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This simple yet elegant smoked salmon open-face sandwich combines a few basic ingredients to create a flavorful bite that’s perfect for a light lunch or a fancy brunch. Whether you’re serving it at a casual gathering or making it for yourself on a cozy afternoon, they make the perfect afternoon tea sandwiches or a light meal. These salmon sandwiches deliver flavor with every bite! Open faced sandwiches like these are as beautiful as they are delicious!

We’ve been baking up a lot of sourdough and turning those fresh slices of bread into crispy garlicky toast topped with a good layer of protein and vegetables, it is hard to say no to seconds. It is amazing how much flavor you can pack on one simple slice of toast with just a few ingredients. This is the sandwich that proves less is more.

You can use any type of bread you have on hand but remember the fresher the bread the better texture and flavor of your sandwich. For a healthier alternative using sourdough or rye bread are perfect for these sandwiches.

For a fresh twist, you can swap out the tomato and mixed greens with crisp cucumber ribbons thinly sliced radishes or even avocado, each pairing beautifully with red onion slices, fresh herbs, and a flaky salmon filet. This sandwich is yours to customize, layer it with your favorite classic flavors and make it just the way you love.

Ingredients:

2 slices of rustic bread (sourdough or whole-grain works best)
4-6 oz hot smoked salmon
2-3 tablespoons mayonnaise (or half cream cheese half mayo)
1 fresh garlic clove (for rubbing on the toast)
A handful of mixed greens (arugula, spinach, lettuce or any favorite salad mix)
1-2 ripe Campari tomato (campari taste the best)
Olive oil (for toasting bread)
Salt and black pepper to taste ( depending what kind of salmon you have)

VIDEO:

Instructions:

1. Toast the Bread: Start by toasting your slices of rustic bread in a hot pan with a drizzle of oil until golden and crispy.

2. Rub with Garlic: Once your bread is toasted, rub with garlic on the surface of each slice. This will infuse a subtle garlic flavor into the bread without overwhelming it.

3. Prepare the Smoked Salmon: In a medium bowl, flake the hot smoked salmon using 2 forks to your desired texture and then mix it with the mayonnaise in a small bowl. This combination will create a creamy, smoky base for your sandwich. (You can also do half softened cream cheese and half mayo)

4. Assemble the Sandwich: Spread the smoked salmon and mayo mixture evenly over the garlic-rubbed toast. Be generous!

5. Add Fresh Greens and Tomato: Layer some mixed greens over the salmon, followed by slices of tomato.

6. Garnish with Tomato Rose: Now for the fun part! To create a beautiful tomato rose garnish! It is OPTIONAL but a beautiful garnish always elevates the dish and we always eat with our eyes first, so why not?

Instructions for Cutting a Tomato Rose:

Creating a tomato rose by cutting around the peel is a bit of an artistic skill, but it’s relatively easy once you get the hang of it! Here’s how to make a beautiful tomato rose:

1. Choose the Right Tomato: Select a small, firm tomato. A soft tomato will make it difficult to cut.

2. Use a sharp knife! I love my Wusthof tomato knife but any sharp knife will do the job. Starting from the top of the tomato, make a shallow cut along the skin around the entire tomato. You want to create a spiral cut, so the peel is continuous and unbroken, similar to a “peel ribbon.” Keep the cut as even as possible, and try to make the peel cut around 1/8 inch (3mm) wide. Be careful not to tear the skin. You should have a continuous strip of tomato peel now.

3. Start Rolling the Peel: Begin at the outer end of the peel (the thin edge), and carefully start rolling it inward toward the center. It’s like you’re rolling a ribbon or paper into a spiral. As you roll the peel, continue to form it into a tight spiral, creating the shape of a rose. You may need to adjust the shape slightly with your fingers to make it look more like a blooming rose.

4. The bottom of the tomato serves as the base for the rose so you don’t need any extra toothpicks to hold it together.

5. Garnish: Place the tomato rose gently on top of your dish, like the smoked salmon open-face sandwich, to add a stunning visual element.

hot smoked salmon open faced sandwich toast

Pro Tips:

• Be gentle when peeling to avoid breaking the skin.

• Practice makes perfect—if the peel breaks, just start over with a new tomato.

This simple, beautiful garnish will impress anyone who sees it and elevate your dish with a touch of elegance.

Slice the sandwich in half or enjoy it whole. It is best served right away while the bread is crisp.

Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this recipe, you’ll also love my other open faced sandwich recipes.

Hot Smoked Salmon Open-Face Sandwich (with VIDEO)

Author Alena’s Home Cooking

Ingredients

2 slices of rustic bread sourdough or whole-grain works best
4-6 oz hot smoked salmon
2-3 tablespoons Mayonnaise or half cream cheese half mayo
1 fresh garlic clove for rubbing on the toast
A handful of mixed greens arugula, spinach, lettuce or any favorite salad mix
2 ripe Campari tomatoes campari taste the best
Olive oil for toasting bread
Salt and pepper to taste depending what kind of salmon you have

Instructions

Toast the Bread: Start by toasting your slices of rustic bread in a hot pan with a drizzle of oil until golden and crispy.
Rub with Garlic: Once your bread is toasted, rub with garlic on the surface of each slice. This will infuse a subtle garlic flavor into the bread without overwhelming it.
Prepare the Smoked Salmon: Flake the hot smoked salmon using 2 forks to your desired texture and then mix it with the mayonnaise in a small bowl. This combination will create a creamy, smoky base for your sandwich. (You can also do half softened cream cheese and half mayo)
Assemble the Sandwich: Spread the smoked salmon and mayo mixture evenly over the garlic-rubbed toast. Be generous!
Add Fresh Greens and Tomato: Layer some mixed greens over the salmon, followed by slices of tomato.
Garnish with Tomato Rose: Now for the fun part! To create a beautiful tomato rose garnish! It is OPTIONAL but a beautiful garnish always elevates the dish and we always eat with our eyes first, so why not?