This salmon carpaccio is made with thin slices of smoked, buttery salmon, arranged beautifully on a plate and topped with lemon olive oil dressing and a delicious white sauce (if you're feeling fancy). It's perfect to serve as an appetizer or as a no-cook main.
Light and filling it’s perfect for hot summer days paired with some fresh bread and white wine. In Italy, salmon carpaccio is also one of the protagonist on a Christmas table. Of course if your menu is fish and seafood based.
It’s a great starter that’s super simple to make even last minute. If you’re hosting a buffet style party salmon carpaccio will be a great fit.
Table Of Contents
Good To Know
Salmon carpaccio inspired by the Italian famous beef carpaccio, which traditionally uses paper-thin slices of raw beef or veal.
This Salmon Carpaccio: What's So Special?
- Perfect as a no-cook main course or as an appetizer.
- One of the best (and easy!) ways to serve smoked salmon.
- Comes together in a snap of a finger.
- Customizable. Make it with only one kind of sauce / dressing.
- Feels like you're eating it in a fancy restaurant due to the two kind of sauces that are super easy and quick to make.
Ingredients
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
- Salmon - smoked salmon or sushi grade vacuum-packed salmon work great. You can also use super fresh high quality salmon if you choose to.
- Lemon - you'll need lemon juice for both dressings. If you have an organic untreated lemon use lemon zest for garnishing and extra flavor, if not skip the zest.
- Olive oil dressing - also called Citronette dressing made with extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice salt and pepper.
- White sauce - similar to one used with beef carpaccio but slightly tweaked to perfectly pair with salmon. It's made with mayo, lemon juice, capers (can skip if you don't have them) and anchovies (can be substituted with a few dashes of Worcestershire sauce).
- Arugula - for plating and serving. You can use sliced beef tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes instead of arugula or together with it.
- Parsley - for garnishing but also for flavor.
How To Make - Step By Step with Pictures
Olive Oil Dressing
Put all ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously (photos 1, 2). Set aside.
NOTE: you'll need to shake this dressing again before serving to bring back the creamy consistency.
White Sauce
Place all ingredients in a blender cup or tall container, and blitz until smooth. The sauce will have a runny consistency and that's what we want (photos 3, 4).
NOTE: you'll likely have some leftovers of this sauce. Use it as a salad dressing (tomato and cucumber salad for example) or take it to the next level by adding tuna and more mayo. See FAQ section for details.
Put everything together
- Arrange arugula on a large serving dish. Place salmon slices slightly overlapping on top.
NOTE: instead of arugula use sliced beef tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes. You can also add a layer of tomatoes on top of arugula, cover with white sauce, then top with salmon carpaccio. - Shake olive oil dressing to emulsify and drizzle generously over the salmon. If you have time, let it sit for 10-15 minutes to marinate (photo 5). If you don't plan to use the second sauce (white sauce) garnish with chopped parsley and capers or top with the second sauce (photo 6).
- When ready to serve drizzle salmon carpaccio with white sauce (it's easier to do it with a squeeze bottle). Garnish with chopped parsley, lemon zest (if using organic lemon) and capers if you prefer.
FAQs
Yes, you can prepare the sauces for up to days in advance and then assemble carpaccio 30 minutes before serving.
If you have any leftovers cover the plate with a plastic wrap and store in the fridge for up to 24 hours.
Yes, if you're absolutely sure your salmon is extra fresh and of the highest quality. You can choose to marinate it, to remove excess moisture and to firm the flesh slightly by rubbing it with equal parts salt and sugar and letting sit in the fridge for 24 hours. Before slicing it's best to place salmon in the freezer for about an hours so that you can cut thin diagonal slices.
Use leftover olive oil dressing to dress salads. In fact, it's one of Italian classic dressings used in a variety of salad.
White sauce leftovers you can use as it for salad dressing but I like to take it the next level. Add one equal part canned tuna and two parts of extra mayo. Example: for 50 grams of leftover sauce add 50 grams tuna and 100 grams of simple mayo. Blend and use it as a sauce for grilled meat, grilled vegetables, and even as a salad dressing. It's divine!
What To Serve It With
If you're serving salmon carpaccio as an appetizer, add other small bites like deviled egg sail boats, roasted pepper antipasto or easy and delicious cherry tomato bruschetta. If you're making carpaccio as a main course, you can stuff it into puccia bread rolls to make a delicious rustic sandwich, accompany it with homemade ciabatta bread or pick one or more of perfect pairings below:
Love Italian Food?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive tips, tricks and new recipes delivered straight to your inbox!
Full Recipe
Salmon Carpaccio (Carpaccio Di Salmone)
Ingredients
- 16 oz smoked salmon , about 400-450 grams (see Note 1)
- 1 lemon , juice and optional but recommended zest (see Note 2)
Olive Oil Dressing (Citronette)
- ¼ cup Extra virgin olive oil , 50 grams
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- pepper fresh grind to taste
White Sauce
- 6 tablespoon mayo , 75 grams
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tbso extra virgin olive oil
- 2 anchovy fillets
- 5 capers (optional)
For garnishing
- 2 sprigs parsley
- lemon zest optional but recommended
- 10 capers optional
For serving
- 2 cups arugula or other leafy greens (see Note 3)
Instructions
Olive Oil Dressing
- Put all ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously. Set aside.
White Sauce
- Place all ingredients in a blender cup or tall container, and blitz until smooth. The sauce will have a runny consistency and that's what we want.
Put everything together
- Arrange arugula on a large serving dish. Place salmon slices slightly overlapping on top.
- Shake olive oil dressing to emulsify and drizzle generously over the salmon. If you have time, let it sit for 10-15 minutes to marinate. If you don't plan to use the second sauce (white sauce) garnish with chopped parsley and capers or top with the second sauce.
- When ready to serve drizzle salmon carpaccio with white sauce (it's easier to do it with a squeeze bottle). Garnish with chopped parsley, lemon zest and capers if you prefer.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Lori
I have never had a better one than that served at L’Olivo at Valentín Imperial Riviera Maya. Supreme!