This salmon dip is super easy and makes creative use of your leftovers! There is no baking required, so it’s a perfect party appetizer!

Holiday Parties are always about the appetizers

Appetizers and small plates, chafing dishes scattered through the dining room, kids sneaking over to the dessert table. That is what immediately pops into my mind when I think of holiday parties. My family has a very Italian heritage, and the food is generally geared in that direction. For Christmas, that means seafood.

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is part of many Italian-American Christmas Eve celebrations. Christmas Eve is considered a vigil or fasting day, and the spread of varied seafood reflects the observance of abstinence from meat, similar to having fish on Fridays. (I know, it is odd to not consider fish a form of meat in the vein of animal based protein, but old traditions die hard) So, at my mother’s house, Christmas Eve involves caroling, an appearance by Santa, and all the fish, shellfish, mollusks and pasta you can eat.

I made this Salmon dip using leftover baked salmon, but if you want to bake some up specifically for this dish, it is pretty worthwhile. You can keep it pretty simple, or bake in all the flavor profiles you are craving.

What do you need to make this easy Salmon Dip?

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbsp Butter
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 cups cooked salmon, shredded
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp course salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 tsp cajun seasoning
• 1/2 lime (for juice)
• 1 cup panko

Step 1: Sauté onions and garlic in 2 Tbsp of butter until golden brown.

Step 2: In a medium bowl, add soy, mayo and onions to salmon. Mix well.

Step 3: Add Seasonings, stir together.

Step 4: Toast Panko Crumbs in 2 Tbsp of butter.

Step 5: Evenly spread Salmon into 9″ pie pan and top with panko.

Step 6: Serve as is, or warm in oven at 350 for 8 minutes.

Pretty easy. My kids will eat this for a meal if I let them. You probably noticed that unlike many salmon dip recipes, there was no cream cheese in this one. I made this specifically lactose free for a relative, and it came out wonderful (though I do love me some cheese).

Note on Salmon. You may be wondering why the salmon in my dip is so spectacularly red. Years of working in Prince William Sound, Alaska has me addicted to the spectacular Red (Sockeye) Salmon found there. And whenever possible I use Copper River Red Salmon. It is the best I have found anywhere.

Looking for some more Appetizer ideas? Try out my easy game day stromboli, it’s always a winner!

If you have tried my Easy Salmon Dip recipe, or any other recipe on  Real Life with Dad, please rate the recipe.  And be sure to follow us on FaceBook and Instagram @RealLifeWithDad