Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball: A No-Fuss Party Hit

Learn how to make smoked salmon cheese ball the easy way with a simple smoked salmon ball recipe. This salmon ball recipe has a couple of surprising ingredients that add to the flavor without breaking the budget. This smoked salmon ball is an attractive centerpiece for any appetizer table. Read on for the easy tips for making this smoked salmon ball recipe and shaping it with confidence.

My Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball Backstory

This smoked salmon cheese ball recipe was given to me by my dad, who has always been the no-fuss gourmet foodie in our family. When he was working his way through college, one of his jobs was with a catering company. As a result, he has all kinds of tricks and strategies to make food look and taste amazing. If you want something to take to a party that looks tricky to make, but really isn’t, this smoked salmon cheese ball recipe is for you. The ingredients are easy to find and the hands-on time is minimal. Serving this smoked salmon cheese ball is one of our favorite family traditions. Ready to get started? Here we go!

Equipment Needed for Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball

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To make the smoked salmon cheese ball, you only need basic kitchen equipment like measuring spoons, a grater for the onions, and a mixing bowl. One item that has made this smoked salmon cream cheese ball recipe even more of a snap is the cute mini chopper I use to chop the nuts. It seems like overkill to get out the large food processor for such a small amount of chopping. This little handy mini-chopper is the perfect solution, and the components just go into the dishwasher when you are finished with your chopping task. I’ve used my little chopper, similar to this one, for over 20 years.

In addition to the mini chopper, which is optional, you will need mixing bowls, measuring spoons, and a spatula.

Ingredients for Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball

Would you guess that there is canned salmon in this salmon ball recipe? For another surprising twist, the smoky flavor in this smoked salmon ball comes from Liquid Smoke. Liquid Smoke is an easy way to get a smoky flavor in dishes of all kinds. Add just a small amount for a kick of smokiness that works well in bean dishes and barbecued meats. The onion and lemon juice in this smoked salmon ball recipe add hints of subtle flavor as well.

1 14.75 ounce can of salmon, drained

1 8 ounce block of cream cheese, softened

1/4 teaspoon of Liquid Smoke

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

2 teaspoons of grated onion

1/4 teaspoon of salt

3 tablespoons of snipped dried parsley

1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts

1 tablespoon chopped preserved lemons (optional)

Directions

Open and drain the canned salmon. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix the first six ingredients together. Scrape the mixture into a mound in the middle of the bowl and chill for 3 hours.

In a separate mixing bowl (preferably metal), mix the parsley and chopped nuts together. Place the bowl in the freezer to chill.

After 3 hours have passed, remove the salmon mixture from the refrigerator and the nut mixture from the freezer. Using a spatula, carefully scrape the mound of salmon into the nut mixture. Using your hand, gently reach under the salmon mound and turn it over, covering it with the nut mixture. Continue to rotate and turn the salmon mixture in the nut mixture until it has formed a ball and is completely covered. Leave the smoked salmon cheese ball in the bowl with the nut mixture, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

To Serve the Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball

When you are ready to serve the smoked salmon cheese ball, place it carefully on a platter and surround it with crackers. Our favorite kind to use with this are Wheat Thins, because they are stiff, not crumbly. Have a spreader on hand to serve the salmon cream cheese ball, and you’re set! 

 

Make it Garden Fresh

If you have parsley growing in your garden, you can use chopped fresh parsley for this recipe. The ratio of using fresh herbs to dried herbs is usually 3 to 1. Technically for this recipe that would mean using 9 tablespoons of fresh snipped parsley. That might be a bit much, so just use your judgement. There should be enough parsley and chopped nuts to adequately cover the smoked salmon cheese ball and enable you to shape it into a ball without it sticking to your hands too much.

Nut Allergies? Here are Some Options

Thanks to feedback from a reader with nut allergies, here are some tasty substitutions for the pecans or walnuts in the smoked salmon cheese ball coating. For a smoked salmon ball with a satisfying crunch, you could use sunflower seeds. Another option to try would be crushed pretzels. Just mix them in with the parsley and coat the salmon ball as directed in the recipe.

Common Smoked Salmon Ball Questions

Can you make mini smoked salmon balls?

Yes, it would be easy to make mini salmon balls. Here is how to make salmon balls in a smaller size. After chilling the smoked salmon cream cheese ball mixture, shape it into tablespoon-sized balls, much as you would if you were shaping cookie dough into balls. You will need to work quickly, and maybe run your hands under cold water a time or two. If the mixture starts to stick too much, you could pop the mixture into the refrigerator for a bit.

Once you have the mixture shaped into small smoked salmon balls, roll each ball in the parsley and nut mixture. Place the completed smoked salmon cheese balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or wax paper. Refrigerate the smoked salmon balls until ready to serve. To serve, place the chilled smoked salmon balls on a decorative plate. You could even place each smoked salmon ball on a large round water cracker and place on a tray or plate for an attractive presentation.

What cheese goes best with smoked salmon?

Cream cheese is a classic choice that complements the smoky flavor of salmon in this salmon ball recipe. If you are looking for a lower-fat choice, Neufchatel cheese would also be a good choice. If you are just eating smoked salmon by itself, not in a salmon ball recipe, you could also try pairing the smoked salmon with brie, gouda, or even goat cheese for a different flavor.

Can I use Neufchatel cheese in this smoked salmon ball recipe?

Neufchatel cheese, which is lower in fat than cream cheese (as noted above) may be substituted for cream cheese in this smoked salmon ball recipe. However, the texture may be slightly different. If you follow the salmon ball recipe steps, you should get a similar result as you would with using cream cheese.

What kind of crackers to serve with smoked salmon ball?

I like to use a stiff, sturdy cracker like Wheat Thins with this salmon ball recipe. The flavor of the cracker is subtle, so the flavors of the smoked salmon ball shine through. Other good choices for crackers include plain water crackers or plain Triscuits. You could even serve this simple salmon ball recipe with plain pita chips.

What Are Your Favorite Party Recipes?

I’m always on the lookout for easy recipes that look like they take a lot of time, but don’t. This canned salmon ball recipe is one example. Do you have any favorite easy party recipes? If you posted your favorite easy party recipe in a blog post, I’d be happy to have you share your link here in the comments so that people can give your recipe some love.