Easy Smoked Salmon Roll Ups (2024)

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Ingredients You’ll Need How To Make Smoked Salmon Roll Ups Tips & Variations Why you’ll love these smoked salmon rolls! Easy Smoked Salmon Roll Ups Ingredients Instructions Notes Caitlin 8 Comments Leave a Comment FAQs References

February 25, 2021By Caitlin

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Post updated 8.4.2023

These smoked salmon roll ups are perfect for a quick & easy lunch! They’re filled with a lemon & green onion cream cheese mixture, fresh cucumber & creamy avocado then rolled in EBTB seasoning!

If you’re a lover of smoked salmon – oh have I got a treat for you! These smoked salmon roll ups are so easy and such a fun way to use smoked salmon! (Plus they definitely give off sushi vibes which is perfect when you’re craving sushi but don’t necessarily have the budget for it.😉)

They’re filled with a zesty lemon & green onion cream cheese that pairs perfectly with the smokiness from your salmon. Combined with crisp cucumber and creamy avocado – it’s a match made in heaven. But what I really love is that they’re so simple to make and perfect for a hot summer day! They’re great for an easy lunch or served as a quick party appetizer!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Smoked salmon: Make sure to use smoked salmon and not lox! (Lox is cured salmon that hasn’t been smoked so it’s saltier and has a slightly different consistency.) The smokiness of smoked salmon pairs much better with the rest of your ingredients.

Whipped cream cheese: It’s lighter and more airy than regular cream cheese so it won’t weight down the roll or make you feel “heavy”. (It’s easier to spread too!)

Cucumber: We love using Persian cucumbers for this recipe. (They’re smaller and don’t have a “waxy” skin like regular cucumbers.)

Avocado: Try to keep your avocado slices thin to make rolling easier.

Lemons: Adds so much flavor to your salmon roll ups! You’ll need lemon zest for the cream cheese filling and lemon juice if you choose to make the citrus soy sauce.

Green onion: Keep your slices thin and only use the green parts of the onion for the best results. (This makes it easier to spread the cream cheese filling over the salmon too!)

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning (EBTB): Adds texture and flavor to the outside of your roll! (Try not to use too much seasoning – it can get very salty.)

Citrus soy sauce (optional): An easy 5 ingredient dipping sauce that pairs perfectly with your salmon roll ups. (If you’re a sushi lover – you have to try this!)

How To Make Smoked Salmon Roll Ups

1. Make the cream cheese filling. Mix your cream cheese, green onion and lemon zest together in a small bowl then set it aside.

2. Prepare the outside of the roll. Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter and sprinkle it with Everything But The Bagel Seasoning. Then lay your smoked salmon pieces over the seasoning to form a small rectangle. (Make sure to overlap your salmon slices a little bit.)

3. Add the filling. Spread your cream cheese mixture over the salmon. Then place the strips of cucumber and sliced avocado in the center of the rectangle. Very carefully, use the plastic wrap to help roll the salmon over your cucumber and avocado and continue rolling until you reach the other side.

4. Freeze & slice! Place your salmon roll in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to firm up slightly. (This will make it easier to cut.) When you’re ready to eat, take the roll out of the freezer and slice it to your preferred thickness.

5. Serve. Serve with citrus soy sauce or make thinner slices and eat with your favorite crackers.

Tips & Variations

Keep your cucumber and avocado slices thin! It’s much easier to roll this way. (I’d suggest keeping them between ¼ – ½inch thick.)

Don’t overfill your rolls! They’ll be very hard to roll and the filling won’t stick together.

Overlap your salmon pieces! This helps to keep the filling from oozing out.

Use a very sharp knife for slicing! Non serrated knives work the best and give you a nice clean cut. (You’ll most likely need to reshape your rolls after slicing.)

Use black and white sesame seeds instead of Everything But The Bagel Seasoning!

Cut thinner slices and serve them over your favorite crackers! (We love using Ritz or Milton’s Crispy Sea Salt Crackers.)

Why you’ll love these smoked salmon rolls!

A light lunch or snack! This salmon roll up takes minutes to make & can easily be prepped in the morning. Then slice & serve when you’re ready to eat!
Healthy & filling! Smoked salmon is low in calories + high in nutrients & protein! Paired with veggies & healthy fats to make a satisfying & easy meal!
Tastes like sushi! But cheaper and easier!😉 Especially when paired with my citrus soy sauce!

Need it dairy free? Use your favorite dairy free cream cheese instead!

[Made one of my recipes? Make sure to tag my social media @kalefornia_kravings – I love seeing what you create!]

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Easy Smoked Salmon Roll Ups

These smoked salmon roll ups are so fun & perfect for a quick & easy lunch! They're filled with a lemon & green onion cream cheese mixture, fresh cucumber & creamy avocado then rolled in EBTB seasoning!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Lunch, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: citrus soy sauce, lunch recipes, smoked salmon recipes, smoked salmon roll ups

Servings: 2 servings

Author: Caitlin

Ingredients

For the salmon roll ups:

8 oz. smoked salmon
½ cup whipped cream cheese
2 Tbsp green onion, thinly sliced
2 tsp lemon zest
1 small Persian cucumber, sliced into thin strips
½ of an avocado, sliced into thin strips
Everything But The Bagel Seasoning (EBTB)*

For the citrus soy sauce (optional):

2 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp water
1½ tsp mirin
1 Tbsp green onion, sliced thin

Instructions

To make the citrus soy sauce:

Stir the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl and keep it chilled in the refrigerator while you prepare the salmon rolls.

To make the salmon roll ups:

Make the cream cheese filling. Mix the cream cheese, green onion and lemon zest together in a small bowl then set it aside.
Prepare the outside of the roll. Lay a large piece of plastic wrap on the counter and sprinkle it with Everything But The Bagel Seasoning. Then lay your smoked salmon pieces over the seasoning to form a small rectangle. (Make sure to overlap the salmon slices slightly.)
Add the filling. Spread your cream cheese mixture over the salmon. Then place your sliced cucumber and avocado in the center of the rectangle. Very carefully, use the plastic wrap to help roll the salmon over your cucumber and avocado and continue rolling until you reach the other side.
Freeze & slice. Place your salmon roll in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to firm up slightly. (This will make it easier to cut.) When you're ready to eat, take the roll out of the freezer and slice it to your preferred thickness.
Serve. Serve with your citrus soy sauce (or make thinner slices and eat with your favorite crackers).

Notes

*Black and white sesame seeds can be used instead of EBTB.

If you don’t want to serve them with the citrus soy sauce, we love eating them on top of Ritz crackers or Milton’s Crispy Sea Salt Crackers.

More salmon recipes you might like:

Baked Sugar Spiced Salmon
Roasted Chipotle Salmon with Peach Salsa
Maple Mustard Glazed Salmon
Chipotle Maple Air Fried Salmon

Caitlin

Winter Fruit Salad with Orange Poppy Seed Dressing

8 Comments

William Betancourt
March 22, 2021 at 5:50 am ·Reply

Love it. I am a smoke salmon nut.. and a sushi lover.
- Caitlin Monson
  March 22, 2021 at 7:30 am ·Reply
  
  I am too! So happy you loved it William! 🙂
Ann from Sumptuous Spoonfuls
May 28, 2022 at 9:03 am ·Reply

This looks so fun and fabulous!! I can’t wait to try it.
- Caitlin
  May 31, 2022 at 8:44 am ·Reply
  
  Thank you so much Ann! Please let me know if you do! 🙂
Diane
February 23, 2023 at 12:56 pm ·Reply

This is fantastic and so quick and easy to make. We may have overstuffed the roll and it got it a little messy, so we just put it on top of a toasted pumpernickel bagel – it was delicious! I’m adding this the recipe rotation!
- Caitlin
  February 28, 2023 at 1:23 pm ·Reply
  
  Hi Diane! I’m so happy you loved the recipe! (I tend to overstuff mine too!😉) I’ll have to try it on a pumpernickel bagel next time though, that sounds delicious!
  - Kelly
    December 7, 2023 at 6:24 pm ·Reply
    
    I’m serving these on Saturday! Can I make them a day in advance and keep them in the fridge?
    - Caitlin
      December 8, 2023 at 12:43 pm ·Reply
      
      Hi Kelly! I wouldn’t suggest making them in advance. The avocado can turn brown and the cucumber will release a lot of liquid. They’re best if eaten soon after they’re assembled. I hope this helps! 🙂

FAQs

How do you roll a salmon roll? ›

Dot some wasabi on rice; arrange smoked salmon, cucumber, and avocado on rice about 1 inch away from the bottom edge of seaweed. Slightly wet the top edge of seaweed; roll up tightly from the bottom to the top edge with the help of the bamboo mat. Cut salmon roll into 8 equal pieces and serve. Repeat for other rolls.

Discover More Details ›

What goes good on smoked salmon? ›

Easy Pairings for Smoked Salmon

With crackers, softened cream cheese and capers.
Tossed into a green salad with a lemony dressing.
Stirred into hot pasta with a light tomato sauce, green onions, fresh parsley and extra-virgin olive oil.

More items...

Find Out More ›

Is smoked salmon roll cooked or raw? ›

This is done to facilitate the removal of moisture from the fish, which is crucial to the curing aspect, and this can take up to 20 hours or more. For this reason, the salmon is not technically cooked, although it is cured in a way that makes it ready-to-eat.

What is a smoked salmon sushi roll called? ›

A Philadelphia roll is a makizushi (also classified as a kawarizushi) type of sushi generally made with smoked (or sometimes raw) salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber, with the rice on the outside (uramaki).

See Details ›

What does a salmon roll contain? ›

Spicy salmon roll is a type of maki (sushi roll) made from raw salmon, spicy sauce (Japanese-style mayonnaise mixed with chili sauce), and sushi rice, wrapped in nori (seaweed). It can be rolled inside-out or with the seaweed on the outside, and other flavors can be added.

What is a super salmon roll? ›

Raw Salmon, Avocado, Seasoned White Rice, topped with more Raw Salmon and Avocado.

What cheese goes best with smoked salmon? ›

Getting soft cheeses like Neufchatel cheese, brie, and cream cheese is an amazing way to pair them with the smoked salmon! We also definitely recommend you try some sort of cheese spread. You can do plain cream cheese, or something flavored and more elevated. For example perhaps a creme fraîche with dill.

Get More Info Here ›

What's the best way to eat cold smoked salmon? ›

The classic option is to serve a slice of the fish on a pancake or blini, but try it out in homemade sushi with cold smoked salmon, in tortilla rolls with cream cheese, or on toasted crostini too.

Discover More Details ›

How do you serve ready to eat smoked salmon? ›

Since it is already 'cooked', you can eat the succulent slices straight off the package (my personal favorite); put it on toast with cream cheese for a great quick snack; make yourself a smoked salmon sandwich on the go; or prepare a four-course gourmet meal based on the delicate treat.

Find Out More ›

What's the difference between lox and smoked salmon? ›

Here's the main difference: smoked salmon is cured and then smoked, whereas lox is only cured, typically in a salt brine and typically for longer periods of time, but not smoked. Smoked salmon is preserved with a combination of salting and smoking, so the flavor can be slightly salty and slightly smoky.

Keep Reading ›

How to tell if smoked salmon went bad? ›

Take note of the recommended use-by date on your smoked salmon packaging – a change in colour or smell will indicate that it's gone bad – and be sure to consume smoked salmon as soon as possible after opening.

Keep Reading ›

Can you eat smoked salmon every day? ›

Smoked salmon can be eaten safely around twice a week. Due to its high sodium content, it's not recommended to be consumed on a regular basis, so stick to a few times a week.

Get More Info ›

What is a crunch salmon roll? ›

Indulge in a delicious crunchy salmon roll made with fresh salmon, cucumber, spicy mayo, and tempura flakes. A fan favorite that will surely satisfy your sushi cravings!

What is a salmon belly called? ›

With a rich buttery texture, these bellies are melt-in-your-mouth good. In Japanese cuisine, salmon belly (harasu) is a rare delicacy, and sushi chefs and lovers fight to get their hands on the limited supply. Harasu is salmon's version of tuna's famed toro.

Know More ›

Which side of nori goes up? ›

Prepare the sushi seaweed:

Cut the1 sheet nori seaweed into halves, and then place half of the nori on the sushi mat shiny side down. As a golden rule, the shiny side of the nori seaweed should always be on the outside of the sushi.

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Do I wet nori before rolling? ›

Dip your fingers into the water and transfer a small portion onto the bare nori (This is a major difference between the Uramaki and the Hosomaki). Make sure to use just enough water to change the nori from being crisp to being damp. Quickly, use the same technique of rolling as the Uramaki.