Florida-Style Smoked Fish Dip Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

Florida-Style Smoked Fish Dip Recipe – This creamy and flavorful chilled dip is easy to make with a combination of smoked whitefish, tangy cream cheese, pickled peppers, and a kick of hot sauce.

Why We Love This Smoked Fish Dip Recipe

When you hear the title “Smoked Fish Dip”… What do you think of? Some might think of our fabulous Smoked Salmon Dip and/or Smoked Trout Dip. We are adding to the list of tasty seafood dips with this Smoked Whitefish Dip!

That’s right, today we are talking about a smoked white fish dip recipe, made Florida Keys style! While most fish-based dips include cream cheese, what’s unique about this southern staple is that it also includes deliciously tangy and spicy pickled banana peppers and hot sauce. All together the ingredients create a rich, creamy, bold smoked white fish dip that’s simply irresistible!

In fact, if you go to any seafood joint anywhere in southern Florida, especially those that are connected to a fish market, you will most likely find smoked fish dip on the menu. This fish dip is usually served cold with crackers, and is made with smoked whitefish.

What Type of Fish is Whitefish?

Whitefish refers to several species of similar types of fish, all with white flaky flesh, including Cod, Mullet, Halibut, Kingfish, Haddock, and Pollock.

Once smoked, whitefish has a very defined flavor. It’s not heavy and rich like smoked salmon. Instead, it offers a light clean smoke flavor. In fact, those who aren’t fans of smoked salmon and heavier fish varieties still usually love smoked fish dip made with whitefish!

Ingredients You Need

• Smoked whitefish – typically available in the seafood department with other smoked seafood
• Cream cheese – softened
• Mayonnaise – can use low fat
• Onion – diced
• Pickled banana peppers or mild pickled jalapeños (try our easy Quick Pickled Jalapeños recipe!) – drained
• Hot sauce – like Louisiana or your favorite hot sauce brand
• Worcestershire sauce – to enhance the smoky, savory flavor
• Salt and pepper – a dash of each to taste
• Fresh parsley – a pop of freshness for garnish

How to Make Florida-Style Smoked Fish Dip

Set out a large food processor. Combine the cream cheese, mayonnaise, diced onion, drained banana peppers, hot sauce, and Worcestershire sauce in the food processor.

Cover and purée until smooth.

Gently peel the skin off of the smoked white fish fillets, and discard the skin. Then carefully break the fish into clumps and remove any fine bones you come across. Place the smoked fish clumps into the food processor.

Pulse until the fish dip comes together into a thick spreadable consistency.

Pro Tip: Take care to not over-process, or the dip will turn into more of a paste.

Get the Complete (Printable) Smoked White Fish Dip Recipe + Video Below. Enjoy!

Taste, then add salt and pepper if needed.

Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Serving Suggestions

This thick and creamy dip is ideal to serve with crackers or potato chips. I suggest ones that are light in flavor, like saltine crackers, water crackers, and plain chips, to really let the flavors of the dip shine.

Hearty veggies are also great for scoopin’! Try thick-cut carrot sticks, celery sticks, bell pepper, or cucumbers.

You can even use this tantalizing smoked fish dip as a filler for croissant sandwiches, instead of chicken salad or tuna salad. (But hey, if you’re interested, you should know that we have fantastic Southern Berry Chicken Salad and Tuna Salad recipes, too.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Looking for More Easy Party Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:

• Smoked Salmon Dip Deviled Eggs
• Easy Crab Rangoon Dip
• Irish Pub Cheese (Beer Cheese Dip)
• Smoked Cheese Dip with Sour Cream
• Hot Cajun Shrimp Dip

Check the printable recipe card below for the prep time, cook time, total time, and nutrition information. Make sure to share this recipe on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!