Smoked Salmon Grilled Cheese (Print Version)

A savory sandwich combining smoked salmon, creamy cheese, fresh dill, and golden crisp bread.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dairy & Cheese

01 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Swiss cheese

→ Fish

03 - 4 oz smoked salmon, thinly sliced

→ Bread

04 - 4 slices hearty sandwich bread (sourdough or rye recommended)

→ Fresh Herbs

05 - 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped

→ Spreads & Oils

06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

→ Optional Additions

07 - 2 tbsp finely sliced red onion
08 - 1 tsp capers, drained
09 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Combine softened cream cheese with chopped dill, adding capers or red onion if desired, mixing thoroughly.
02 - Arrange bread slices and spread softened butter evenly on one side of each slice.
03 - On the unbuttered sides of two bread slices, spread the cream cheese mixture evenly, then layer smoked salmon, sprinkle shredded cheese and black pepper evenly.
04 - Top with the remaining bread slices, ensuring buttered sides face outward.
05 - Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Grill sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently until bread is golden and cheese melted.
06 - Allow sandwiches to rest for one minute before slicing and serving warm.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It tastes elegant enough to impress but takes less time than ordering takeout.
  • The combination of crispy bread, silky salmon, and melted cheese feels indulgent without being heavy.
  • You probably have most of these ingredients already, or they're worth picking up for how often you'll make this.
02 -
  • If your cream cheese is cold, it won't spread smoothly and you'll tear holes in the bread—letting it soften on the counter for 10 minutes is worth the wait.
  • Medium heat is your friend here; if the pan is too hot, the bread burns before the cheese melts, and if it's too cool, you'll end up with pale, sad bread.
  • Don't skip the rest period—it sounds silly, but that minute makes the difference between a sandwich that holds together and one that leaks cheese onto your plate.
03 -
  • Buy smoked salmon from the deli counter if you can—it's usually fresher and better quality than pre-packaged, and you can ask them to slice it thin.
  • If you make this often, prep the cream cheese-dill mixture the night before; it saves you those few minutes in the morning when you're hungry now.
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