How to Build a Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board for Brunch

Smoked salmon is a delicious and healthy option for brunch, and what better way to serve it than on a charcuterie board? This Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board is a perfect way to offer a variety flavor experiences for your guests to enjoy.

I’ll show you, step by step, how to create a beautiful board to serve at home or take along to your next gathering. 

Aren’t boards the best? We’ve come a long way from traditional charcuterie and cheese boards. Now we’ve got butter boards, dessert boards and even full meal boards.

This Smoked Salmon Charcuterie board is one of my absolute favorites. It takes brunch to a whole new level! 

What you’ll need to build this Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board

​Here’s what you’ll need (and some extra suggestions) to make this yummy smoked salmon platter:

• Salmon. Choose a high-quality smoked salmon, such as wild Alaskan smoked salmon. Look for slices that are thin and evenly cut. If it says “nova” on the package, that’s okay too. Nova is just a bit milder and less salty than traditional lox smoked salmon. 

• Capers. Tiny, salty and briny, these edible flowers are a classic pairing with smoked salmon.

• Pickled red onions. I’ll show you how to make homemade pickled red onions in the recipe card that you can use for this recipe and many others. You can also find jars of pickled onions at your local grocery store. 

• Lemon wedges 
• ​Fresh dill
• Bagels. Cut them into quarters so that your guests can try different flavor combinations without committing to an entire bagel.
• Cream cheese. This board offers plain cream cheese and one that is flavored with fresh chives. Scallions are also a great choice for a cream cheese mix-in.

• Cucumber rounds. These are great for people who are following a keto or low carb diet. I love to make little canapes with smoked salmon, cucumber and dot of caviar. 
• Caviar. Cause fancy is fun. 

• Hard-boiled eggs, sliced into wedges

How to Build this Board

Any kind of serving board that you like can be used to make this salmon appetizer platter – round, square, rectangle, marble, wood or stone. Just use whatever makes you feel festive!

Anchoring the smoked salmon onto your serving board is a great starting point. Instead of laying the salmon flat, use a fork to pile each piece on and around each other to give it some height. You can also make salmon pinwheels by rolling up the salmon slices and securing them with toothpicks or small skewers. 

Then, place the cream cheeses down in individual serving bowls.

Next, arrange the caviar, capers and pickled onions in various locations on the board. 

Place piles of cucumber rounds around the board, followed by the bagel pieces. 

Finally, fill in any negative space with wedges of lemon and hard-boiled egg, and garnish with lots of fresh green dill. 

Variations for this Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board

This smoked salmon brunch board is full of so many of my favorite things! But there are even more ways to customize this board.

Encourage your guests to explore different flavor combinations to find their own favorite way to enjoy smoked salmon. Here are some great options:

• Instead of pickled onions, try some non-traditional options like pickled vegetables or olives
• Swap the bagels out for assorted crackers, flatbreads and bagel chips. I especially love the rye cocktail bread that you can find in some supermarkets during the holiday season.
• To balance the savory flavors, consider including some sweet bites on the board. Fresh fruit such as sliced apples, grapes, or berries are a great way to add a seasonal component to your board.
• Try making your own cream cheese flavors. Stir in honey, bagel seasoning or any variety of fresh herbs. 
• Instead of cream cheese, try offering soft cheeses, herbed butter or creme fraiche. Even a creamy cheese like a mild goat cheese would be delicious. This is a great way to transform a brunch board into something fit for a holiday party. 
• Including fresh veggies like radishes or raw asparagus is a great addition to the cucumbers.

Can you make this Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board ahead of time? 

This entire board can be prepared and assembled ahead of time. Just cover it with plastic wrap and keep it refrigerated until you’re ready to enjoy it! 

When you make your own Smoked Salmon Charcuterie Board, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Happy brunching! 

For more grazing board ideas, try these: 

• Greek Charcuterie Board
• Spring Cheese Board
• Summertime Cheese Board
• Pesto Butter Board with Roasted Tomatoes
• Pumpkin Spice Butter Board

For holiday season boards, try these:

• Passover Charcuterie Board
• Easter Candy Charcuterie Board
• Holiday Cheese Board
• Butter Board with Peanut Butter and Candy
• Harvest Cheese Board