I have a confession…
I love seafood and could easily live on oysters and salmon for the rest of my life. My kids eat these foods, but definitely don’t love them as much as I do. I’m always looking for ways to make seafood delicious and easy to eat for kids.
Plus, it turns out we need to eat veggies too (and a variety of them) so I’m always looking for ways to combine proteins, veggies, and healthy fats in a single snack that satisfies the kids. This recipe checks all of those boxes and is a favorite in our house.
A Secret Protein Boost
I also love that this recipe incorporates one of my other favorite foods that is packed with protein: cottage cheese!
Even if you aren’t a huge cottage cheese fan, stick with me for a minute. The cottage cheese transforms from its normal state to a creamy base and adds creaminess and texture to this recipe. Even my boys who insist that “cottage cheese is not one of their favorite foods” (since we don’t complain about food) love this recipe.
Most creamy dips rely on a lot of cream cheese for flavor. By subbing in cottage cheese instead you get an even richer flavor, more protein, and a dip you can feel great about giving your kids.
Important Note on Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese is often the hiding place for fillers and gums (including carrageenan). In fact, I avoided cottage cheese for years because of this.
While on a recent family road trip I was grocery shopping and ran across the Good Culture brand of cottage cheese. Imagine my surprise when I learned that it is organic, made from grass-fed milk, free of gums and fillers, and super creamy (read delicious)! It is now a staple at our house and has brought cottage cheese back into my life! Even my husband, who has NEVER liked cottage cheese, enjoyed it. So brace yourself… the cottage cheese recipes are coming.
Good Culture also has some great flavored versions like strawberry and mango that my kids love for breakfast. But enough about my new obsession, let’s get back to the recipe.
Get the Kids Involved
I’m a big fan of letting kids help in the kitchen. There’s even research that letting kids learn how to use knives is essential for their psychological development. This is a perfect recipe to get the kids involved (and they’ll be more likely to try and love a food that they made)!
Smoked Salmon Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- ¼ cup cream cheese
- 8 oz smoked salmon chopped
- 2 TBSP fresh dill finely chopped
- ¼ cup green onion finely sliced
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp hot sauce optional
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Put cottage cheese and cream cheese in a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Add smoked salmon, dill, green onion, lemon juice, and hot sauce and mix by hand.
- Spoon into serving dish and top with smoked paprika.
Notes
Nutrition
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Ways to Eat Smoked Salmon Dip
Personally, I think this dip is good enough to eat right off the spoon, but there are many ways to eat it:
- Spread on gluten free crackers or breads as an appetizer or party dip
- On veggies like cucumber or carrots as a quick protein-packed snack
- Stirred into eggs or in an omelet
- On a bed of greens as a salad topping
Are you a seafood junkie like me? Ready to try this delicious smoked salmon dip?
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