Smoked Salmon Breakfast Toast

This bright, fresh, smoked salmon breakfast recipe uses an aromatic lemon and herb compound butter as the backdrop for your favorite savory smoked salmon. The best part is that you can pull this dish together in mere minutes with a pre-baked, dense multigrain bread. 

This smoked salmon breakfast toast is perfect for a fancy family breakfast, a special brunch like Easter or Mother’s Day, or even as a dinner appetizer! 

Is Smoked Salmon the Same as Lox?

While both smoked salmon and lox are made from the same fish, lox actually uses much more salt to cure the salmon. 

Smoked salmon relies more on the smoking process to seal the exterior of the fish and keep it from spoiling. 

For most recipes, lox and smoked salmon are interchangeable; however, you may want to address any added salt if a recipe calls for smoked salmon and you substitute lox.

In this smoked salmon breakfast toast recipe, you’ll want to make sure to use unsalted butter if using lox in place of smoked salmon. You can always add some salt to your compound butter if needed.

Is Smoked Salmon Healthy for Breakfast?

Salmon is one of the best animal sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, so many Americans try to fit salmon into their diets on a regular basis. Additionally, salmon is a complete protein – this means that all of the essential amino acids are included!

Sometimes you want salmon without needing to cook anything, and this is when smoked salmon comes in handy.

Pregnant women and those who are watching their sodium intake should be cautious, however. Since smoked salmon isn’t a cooked product, listeria is always a risk.

Additionally, smoked salmon and lox are high in sodium – consuming too much while pregnant can increase your swelling and water retention. As always, make sure to talk with your doctor about any health concerns you have.

How to Make Smoked Salmon Breakfast Toast

This smoked salmon breakfast recipe really is so simple that you can whip it up in about 15 minutes.

PRO TIP: The delicious multigrain bread can be either toasted or untoasted - we prefer the texture of the toasted bread. If you'd like yours toasted, pop it in the oven at 350F for 5-8 minutes before slicing. You can do this while making the lemon herb butter. 

Ingredients:

• ½ pound salted butter, room temperature
• ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon green onion, both white and green parts minced
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill, divided
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest, divided
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 loaves of your favorite multigrain bread, sliced to ¼-inch thickness
• Smoked salmon, sliced as thinly as possible

Instructions:

STEP 1: Start by making that tangy herb butter. In a stand mixing bowl, add all of your herbs and seasonings to the room-temperature butter. Your bowl should contain butter, garlic, green onion, dill, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, and pepper.

STEP 2: Use the mixer’s beating attachment to smoothly combine all of the ingredients in your butter. Whatever you have left-over after you make your smoked salmon breakfast toast can be wrapped in saran wrap and refrigerated for a couple of days.

STEP 3: If you haven’t already sliced your multi-grain bread, do that now. The ideal thickness will be about a ¼ of an inch – this way, there will be a perfect balance of all the textures and flavors.

PRO TIP: You can also toast your bread in the oven after slicing for a more crisp base.  We love the contrast of crispy bread with the soft, silky fish. Just make sure to let it cool enough that it doesn't completely melt your compound butter.

STEP 4: Spread some herb butter on your bread or toast, then top each piece with a bite of salmon. Try not to use too much fish per slice of bread; smoked salmon and lox can overpower a dish very easily.

STEP 5: Sprinkle the smoked salmon breakfast toasts with the remaining chopped dill and lemon zest.

Smoked Salmon Toast Ingredient Substitutions

There are so many ways we love to get creative with this smoked salmon recipe in our kitchen.

DAIRY FREE: When making for our family I often substitute butter with a plant-based, cholesterol-free Country Crock butter alternative. This is our favorite butter substitute for our dairy free family members.

GLUTEN FREE: Additionally, you could use your family’s favorite gluten-free bread instead of the multigrain.

DRIED HERBS: Don’t have fresh herbs on hand? No problem; simply reduce the amount from the recipe to 1/2. For example, use only1/2 teaspoon of dried dill – dried spices are more potent than fresh. Whatever you choose to change, don’t leave out the lemon. That fresh zest is important!

MORE TOPPING IDEAS: Looking for even more oomph? Try adding capers or some scrambled eggs to your smoked salmon breakfast toast. For more flavor and garnish fun, you could also top the salmon with chives, sesame seeds, or everything bagel seasoning.

More Salmon Recipes

Salmon is our family’s favorite seafood, so we have a LOT of salmon recipes here on Eating Richly. If you want quick and easy salmon, it doesn’t get any simpler than our microwave salmon recipe, or baked salmon asparagus foil packets.

Grilled teriyaki salmon skewers and cedar plank salmon are a wonderful way to perfectly cook your salmon outdoors. You can also cook a whole salmon in the oven, make soy salmon skewers, or try this easy baked salmon with a low carb marinade.

Our typical go to salmon dinner is this fresh lemon pepper salmon recipe, but honey glazed salmon, and pesto pistachio salmon are also popular choices.

Leftover salmon is perfect for whipping up a healthy sushi bowl, salmon patties, a salmon cucumber roll, or a creamy salmon dip.

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Printable Smoked Salmon Toasts Recipe