Smoked Whitefish Salad

Whitefish Salad on crackers and bagels
Miri Rotkovitz
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

  • 2 pounds smoked whitefish, whole or fillets

  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise, more to taste

  • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill

  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. 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.  

  3. 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 (per serving)
187 Calories
8g Fat
1g Carbs
27g Protein
×
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.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)