Description

This Smoked Salmon Cheese Ball is a creamy, flavorful appetizer perfect for parties and gatherings. Combining smooth cream cheese, smoky salmon, tangy sour cream, and zesty lemon pepper, it is then rolled in fresh herbs and crunchy pecans for a delightful texture and taste. Easy to prepare and customizable with your favorite herbs, this cheese ball is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese Ball Mixture

16 ounces cream cheese
12 ounces smoked salmon (or regular salmon plus 1 teaspoon liquid smoke)
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/2 cup red onion (finely diced)
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning

Coating

1 cup pecans (roughly chopped)
2 tablespoons fresh herbs (chives, parsley, dill, etc., chopped)

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Instructions

Combine Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, sour cream, smoked salmon, finely diced red onion, and lemon pepper seasoning. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined. You can mix by hand for texture or use a stand mixer for convenience.
Form the Cheese Ball: Using your hands, shape the mixture into a ball. The mixture will be soft, but it firms up once chilled. If it feels too soft to handle, place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
Prepare the Coating: Combine roughly chopped pecans and chopped fresh herbs on a plate or cutting board, spreading them out into a single layer.
Coat the Cheese Ball: Roll the formed cheese ball over the pecan and herb mixture, coating the entire exterior evenly to add texture and flavor.
Serve or Chill: Serve immediately with crackers or vegetable slices, or refrigerate until ready. The flavors will intensify the longer it sits in the fridge, making it ideal to prepare a day in advance.

Notes

This smoked salmon cheese ball is a party favorite due to its creamy texture and smoky, tangy flavor.
Using smoked salmon is key, but if unavailable, regular salmon with liquid smoke can be substituted.
Adjust herbs and seasonings based on your taste preferences.
Can be prepared a day ahead for deeper flavor infusion.
Pair with your choice of crackers, bread, or fresh veggies for serving.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 227 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 346 mg
Fat: 21 g
Saturated Fat: 8 g
Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 4 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 8 g
Cholesterol: 49 mg