Elegant entertaining can be achieved without the stress by focusing on creating beautiful appetizer trays that are both easy to assemble and deliciously elevated. By selecting high-quality ingredients and arranging them thoughtfully, you can impress your guests without spending hours in the kitchen. That means, more time for you to enjoy your event! One key to success is choosing items that require minimal preparation but deliver maximum flavor. This smoked salmon tray is a perfect example of an appetizer that looks sophisticated yet is simple to put together. With just a few fresh ingredients like cucumber slices, smoked salmon, lemon wheels, fresh dill, and a sprinkle of flake salt, you can create a visually appealing and tasty spread that sets the tone for a stylish gathering.

We recently prepared this smoked salmon tray for our Paris Olympic Opening Ceremony watch party, and it was a huge hit. The combination of the delicate, smoky salmon with the crisp, refreshing cucumber, tangy lemon, and aromatic dill was an instant crowd-pleaser. The flake salt added a perfect finishing touch, enhancing the flavors without overpowering them. Not only was this tray effortless to assemble, but it also looked stunning on the table, adding an element of elegance to the event. This approach to entertaining allows you to enjoy the company of your guests and the excitement of the occasion without the hassle of complex preparations.

Smoked Salmon Tray: What you’ll need

• 1/2 cucumber, sliced

• 12 ounces smoked salmon

• 1/4 lemond, sliced into wheels and halved

• 4-5 sprigs of fresh dill

• flake salt

Smoked Salmon Tray: Preparation

• lay the cucumbers in a layered pattern in rows (I created three rows). Leave space between each row.

• in the empty space, add layers of your smoked salmon slices. You can roll your salmon slices to make pick up easier for your guests.

• arrange half a lemon wheel at each side of your salmon rows

• top with fresh dill and flake salt and enjoy!

For this event, we had a tray of croissants, this smoked salmon platter, an easy to make baked boursin and roasted cherry tomatoes, these deviled eggs, and of course a signature drink, the French 75. We outsourced dessert by picking up an incredible summer tart from Carissa’s bakery. For more tips and recipes for easy entertaining be sure to subscribe and follow along!