This Florida Smoked Fish Dip recipe is a favorite appetizer in Key West. It's packed with flavor and has a nice smoky touch, making it the perfect appetizer for happy hour or meals with friends and family.
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Why We Smoke Fish
Smoking fish is a way to preserve it by removing moisture and adding flavor. The smoke acts as a natural preservative, keeping the fish fresh for longer without refrigeration.
Today, people smoke fish not just to preserve it but also to enjoy its rich, smoky taste in dishes like fish dip.
In the grocery store, you can pick up locally made Smilin Bob's Smoked Fish Dip in the refrigerator near the seafood at Publix, Winn Dixie, Whole Foods, BJ's, Wynn's Market, and Fausto's in Key West.
What is Fish Dip?
Fish dip is a shared appetizer or snack.
Depending on your geography, you might have smoked salmon dip, smoked trout dip, or here in Key Largo, we have smoked wahoo dip.
Fish dips come in different variations. It consists of smoked fish, mayo, onion or scallions, celery, peppers, lemon juice, and cream cheese. Some recipes may also add Worcestershire, relish, or capers.
The specific ingredients and flavors can vary and differ by household.
Fish Dip
I have friends who smoke fish, but I buy freshly smoked fish at Key Largo Fisheries. You can pick up smoked fish in all the fish markets in South Florida.
As you can see on the label, the package of fish is labeled with its date of manufacture. It also indicates the type of fish whether the fish is Amberjack, Mahi Mahi, Kingfish, or Wahoo.
Regional Fish Dips
The best fish for fish dip varies by region. The key is to use oily fish, so it doesn't dry out while it's being smoked. Regardless of the type of fish you're using, the base ingredients remain the same.
- In Florida, mahi mahi, mullet, kingfish, snapper, cobia, mackerel, and wahoo are often used for smoked fish dip.
- In the Great Lakes, you could use whitefish or trout.
- New England has cod fish and they smoke it for their dip.
- In New York, a creamy smoked fish spread is in the form of whitefish salad. It's usually served with brunch and eaten on a bagel.
- In Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, smoked salmon and tuna are used in their version of fish dip.
The Key To Great Fish Dip
A good smoked fish spread starts with smoked fish. Smoked fish can be purchased at seafood markets and fish stores by the pound. You can store the fish in the freezer until you need it.
The key to a great fish dip is to make it creamy.
Other creamy fish salads, like Tuna Salad, use mayonnaise. Fish dip gets its creaminess from a mix of cream cheese and mayo.
I use Philadelphia full-fat cream cheese in a brick, For a lighter dip, you can use whipped cream cheese.
Ingredients
This recipe uses a one-pound package of smoked fish. Double or triple as needed.
The amount of mayonnaise you'll need depends on how moist the smoked fish is. Make it creamy and before serving adjust if necessary.
Serves 4
- 1 pound smoked fish fillets (wahoo, mackerel, mahimahi, or mullet)
- 4 ounces of full-fat Philadelphia cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise or sour cream (add enough to get it creamy)
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
- ¼ cup diced celery
- 3 tablespoons diced red onion
- ¼ cup diced red bell pepper
- ½ teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Lemon wedges for garnish
- Crackers or sliced vegetables for serving
Optional Additions: Liquid smoke, cayenne pepper, Worcestershire sauce, Sriracha, or horseradish for extra flavor.
How To Make Fish Dip
- Break the fish into small pieces by hand or pulse a few times in a food processor.
- In a large bowl, blend the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth.
- Fold in the smoked fish, celery, onion, and bell pepper.
- Stir in Old Bay and lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley.
- Serve chilled with crackers or fresh vegetables.
Where to Get The Best Fish Dip in The Keys
These are some of our favorite places for fish dip at Happy Hour:
Serving Suggestions
Serve with a side of buttery crackers, saltine crackers, baguette slices, or salty tortilla chips.
If you need a low-carb or gluten-free side, try pepper cups. They're scooped out bell peppers that we use for scooping when we're avoiding carbs. I always put these out with dips as an alternative to salty chips.
Garnish the dip with green onions and and a sprinkle of Old Bay.
Serve fish dip your first course and complete your meal with any of the following:
- Stone Crabs with Mustard Sauce
- Pan Fried Yellowtail Snapper
- Roasted Yellowtail
- Fried Snapper with Panko Breadcrumbs
- Pan Seared Mangrove Snapper with Mango Coleslaw
- Cajun Blackened Swordfish
- Baked Tripletail with Basil Butter Sauce
- Blackened Yellowfin Tuna
- Pan Fried Mahi Mahi Recipe
And don't forget the Key Lime Pie for dessert!
Storage
Store your fish dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The flavors often meld and improve after some time, making it a great make-ahead dish.
Be sure to consume it within 3-5 days. If the dip gets thick in the fridge, you can make it smoother by adding a bit more mayonnaise before serving.
Final Takeaway
This Florida Smoked Fish Dip recipe is a creamy dip that's popular in the Florida Keys.
It's made with fish, chopped veggies, mayonnaise, cream cheese, Old Bay, and lemon juice, making this it a true Key West appetizer.
You can find this delicious dip at fish markets, grocery stores, and seafood restaurants across the state.
Serve it with buttery crackers or tortilla chips, or keep it gluten-free and low-carb with carrot and celery sticks.
Make sure to store the fish dip in the refrigerator. Moisten with a little extra mayo if it gets dry.
If you're in the grocery store and you'd like some prepared fish dip, try Smilin' Bob's Fish Dip. You can find it at most major grocery stores in Florida.
FAQ
While there's no strict rule, fish such as smoked wahoo, smoked mullet, smoked mahi, or smoked trout are used for their big flavor. Fatty fish like salmon can also work well. Experiment with your locally caught fish.
If you're on the hunt for authentic house-made fish dip in the Florida Keys, these top spots are a must:
The Fish House in Key Largo
The Pilot House, Key Largo
The Square Grouper in Islamorada
Herbie's Bar Chowder House, Marathon
Conch Republic in Key West
Serve with a side of sturdy buttery crackers. You can use Ritz crackers or Townhouse crackers. You can also use baguette slices, tortilla chips, or fresh veggies.
Of course! Florida fish dip is Florida's answer to whitefish salad, a popular dish in bagel stores in the Northeast. Fish dip uses Florida fish like wahoo or mahi-mahi. Whitefish salad is made with smoked trout from the Great Lakes. Both are creamy spreads that are excellent on bagels.
The Best Florida Fish Dip Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound smoked fish (wahoo, mackerel, mahimahi, or mullet)
- 4 oz full-fat 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
FOR SERVING
- Crackers or sliced vegetables for serving
- lemon wedges
Instructions
- Break the fish into small pieces by hand or pulse a few times in a food processor for a finer texture.
- In a large bowl, blend the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth.
- Fold in the smoked fish, celery, onion, and bell pepper.
- Stir in Old Bay and lemon juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with lemon wedges and parsley. Serve chilled with crackers or fresh vegetables.
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