Can I use lox instead of hot smoked salmon?

We don’t recommend using cold smoked salmon, like Nova lox, for this dip because it doesn’t flake or mix in the same way. Cold smoked salmon tends to be silkier and softer in texture, making it harder to mix with the cream cheese and other ingredients. Hot smoked salmon is flakier and dryer and has the texture of traditionally cooked salmon. This makes it the perfect protein mix-in.

Can I use another kind of hot smoked fish?

Sure! We love salmon in this dip, but hot smoked trout or another flaky smoked fish would be excellent. You could also use traditionally cooked salmon (baked, grilled, etc.), or even cedar planked salmon.

How should I serve this?

We like to serve this in a bowl with some crostini (toasted or grilled baguette slices) or crackers on which to spread the dip. It would also be good to spread on top of fresh celery or other vegetables. It’s a nice cold appetizer to share and would pair deliciously with a crisp white wine or sparking water.