Salmon Cheese Ball With Horseradish

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 09/15/22
Tested by Mary Jo Romano
Salmon Cheese Ball With Horseradish

The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Prep: 75 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Refrigeration Time: : 4 hrs
Total: 5 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings

Cheese balls aren't complicated to make, and they always impress as an appetizer at a party. Served with crackers, toast points, and cut vegetables, they're hearty enough to fill people up while still being a lighter option. This particular cheese ball variety incorporates salmon, which makes it a particularly elegant hors d'oeuvre. The horseradish gives it a little extra kick, though you can add more spice with hot sauce or red cayenne pepper instead.

“The Salmon Cheese Ball with Horseradish is the kind of appetizer that you keep going back for “just one more bite” and before you know it, you've eaten half! The canned salmon made assembly easy. Typically, I serve cheese balls during winter holidays but was inspired to serve this late summer.” —Mary Jo Romano

Salmon Cheese Ball with Horseradish/Tester Image
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Ingredients

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped or grated onion

  • 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish, more to taste

  • 2 teaspoons fresh dill

  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

  • Kosher salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

  • 3 (5-ounce) cans skinless, boneless pink salmon in water, well-drained

  • 1/2 cup pecan halves, or walnut halves, coarsely chopped

  • 3 to 4 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Salmon Cheese Ball With Horseradish ingredients

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  2. Combine the cream cheese, lemon juice, onion, horseradish, dill, garlic powder, and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. With a handheld electric mixer, blend on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally, until the mixture is well-combined. Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.

    cream cheese, lemon juice, onion, horseradish, dill, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  3. Flake the salmon. Add it to the cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed until incorporated. Be careful not to overmix.

    salmon mixture in a bowl

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  4. Cover and chill until the mixture is firm enough to handle, about 3 hours. If you need it to be done faster, put the mixture in the freezer for 30 minutes.

    salmon mixture in a bowl, covered with plastic wrap

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  5. Combine the walnuts and parsley on a large plate. Wash and dry your hands, leaving them a little damp. Use your hands to shape the mixture into a ball.

    salmon mixture ball

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

  6. Roll the ball in the nut-parsley mixture to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

    Salmon Cheese Ball With Horseradish

    The Spruce / Madhumita Sathishkumar

Tips

  • Instead of canned fish, finely chop about a pound of cooked fresh salmon. Make sure that all the skin and bones have been removed from the fish.
  • Experiment with herbs and spices to see what you like best. Options include Old Bay or lemon pepper.
  • If there's a concern about nut allergies, roll the ball in finely chopped herbs instead of chopped nuts.
  • Prep for your party in advance by making this cheese ball a few weeks ahead of time and freezing it until the event. Wrap it tightly in freezer-quality plastic wrap. Don't place anything on top of the cheese ball or it will squish it and cause the cheese ball to lose its shape. Remove the cheese ball from the freezer at least 24 hours in advance and let it thaw in the fridge.
  • Serve with a variety of crackers, toast points, and cut vegetables.

Recipe Variations

  • Instead of canned fish, substitute 4 to 6 ounces of smoked salmon. Also try substituting 1 pound of cooked fresh salmon (make sure all the skin and bones have been removed).
  • Swap about 1 pound of chopped, smoked whitefish for the salmon.
  • Experiment with herbs and spices to see what you like best. Options include Old Bay or lemon pepper.
  • If there's a concern about nut allergies, roll the ball in finely chopped herbs instead of chopped nuts.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
200 Calories
15g Fat
3g Carbs
15g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 200
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 6g 32%
Cholesterol 74mg 25%
Sodium 375mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 3g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 4mg 18%
Calcium 189mg 15%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 253mg 5%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)