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    Home » Appetizers » Smoked Salmon Pinwheels: An Easy Appetizer

    Smoked Salmon Pinwheels: An Easy Appetizer

    October 29, 2019 , Updated February 5, 2022 Maria 10 Comments

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    A white serving dish is filled with slices of smoked salmon pinwheels.

    Smoked salmon, cream cheese, tortillas, chives and a splash of lemon juice. That’s all you need to make these Smoked Salmon Pinwheels. An easy appetizer idea that your guests will love! 

    A plate of Smoked Salmon Pinwheels.
    Smoked Salmon Pinwheels

    These smoked salmon wraps are a great example of the “whole being greater than the sum of its parts”!

    Aristotle was definitely not referring to these spiral appetizers when he expressed his views on synergy, but I couldn’t think of any other way to describe them.

    The flavor combinations just work so well together.

    If you like simple appetizers, made with just a few simple ingredients that taste amazing, you will also love this Basil Tomato Brushetta, or this Chicken Spiedini recipe. If you are felling a little adventurous, this recipe for Coquilles St Jacques is always a winner.

    Slices of smoked salmon roll ups on a white serving dish.

    When hosting friends or family, you will love the fact that the preparation for this simple smoked salmon appetizer can be made up to a day before you need them.

    They also work well on any brunch table and they’re so convenient for that pot luck party.

    Let me show you how easy one bite appetizers are to make!

    The ingredients to make salmon pinwheels are on a wooden board.

    Ingredients for Smoked Salmon Roll-Ups:

    Here is a list of the ingredients you need. Just a quick reminder that there is a printable recipe card, found at the bottom of the page, with specific amounts for each ingredient.

    • Tortilla. Spinach, pesto, tomato, whole wheat, etc… any variety works well.
    • Cream Cheese. Can also use any other soft cheese like goat cheese.
    • Lemon Juice. Adds a burst of freshness.
    • Smoked Salmon. If possible, purchase from sustainable salmon brands.
    • Chives. Can also use dill.
    • Capers. Optional -but they do add a little tanginess.

    How to make Smoked Salmon Pinwheels:

    Cream cheese and smoked salmon is spread over a whole wheat tortilla.

    In a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of softened cream cheese with ½ teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. If desired, add ½ teaspoon of finely chopped capers.

    Place one tortilla (9 inch) on a wooden board. Use an offset spatula to evenly spread the cream cheese mixture to ¼ inch from the ends.

    Cover with 2-3 thin slices of smoked salmon, about 3 ounces (90 grams).

    A smoked salmon pinwheel is about to be rolled.

    Place 3-4 strands of chives, in a bunch, over the salmon, at the lower end of the tortilla. 

    Starting at the closest end to you, roll the pinwheel tightly together.

    The smoked salmon and cream cheese roll ups are wrapped in a piece of cellophane.

    Wrap the tortilla in a piece of cellophane and refrigerate for a couple of hours or up to one day.

    Salmon wraps in the process of being sliced at an angle.

    When ready to serve, unwrap and with a sharp knife, cut at an angle at ½ inch intervals. 

    Garnish with lemons, chopped chives, capers and serve.

    Your guests are going to love these bite sized appetizers!

    Make ahead appetizers we love:

    • Marinated Olives
    • Seafood Salad
    • Marinated Mozzarella Balls
    • Roasted Bell Peppers

    Smoked salmon roll ups garnished with capers and chopped chives.

    Origins of the recipe for Smoked Salmon Roll ups:

    I discovered this recipe a long time ago – in the May 1998 issue of Homemaker’s Magazine.

    1998 was around the time when my husband and I first started hosting large parties.

    I remember making grocery lists and to-do lists and then lists of the lists to keep them all organized – it was endless!

    This recipe always brings a smile to my face because it reminds me of that time, over twenty years ago now, when I was so anxious about entertaining!

    Still, to this day, I love this make ahead appetizer. 

    The original recipe calls for onions. I am not particularly fond of raw onions (I find them too overpowering), so I simply omit them. 

    Do you have any appetizer recipes that are quick to assemble and can be made ahead of time?

    I’d love to hear about them!

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    Ciao for now,

    Maria 

    ★★★★★ If you have made these smoked salmon pinwheels with capers and lemon, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    Smoked salmon roll ups garnished with capers and chopped chives.

    Smoked Salmon Pinwheels

    Smoked Salmon Pinwheels -an easy appetizer your guests will love! All you need is smoked salmon,cream cheese, tortillas, chives and a splash of lemon juice.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 9 servings
    Calories: 32kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
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    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons cream cheese softened
    • ½ teaspoon lemon juice fresh
    • ½ teaspoon capers optional, finely chopped
    • 1 tortilla 9-inch
    • 3 ounces smoked salmon 90 grams
    • 4 strands chives fresh
    • extra chives, capers and lemon wedges for garnish

    Instructions

    • In a small bowl, combine the cheese, lemon juice and capers (if using).
    • Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly on the tortilla.
    • Cover with smoked salmon.
    • Place chives, in a bunch, over the salmon at the lower end of the tortilla.
    • Starting at the closest end to you, roll the pinwheel tightly together.
    • Wrap in plastic film.
    • Place in refrigerator for at least a few hours or overnight.
    • Unwrap and cut on an angle in ½" slices.
    • Garnish with chopped chives, capers and lemon wedges.
    Enhance Your Cooking Experience!SCROLL UP for essential step-by-step photos embedded in the article above. When available, videos can be found in the next section. These visuals are designed to help you achieve perfect results every time. Happy cooking!

    Notes

    One serving is calculated as two (½ inch) pieces of the salmon pinwheel.
    Repeat the procedure to make the amount of pinwheels that you need.
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
    *recipe adapted from homemaker's magazine

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 32kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 26mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
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    This post was originally published on May 14, 2015 and republished on October 29, 2019 with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing!

     

     

     

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    Filed Under: Appetizers, Breakfast and Brunch

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a retired dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Marcie

      October 13, 2024 at 5:43 pm

      5 stars
      Tasty and easy! I chopped up the chives and mixed with capers, cream cheese, fresh dill, lemon zest.

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 15, 2024 at 1:11 pm

        Thanks so much Marcie!

        Reply
    2. Shams

      July 11, 2021 at 2:22 pm

      Very nice and easy. I made it with fresh dill and green onions instead of chives and turned out delicious. Capers do add a zest indeed! Highly recommended

      Reply
      • Maria

        July 15, 2021 at 7:41 am

        Great variation Shams! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Annie

      October 09, 2019 at 8:11 pm

      5 stars
      I don’t use tortillas but rather Flatbread or Lavash. I find the ingredients remain richer and do not contain the flavor that a tortilla has.
      Salmon-dill-scallions-cream cheese-lemon- served on a platter with Persian cucumber , tomatoes, capers, Greek olives-
      This pinwheel recipe is my go-to winner .
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 22, 2019 at 10:09 am

        Sounds delicious Annie! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    4. Helen in Ottawa

      December 29, 2016 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      This has been a Christmas appetizer recipe for a couple of years now. I was surprised to hear my picky teen get enthusiatic about them this year. We use spinach tortillas to make them even more colourful and festive. I will have to try adding some garlic chives when they are available in the garden come spring

      Reply
      • Maria

        December 29, 2016 at 6:22 pm

        These make the best appetizers! How wonderful to hear that your family also enjoys them, even the picky ones! Appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Holidays 🙂

        Reply
    5. Felicia

      December 27, 2015 at 11:30 am

      5 stars
      Quick, simple, and delicious! I sprinkled mine with a dash of dill…my guests loved them.

      Reply
      • Maria

        December 27, 2015 at 11:33 am

        Hi Felicia, So glad to hear! Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂

        Reply

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