Keto Smoked Salmon And Shrimp Bites

Name: Keto Smoked Salmon And Shrimp Bites
Prep time: 13 min
Cook time: 35 min
Ingredients: 8 oz cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup sour cream; 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped, plus small fronds for garnish; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1 tsp lemon zest; 4 oz smoked salmon, torn into ribbons; 8 oz cooked small shrimp, tails removed; 1 English cucumber, cut into 24 half-inch rounds; 1/2 tsp kosher salt

⏲ ~48 min total · prep 13 · cook 35 · 4 servings

Dinner⏱ 141 min total🔥 2.8g net carbs⚡ ≈663 kcal/serving~9% of calories from carbs

By the KFI Test Kitchen · Tested & approved by Jason Lieu, KFI recipe editor

Published Sep 15, 2026 · Updated Sep 15, 2026

Ingredients

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped, plus small fronds for garnish
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon zest
4 oz smoked salmon, torn into ribbons
8 oz cooked small shrimp, tails removed
1 English cucumber, cut into 24 half-inch rounds
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Instructions

Beat the cream cheese and sour cream in a medium bowl with a hand mixer on medium for 1 minute, until completely smooth and pillowy — any lump will clog the piping tip.
Beat in the dill, lemon juice, zest, and salt, then taste and sharpen with another squeeze of lemon if it sits flat.
Arrange the cucumber rounds in a single layer on a parchment-lined sheet pan and blot their tops dry with paper towel so the cream cheese clings instead of sliding.
Pipe or spoon a rosette of the whipped cream cheese onto each round, drape a ribbon of smoked salmon over it, and top with a single shrimp.
Chill the pan uncovered for 2 hours so the cream cheese firms up and the cucumber loses its raw edge.
Garnish with dill fronds and serve cold, within a few hours of chilling.

Why this recipe works

A whipped base that pipes clean One minute with a hand mixer turns cream cheese and sour cream into something pillowy enough to hold a rosette. Lumps are the enemy here; they clog the tip and wreck the shape.
Cucumber instead of a cracker Rounds of English cucumber do the cracker's job with none of the carbs. Blotted dry, they hold the cream cheese without sliding.
The two-hour chill is the recipe Uncovered in the fridge, the rosettes firm up and the cucumber loses its raw edge. Skip the chill and you're serving loose scoops on cold, wet rounds.

Tips for making this recipe well

Blot every round

Pass paper towel over the top of each cucumber round before piping, or the cream cheese sits on a slick. Dry surface, firm grip.

Beat past combined

The spread should look completely smooth and a little glossy before the dill goes in. Stop early and the lumps find the piping tip for you.

Taste and sharpen

Lemon juice and zest go in, then taste. If the spread sits flat, another small squeeze of lemon wakes it up.

One shrimp, tail off

With the tail removed, the shrimp sits flat on the rosette instead of teetering. One per round keeps each piece level and the tray even.

Chill uncovered

A lid traps condensation, and condensation slides the toppings. Two hours, uncovered, is what sets the whole structure.

Serving suggestions

Twenty-four rounds on a parchment-lined tray, dill fronds on top, served cold within a few hours of the chill. At 2.8g net carbs a serving, this is the party tray keto guests can actually eat from, and everyone else eats it as fast. Set the tray out in one layer and refill rather than crowding it; the rounds bruise when piled. Cold plate, cold tray, no exceptions.

Storage and meal prep

Keep the tray refrigerated and serve within a few hours of the chill, while the cucumber is still firm and the rosettes hold their peaks. In an airtight container they keep 3 to 4 days, though the cucumber softens by the day and the best texture is behind you after the first. Skip the freezer entirely; cream cheese and cucumber both weep when thawed, and no garnish hides that.

Variations worth trying

Everything seasoning A pinch over each rosette instead of the dill fronds. It points the tray toward bagels without a bagel in sight.
Horseradish spread A half teaspoon of prepared horseradish beaten in with the lemon turns the base sharp. The smoked salmon approves.
Salmon only Double the smoked salmon and skip the shrimp. Drape a second ribbon over each rosette instead.

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip the piping bag?

Yes. Two spoons make a respectable rosette, or a zip-top bag with a corner snipped off does the same job as a tip.

How far ahead can I make these?

The two-hour chill is part of the recipe, and they're at their best within a few hours after that. A day ahead is workable, but the cucumber loses its snap.

Can I use frozen cooked shrimp?

Yes, thawed completely and blotted very dry. Wet shrimp slides off the rosette and dilutes the spread where it sits.

Why did my cream cheese stay lumpy?

It wasn't soft enough or wasn't beaten long enough. Room-temperature cream cheese and a full minute with the mixer is the difference between spread and architecture.

Can I serve them straight from mixing?

You can, and they'll taste right and look soft. The chill is what turns loose scoops into defined rosettes, so give it the two hours.

Related keto recipes

Dinner

As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Keto Food Ideas earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Nutritional values are estimates. Recipes are developed with AI assistance and reviewed by our editors before publishing.

← More Dinner recipes · Home