• In a bowl mix together the cream cheese, dill, scallions and pepper. You will have way more cream cheese spread than you need for these toasts, but save it for later and eat it on bagels or sandwiches (or make more salmon toasts!).
• Cut your bread and toast it.
• Once the salmon has cooled enough to touch use a fork to gently break it up into pieces. Taste and sprinkle with a little more smoked paprika or salt if needed.
• Spread a couple tablespoons (or whatever amount you like!) on the toast and top with about 1/4-1/3 of the salmon. Top with cucumber slices and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Notes

You will have tons more cream cheese spread than you need for the salmon toast so just keep it and eat it on bagels, bread, sandwiches, or make more salmon toasts!

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!