Smoked Trout and Salmon Sandwiches with Dill Almond Butter

These smoked trout and salmon sandwiches, or Lachs- und Forellensandwiches, are fresh, savory, and just right for picnics, beach days, hikes, and easy lunches. Crisp demi-baguettes are spread with creamy dill almond butter, then layered with thin cucumber slices, smoked trout, and smoked salmon for a German-style sandwich that feels both simple and special.

Smoked fish has a long place in German coastal and northern food traditions, especially in open-faced breads, fish rolls, and casual cold meals. This version turns those flavors into a portable baguette sandwich with plenty of crunch, freshness, and buttery richness.

What Are Lachs- und Forellensandwiches?

Lachs- und Forellensandwiches simply means salmon and trout sandwiches in German. This recipe layers smoked salmon and smoked trout with cucumber and dill almond butter on demi-baguettes, creating a fresh German-inspired sandwich for lunch, picnics, beach trips, or light dinners.

The combination of smoked fish, cucumber, dill, and bread feels especially at home in northern German-style cooking, where smoked fish and simple breads often make a satisfying cold meal.

German-Style Smoked Fish Sandwiches

Germany’s northern coastal regions are known for smoked fish, fish rolls, herring, trout, salmon, and other seafood preparations. While this recipe uses baguettes rather than the classic Brötchen, the flavors are very German: smoked fish, cucumber, dill, butter, and bread.

For a more German-style presentation, you could also serve the smoked trout and salmon on rye bread, pumpernickel, whole grain bread, or crusty rolls.

Smoked Trout and Salmon Sandwiches (Lachs- und Forellensandwiches)

These smoked trout and salmon sandwiches are made with demi-baguettes, smoked trout, smoked salmon, thin cucumber slices, and a creamy dill almond butter. They are fresh, savory, and easy to pack for picnics, beach days, hikes, road trips, or a light German-style lunch.

Servings 4

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Ingredients

  

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• 4 demi-baguettes
• 3-1/2 oz smoked trout fillets 100g
• 3-1/2 oz smoked salmon fillets 100g
• 1 seedless cucumber
• 2 sticks butter at room temperature
• 1 cup peeled almonds finely chopped, 150g
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill
• salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

 

• With an electric mixer beat the butter until smooth and soft, then add the almonds, dill, salt and pepper. Place the butter in the refrigerator to chill.
• Peel the cucumber and cut into thin slices (easiest using a mandoline slicer).
• Slice the demi-baguettes open and spread the butter on all baguette halves. Arrange half of the cucumber slices in a gill-like pattern on all the bottom halves. Then arrange the trout fillets on two baguettes, the salmon fillets on the other two baguettes.
• Cover the fish with another layer of cucumber slices and close the sandwiches with the top halves of the demi-baguettes.

Notes

What to Serve with Smoked Trout and Salmon Sandwiches

Serve these sandwiches with:

• German pickles
• Radish salad
• Cucumber salad
• Potato salad
• Hard-boiled eggs
• Rye crisps or pretzel sticks
• Fresh fruit
• Sparkling mineral water
• Apple spritzer
• German beer or Radler
• A light green salad

For a German-style picnic, pack them with pickles, radishes, boiled eggs, fruit, and a cold spritzer.

Best Bread for Smoked Fish Sandwiches

Demi-baguettes make the sandwiches sturdy and easy to pack. For a more German-style version, try:

• Brötchen
• Rye bread
• Pumpernickel
• Whole grain bread
• Seeded rolls
• Pretzel rolls
• Dark farmer’s bread

Open-faced rye or pumpernickel slices also work beautifully for a lighter Abendbrot-style version.

Smoked Trout vs. Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon is rich, silky, and salty, while smoked trout is usually milder, flakier, and slightly more delicate. Using both gives the sandwiches variety and lets each fish shine. You can make all four sandwiches with one fish if preferred, but the combination makes the platter more interesting.

Easy Substitutions

• No smoked trout? Use all smoked salmon, smoked mackerel, or smoked whitefish.
• No smoked salmon? Use all smoked trout or another smoked fish.
• No demi-baguettes? Use rolls, rye bread, pumpernickel, whole grain bread, or pretzel rolls.
• No almonds? Use hazelnuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or skip the nuts.
• No dill? Use chives, parsley, tarragon, or a little prepared horseradish.
• Want more tang? Add lemon zest, lemon juice, capers, or a little German mustard to the butter.
• Want it lighter? Replace some of the butter with cream cheese, quark, or Greek yogurt.

Can You Make These Sandwiches Ahead?

Yes, but they are best made close to serving so the bread stays fresh. You can prepare the dill almond butter up to 2 days ahead and keep it refrigerated. Slice the cucumber and assemble the sandwiches shortly before serving.

How to Store Leftovers

Wrap leftover sandwiches tightly and refrigerate for up to 1 day. The cucumber may soften the bread over time, so for the best texture, store the butter, cucumber, fish, and bread separately and assemble when ready to eat.

Picnic and Beach Day Tip

Because these sandwiches contain smoked fish and butter, keep them chilled until serving. Pack them in a cooler with ice packs, especially for beach days, hikes, and warm-weather picnics.

Course: Sandwiches

FAQ Section

What are Lachs- und Forellensandwiches?

Lachs- und Forellensandwiches are salmon and trout sandwiches. This recipe uses smoked salmon, smoked trout, cucumber, and dill almond butter on demi-baguettes.

Can I use only smoked salmon or only smoked trout?

Yes. You can use only smoked salmon, only smoked trout, or another smoked fish such as smoked mackerel or whitefish.

What bread works best for smoked fish sandwiches?

Demi-baguettes, crusty rolls, rye bread, pumpernickel, whole grain bread, seeded rolls, and pretzel rolls all work well.

Can I make smoked fish sandwiches ahead of time?

You can prepare the dill almond butter ahead, but the sandwiches are best assembled shortly before serving so the bread does not become soggy.

What goes well with smoked trout and salmon sandwiches?

Pickles, radish salad, cucumber salad, potato salad, hard-boiled eggs, fruit, pretzel sticks, sparkling mineral water, apple spritzer, beer, or Radler all pair well.

Can I add horseradish?

Yes. A little prepared horseradish, German cream horseradish, lemon zest, or capers would taste excellent with the smoked fish.

Are smoked trout and salmon sandwiches served cold?

Yes. These sandwiches are served cold or cool, making them ideal for picnics, lunchboxes, beach days, and light summer meals.

How do I keep the sandwiches from getting soggy?

Use sturdy bread, chill the butter so it forms a barrier, pat cucumber slices dry, and assemble the sandwiches close to serving.