Wonderfully Simple

• Pairing smoked salmon with simple flavors allows the woodsy taste of the fish to shine through. Spread cream cheese over a plain bagel and top with thinly sliced smoked salmon for a classic taste. Wrap the thinly sliced fish around cucumber spears for a refreshing snack. Top toast tips with pureed smoked salmon for an elegant appetizer. Sprinkle the fish with some lemon pepper for an echo of citrusy spice. Toss small smoked salmon strips into scrambled eggs for a gourmet flavor.

Tantalizingly Sweet

• Sweet ingredients help bring out the subtle sweetness in smoked salmon. Serve chunks of the fish over a bed of Jasmine white rice for a sweet background flavor. Toss diced smoked salmon with baby carrots, celery, baby spinach and red onion for a light salad with a hint of bite. Go for a salty-sweet flavor by brushing the fish fillet with teriyaki sauce. Sprinkle smoked salmon with sweet basil and dill for an herbal flavor. Drizzle salmon spears with a mixture of mayonnaise and honey mustard for a creamy touch.

Temptingly Spicy

• Smoked salmon goes as well with spicy flavors as it does sweet ones. Drizzle bite-size pieces of the fish with lime salsa for a zesty twist. Sprinkle each fillet with cayenne pepper, garlic powder, black pepper and thyme for a Cajun-style dish. Use a light dusting of yellow curry powder over the fish for a mild flavor, or cover the salmon with red and black pepper for a sharp taste. Go for a fiery nibble by stuffing minced smoked salmon and cream cheese into seeded jalapenos.

Surprisingly Savory

• Bring out the richness of smoked salmon by pairing it with complex flavors. Toss sliced or diced salmon with spinach fettuccini and Alfredo sauce to give the indulgent meal a woodsy taste. Spread salmon chunks with a light layer of pesto – a paste made of basil, pine nuts, Parmesan cheese, olive oil and garlic – for a sophisticated snack. Give the smoked fish a Caribbean-style flavor by sprinkling it with lime juice, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and cilantro. Mix chopped salmon with tri-colored pasta, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, celery, water chestnuts and chives for a fancy pasta salad.