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    Home > Meal Type > Appetizers and Starters

    Smoked Fish Dip with Cream Cheese

    Last Updated: Jun 22, 2021 · First Published: Sep 7, 2018
    Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts · Comment: 20 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved!
    4.27 from 19 votes
    close up on a celery button stopping up the creamy smoked fish dip. Text at the top of the image

    This smoked fish dip with cream cheese makes a great appetizer or easy snack idea for parties. It is rich and creamy and no one would know that it is made from kipper snacks. Yes this decadent spread is made with canned fish!! It is low carb, when served with celery sticks or vegetable batons and keeps well for several days. You can prepare it in advance and is simple to make with a food processor.

    Blue bowl of smoked fish dip with a celery baton being dipped into it

    How to make smoked fish dip with cream cheese

    If you have a food processor this smoked fish dip/spread is so simple and so quick. Especially when you use my secret ingredient. Kipper snacks!

    These little canned kippers give this smoked fish dip so much flavor and all of the work has been done for you. You just open up the can, drain away the oil/brine and you are ready to go. The bones have been removed and although there is some skin left, I don't worry about removing it as that is a fiddly job! And the food processor makes quick work of it.

    overhead of the smoked fish dip in a bowl with toast points and celery batons arranged around the edge

    KIPPER SNACKS??? Really?

    Yes!!! I know. So many people ask how do we eat kipper snacks and here is the answer...in a smoked fish dip/spread.

    For this recipe you will need two of the individual kipper snack cans or one of the larger ones.

    Kipper snacks are also called canned kippers or smoked canned kippers.

    two cans of kipper snacks, one open and one sealed

    Which kipper snacks to use?

    I use John West canned kippers or Polar kipper snacks. But this recipe works just as well with King Oscar kipper snacks.

    John West and Polar come in larger cans, so you will only need one can. But King Oscar comes in individual sizes so you will need 2 cans (Polar also do an individual size).

    The beauty of this recipe is that any kipper snack/canned kipper will work.

    four packets of kipper snacks on a white background. Showing the brands available

    How do I use the Kipper snacks?

    Canned kippers just need to be drained and then they are ready to use.

    They don't look amazingly appetizing when you first open the can, but I promise this smoked fish dip will transform those kippers into something decadent and delicious.

    Don't worry about trying to remove the skin. It is a super fiddly job and it blends up perfectly in the food processor.

    Want to save this recipe?

    We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

    How to make Smoked Fish Dip with Cream Cheese.

    You need just 5 ingredients to make this smoked fish dip. Canned Kippers/kipper snacks, cream cheese, sour cream, lemon zest and black pepper.

    marble surface with the ingredients to make smoked fish dip laid out

    Once you have drained the kippers, throw everything into a food processor and whizz until you have a smooth silky dip.

    You might want to check your seasonings as some kippers are packed in oil and will be less salty than those packed in brine. I don't usually need to add salt to my dip, but this is all down to personal taste.

    split picture showing the ingredients in the food processor before and after blending

    What to serve with your smoked fish dip.

    I could eat this with a spoon! But to keep it elegant and party like, serve the dip with celery batons and some toast points (you can get my step by step guide to perfect toast points here).

    Remove the dip/spread from the fridge for 30 minutes before serving. This allows it to get to room temperature and have a dip-able consistency.

    blue bowl of smoked fish dip with toast points arranged around and one being dipped in.
    Enjoy x

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    table view, grey plate on a brown table with a blue bowl of smoked fish pate on it and vegetable batons and toast points arranged around the plate

    Smoked Fish Dip with Cream Cheese

    Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    This smoked fish dip with cream cheese makes a great appetizer or snack idea for parties. It is rich and creamy and no one would know that it is made from kipper snacks. Yes this decadent spread is made with canned fish!! It is low carb, when served with celery sticks or vegetable batons and keeps well for several days. You can prepare it in advance and it is simple to make with a food processor.
    4.27 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Total Time 10 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine Modern Australian
    Servings 8
    Calories 84 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 cans kipper snacks - see note 1 for sizings
    • ½ cup cream cheese
    • 2 tablespoon sour cream
    • pinch black pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon lemon zest

    To Serve

    • toast points
    • vegetable batons

    Instructions
     

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    • Drain the kipper snacks and place the fillets into the food processor.
    • Add in the remaining ingredients and process until your dip is super smooth.
    • Serve immediately or refrigerate until needed.
    • To serve remove the dip from the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.
    • Serve with toast points or as a low carb option celery/carrot or bell pepper batons.

    Notes

    Kipper snacks come in two sizes.
    Small packets approximately 3.25oz and the larger packets are around 6.7oz
    This recipe calls for 1 large packet or 2 smaller packets.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 84kcalProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 47mgPotassium: 19mgVitamin A: 210IUCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.1mg

    Nutrition is per serving

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    Comments

    1. Kim says

      June 28, 2025 at 12:36 pm

      5 stars
      This dip turned out delicious! I used fresh smoked trout that was left over from a Smoked Trout Fettuccine recipe. There was a lot of dip - I’m wondering if it is safe to freeze some?

      Reply
      • Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says

        June 29, 2025 at 10:20 am

        Hi Kim,

        You can freeze it, but I do find the texture isn't quite as smooth after freezing. It still tastes great though.
        Hope that helps
        Cx

        Reply
    2. John Doe says

      November 24, 2024 at 9:01 am

      What kind of moron writes up a recipe and doesn't have any indication of how much ingredient to use of each ingredient? I mean, Jesus Christ. Asinine yes, we get the ingredients that's easy. But how much did you used to make your "recipe? "by the way it's just cream cheese and canned fish.

      Reply
      • Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says

        November 24, 2024 at 1:36 pm

        Hi John,

        I could probably say the same about someone who also can't read to the bottom of a web page, where the ingredients are all listed in a compact and clear recipe card, with amounts and full instructions.
        But I won't say that as my mother taught me that if you have nothing kind to say then say nothing.
        Have a great day 🙂
        Cx

        Reply
    3. Britta Storm says

      March 12, 2019 at 8:10 am

      I have to try this!
      Here in Denmark we usualy eat kippers with scrambled eggs on rye bread.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        March 13, 2019 at 9:00 am

        I bet you will like to Britta, it is delicious with hot toast for breakfast.

        Reply
    4. Wilhelmina Wessel says

      October 17, 2018 at 9:54 am

      5 stars
      I bet this would be a big hit for brunch!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 19, 2018 at 6:34 am

        Oh it would be great for brunch!!!

        Reply
    5. Taryn says

      October 17, 2018 at 9:52 am

      5 stars
      Such a unique dip for entertaining. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        October 19, 2018 at 6:34 am

        You are welcome Taryn

        Reply
    6. Sandi says

      September 18, 2018 at 10:28 am

      5 stars
      I love the protein boost in this dip from the snacks. I am thinking I can sneak protein into my kids with this dip recipe.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        September 19, 2018 at 9:24 am

        My boys just love this spread on toast, I hope your kids do too 😀

        Reply
    7. Wilhelmina Wessel says

      September 18, 2018 at 8:42 am

      5 stars
      This is such an interesting idea! Great for game day!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        September 19, 2018 at 9:24 am

        It is delicious and is always the first thing to go 😀

        Reply
    8. Jenn says

      September 10, 2018 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      Such a great way to prepare kipper snacks! Love the idea of serving this as an easy party appetizer as I loooove smoked fish dip! Thanks for the tasty recipe!

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        September 10, 2018 at 8:47 am

        It is such great recipe to have on hand as you can keep the kipper snacks in the pantry and we always have cream cheese!
        So happy you enjoyed it 😀

        Reply
    9. Jennifer Banz says

      September 10, 2018 at 7:34 am

      5 stars
      Very tasty!
      I will be making this again during the holiday season.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        September 10, 2018 at 8:42 am

        So happy you enjoyed it. Isn't it just delish!
        Thank you for commenting 😀

        Reply
    10. Alexa says

      September 07, 2018 at 9:19 am

      5 stars
      Looking so good and delicious and I'm craving for Smoked Fish Dip here. Anyhow, it's easy to make and I'll definitely try this out. THank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        September 07, 2018 at 4:21 pm

        You are welcome Alexa, I hope you love it as much as we do 😀

        Reply
    4.27 from 19 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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    I'm Claire and I love food!!


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