Description
This Florida Fish Dip is a creamy, smoky appetizer featuring a blend of smoked fish, cream cheese, and fresh vegetables, seasoned with Old Bay and lemon juice. Perfectly chilled and served with crackers or fresh veggies, this quick and flavorful dip brings coastal Florida flavors to your table in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked fish (wahoo, mackerel, mahimahi, or mullet)
- 4 oz Philadelphia cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise (or sour cream)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- ¼ cup diced celery
- 3 tablespoons diced red onion
- ¼ cup chopped red bell pepper
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
- salt and black pepper, to taste
For Serving
- Crackers or sliced vegetables
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the Fish: Break the smoked fish into small pieces by hand, or for a finer texture, pulse it a few times in a food processor until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Mix Cream Cheese and Mayonnaise: In a large bowl, blend the softened cream cheese and mayonnaise together until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
- Combine Ingredients: Fold the broken-down smoked fish, diced celery, red onion, and chopped red bell pepper into the cream cheese mixture carefully to maintain texture.
- Season the Dip: Stir in Old Bay seasoning and fresh lemon juice, then add salt and black pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Garnish and Chill: Garnish the dip with additional chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Cover and refrigerate the dip until chilled, allowing flavors to meld, typically about 15 minutes or longer.
- Serve: Serve the chilled fish dip with crackers or fresh sliced vegetables as an appetizer or snack.
Notes
- You can use either mayonnaise or sour cream depending on your preference for creaminess and tang.
- If you prefer a smoother dip, use a food processor to finely chop the smoked fish.
- Adjust the amount of Old Bay seasoning and lemon juice to suit your taste.
- This dip should be kept refrigerated and is best consumed within 2 days.
- For a low-fat version, use light cream cheese and mayonnaise.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
