Easy Smoked Salmon Appetizer Roll Ups (Dairy Free)

Our easy smoked salmon appetizer roll ups are so easy to make and are perfect for not only appetizers, but make great snacks and lunches, too! Our recipe is made dairy free and gluten free.

Looking for a pretty but simple appetizer recipe that’s also allergy friendly? We created this super easy smoked salmon appetizer roll up recipe that is so yummy and looks great in an appetizer spread.

And this recipe isn’t just for appetizers: I love eating these for a super easy snack or lunch. In fact that’s how I’ve been making this recipe the past few weeks, as a healthy lunch option.

This little snack is reminiscent of a cucumber naruto sushi roll that uses cucumber instead of rice and nori to wrap the fish. I love naruto rolls, and this is an easy way for me to get something similar at home.

If you don’t have salmon on hand, just a hint that this works with natural deli meat (like natural ham) for a quick and easy lunch!

Our salmon roll ups are:

• Gluten free
• Dairy free
• Peanut free
• Soy free (depending on the brand of dip or cream cheese you choose)

How to make smoked salmon appetizer roll ups

These smoked salmon appetizers come together super easily, here are the steps to make these (this is just an overview, the full recipe card is at the end of the post):

1. Wash your cucumber and use the peeler to create thin slices of cucumber.
2. Layer 2 thin slices of cucumber on top of each other, then use a paper towel to blot any extra moisture off the cucumber slices.
3. Spread a layer of the Violife french onion dip (or softened dairy free cheese mixed with chopped chives) over the cucumber slice.
4. Add thin slices of cold smoked salmon to the cucumber and roll up.
5. Add a toothpick if needed to the roll (it isn’t always necessary to add a toothpick), and serve immediately or chill in an airtight container to serve later.

A 1-inch salmon roll can be a pretty good sized mouthful, a bit smaller than a sushi roll size, so if you’re making these for appetizers vs a lunch or snack, you can use a mini cucumber for the cucumber slices or cut your cucumber slices in half lengthwise to make smaller salmon roll ups that are easier to eat.

To create the thin slices of cucumber, you can use a regular vegetable peeler or a mandolin. Because we’re slicing the cucumber lengthwise, I think using a peeler is easier though. I used a regular vegetable peeler, but a Y-peeler would probably work a little easier.

I got some very thin slices with my peeler, so I layered 2 slices for easier rolling, but if your slices are slightly thicker depending on your peeler or mandolin, you can use just 1 slice.

Dairy free cream cheese options

The Violife French onion dip we used in this recipe is quite thick and is more like a softened cream cheese than a regular dip. I usually end up adding a little salt to this dip, but since the smoked salmon in this recipe has plenty of salt, it balances out with these appetizers.

If you can’t find the Violife French onion dip or don’t want to use it, you can replace it with a softened dairy free cream cheese mixed with chopped chives and some salt and pepper. Violife also makes a spinach artichoke dip (also quite thick) that would also work great in this recipe.

I recommend the Violife dairy free cream cheese, it has the best taste and texture I think, but you can use your favorite dairy free cream cheese that fits your food allergies!

Here are some good options for plain or chive dairy free cream cheese you can use in this recipe:

• Kite Hill: contains almonds
• Daiya: tastes decent to me but some people aren’t fans, it comes in different flavors, like onion/chive.
• Violife: this is really good, it’s coconut-based (no other nuts), but doesn’t cook well.
• Wayfare: nut free, contains beans
• Miyoko’s cream cheese: contains cashews

Check out our other smoked salmon recipes!

• Spicy Smoked Salmon Poke
• Smoked Salmon Salad