Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
With its flashy salmon hue and silky texture, lox usually gets the most bagel pairing attention. But if you haven’t tried whitefish salad, you’re missing out on a worthy topper not just for bagels, but for everything from challah or crackers to crudités. Its humble look belies a rich, smoky flavor, punctuated by the crunch of celery and the bright flavors of fresh dill and a hint of lemon. It’s quick and easy to make, too — perfect for when you want a simple yet sophisticated upgrade from tuna salad.
Where to Find Smoked Whitefish: Bagel shops and Jewish delis often carry whitefish, as do some supermarkets, fishmongers, and warehouse clubs, like Costco or BJs. Brooklyn-based Acme Smoked Fish has a helpful store locator on its website, which can help you track down its kosher-certified whitefish.
Kosher Status: Pareve, Passover
Ingredients
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2 pounds smoked whitefish, whole or fillets
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1/3 cup mayonnaise, more to taste
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2 stalks celery, finely chopped
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1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill
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2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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Remove the skin from the whitefish (it will lift off easily). Use clean fingers or a fork to pull the fish off of the bones. Transfer the fish to a medium-sized bowl. Use a fork to break the whitefish into smaller pieces, removing any small bones you find.
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Add 1/3 cup mayonnaise, the celery, dill, and lemon juice and mix well. Taste and adjust the seasonings if desired, adding more mayonnaise if you prefer a creamier texture or milder flavor.
Variations
- Try fresh chives or parsley in place of the dill, or opt for a mix of all three.
- For a little bite, add finely minced red onion.
- For a smoother, more spreadable salad, omit the celery, and increase the mayonnaise. Mix very well to break down the fish into smaller pieces.
- For more lemon flavor, add a bit of finely grated zest along with the lemon juice.
- For dairy meals, try replacing half or all of the mayonnaise with sour cream.
How to Serve:
As a meal: Whether for fancy brunches or casual weekday meals, whitefish salad is a natural fit: serve it on bagels with lettuce, tomato, and red onion, alongside omelets, or roll it into a wrap with cucumber, tomato, carrot, and/or bell pepper.
As an appetizer or hors d’oeuvres: Whitefish salad makes great party fare. Offer it on crackers, toast points, or blini, or alongside a platter of crudités. Or spoon it on cucumber or radish slices, or into halved cherry tomatoes. As a plated appetizer, try it with a salad of fanned avocado slices and supremed grapefruit or orange sections.
On the Passover Table:
If you make it with kosher-for-Passover mayonnaise, this whitefish salad makes a great option for brunch or lunch during the holiday. Serve it on matzo or Passover rolls. Or for totally gluten-free options, wrap it in lettuce leaves, or roll it up into thin strips of cucumber (use a mandoline or vegetable peeler to make lengthwise slices), à la sushi rolls.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Servings: 6 to 8 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 187 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 8g | 10% |
| Saturated Fat 1g | 7% |
| Cholesterol 41mg | 14% |
| Sodium 1222mg | 53% |
| Total Carbohydrate 1g | 0% |
| Dietary Fiber 0g | 1% |
| Total Sugars 0g | |
| Protein 27g | |
| Vitamin C 1mg | 5% |
| Calcium 26mg | 2% |
| Iron 1mg | 3% |
| Potassium 514mg | 11% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
