Keto Arugula Salmon Roll

This keto arugula salmon roll is so easy to make and is so full of different flavors that you will love every single bite you take. It will be hard to believe something so good is low-carb! What is the trick to making it low in carbs? I made a wrap using arugula, eggs, and pine nuts. It doesn’t only look fancy; it tastes fantastic.

Keto Arugula Salmon Roll takes just a few minutes to prepare. The only time that you’d have to exercise patience is when you refrigerate it to set for 60 minutes. After that, enjoy your meal right away.

You do not have to be on a keto diet to love this recipe or any other low-carb recipe like this one. The baked eggs with arugula and pine nuts and the savory salmon on top of the layer of rich cream cheese make a scrumptious roll of flavors mixed together in every bite. You can even customize it by adding extra ingredients that you like.

These pinwheels are easy to make and do not take long. The most difficult part is setting a timer and letting them chill for an hour before eating or serving them. But it is worth the wait, as the flavors meld together and the roll fixes itself to keep from falling apart. If you still have trouble with it, stick some fancy toothpicks like they do at the delicatessen.

Why you will love this recipe 

• It is fast and easy: No need for a long process or prepping. You can make these in minutes.
• Low sugar: Who needs sugar? These delicious rolls only have three grams per serving.
• Fun to eat: Just grab and go. No need to sit down or set the table.
• The kids love them: They will not even know they are eating healthy.

What you’ll need to make keto arugula salmon roll

Special items:

• Food processor – I use a food processor to chop and blend the nuts, arugula, eggs, and cheese.
• Sheet pan – A large sheet pan with a rim to keep it all in for baking the egg mixture.
• Spatula – For spreading the cream cheese. 

Ingredients:

• Arugula – I used fresh, whole organic arugula. Rinse and drain in a salad spinner.
• Pine nuts – Organic pine nuts are the best choice here.
• Olive oil – Extra-virgin olive oil for the lightest and mildest flavor.
• Eggs – Large eggs at room temperature are what I use.
• Smoked salmon – Use a high-quality smoked salmon. It is the star of this recipe.
• Cream cheese – Please use full-fat cream cheese for the best flavor.
• Parmesan cheese – I shred my own parmesan right before using it for the freshest taste.
• Salt – Kosher salt has a natural salt flavor with no additives.
• Pepper – Grind your own black pepper. It only takes a few minutes, and it is worth it.

How to make keto arugula salmon roll?

1. Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and cover a large, rimmed baking pan with parchment paper.
2. Make the egg mixture: First, toss the pine nuts, arugula, and olive oil into your food processor and pulse until smooth. Then, season it with salt and pepper. Add eggs and parmesan cheese before pulsing until smooth again.
3. Bake the outside: Pour the egg mixture into the pan and bake for 15 minutes.
4. Roll, chill, and serve: While you wait, add the cream cheese to a bowl and whip it with a mixer for a few minutes until it is soft. After it cools, spread the cream cheese on it and add the slices of smoked salmon. Roll it up and wrap it with parchment paper and plastic. Chill for one to five hours before serving.

Expert tip

How to choose the best smoked salmon

When you choose salmon for this recipe, you want to ensure you get the best. But, if you are unfamiliar with picking out the freshest smoked salmon, you may not know what to look for. The first thing to note is how long it has been sitting on the shelf. The package should have a date. Then, you need to look at its color. The color should be uniform and shiny, with no dark edges or too many white lines.

Smoked salmon will always have a smell, of course, but you do not want it to smell horrible. It should smell like fish and smoke—a mildly smoked fish smell. It should not be sour or unpleasant, and it should never smell like ammonia. The ingredients list should be short. You should only see a few things there, like salmon, salt, flavorings, and natural wood smoke. Avoid preservatives and additives.

Finally, look for weird discolorations, mold, sliminess, or a mushy texture. Pick up the package and squeeze it. Don’t be afraid to smell it and move it around to see everything—after all, most high-quality salmon costs quite a bit. You want to get what you pay for. If you cannot find anything fresh, get trout or go to another store.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Different meat: If you do not like (or do not have) salmon, use trout, tuna, ham, turkey, prosciutto, or bacon.
• Other nuts: I know pine nuts are not everyone’s favorite. You can use sesame, sunflower, or pumpkin seeds too.
• Add other vegetables: Try adding other veggies like thinly sliced avocado, grated carrots, sliced cucumbers, and shredded bell peppers.
• Cheese: Remember the cheese. In addition to parmesan, you can toss in some freshly shredded cheddar, mozzarella, or pepper-jack cheese.
• Other greens: Instead of arugula, use other greens like collard, turnip, spinach, or lettuce.
• More carbs: If you are not worried about carbs, use flour tortillas instead of egg wrap for a kid-friendly dish. Because sometimes kids need more carbs.

Serving suggestions:

Keto arugula salmon rolls can be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack.

• This is a perfect on-the-go breakfast idea for busy mornings when I go to the gym, and the kids are out of school. I can make these before everyone gets up and chill them while we all get ready. Then, we can grab them and go.
• For a main course, serve these delicious keto creamy garlic pork chops. They are incredible and made with baby bella mushrooms, parmesan, spinach, and heavy cream.
• You can enjoy keto desserts with this healthy dish, like fat bombs, or this creamy keto cheesecake.
• If you want to dip these rolls in something, try my chimichurri sauce. It is full of flavor, with red wine vinegar, garlic, red and green chilis, oregano, and red pepper flakes, and only has three carbs per serving.
• You could serve it with any side dish like asparagus, green beans, or broccoli.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my keto arugula salmon roll falling apart?

The best way to ensure your roll does not fall apart is to roll it tightly and then wrap it in parchment paper and plastic wrap. Then, put it in the refrigerator for at least one hour to chill and set before serving or eating. If you have the time, let it set for longer than that. I typically let mine stay refrigerated, tightly wrapped in parchment and plastic, until I am ready to serve it, whether for one hour or five hours. Then, I remove and unwrap them right before serving.

Why is my salmon slimy?

It may not be fresh if your salmon is slimy or feels weird. Even if it smells good and is still before the expiration date, if you rinse it off and it still feels slimy, I would toss it out and get some different salmon or use another meat. Although sometimes it could just be the protective mucus coating that all fish have that keeps their skin safe, like a bandage if injured, it may also be bacterial growth. If you rinse off your fish and it is still there or it smells funny, I would throw it away. Why take the risk?

Do pine nuts come from pine trees?

Yes, pine nuts come from pinecones, produced by 20 different varieties of pine trees. All pine trees produce them, but only 18 are big enough to harvest. Harvesting them is long and laborious, making them one of the most expensive nuts in the world at $1.44 per ounce. The funny thing about them is that they are not nuts but seeds. But they can still trigger an allergic reaction in those allergic to nuts. So, those who are allergic to nuts should still stay away.

How can I make this in a pan?

It is pretty simple if you would instead make this in a pan like an omelet. Just follow the recipe as you would if baking it in the oven. Then, pour it into a hot pan instead of a baking pan. Be sure to spray the pan with baking spray or add a teaspoon of olive oil, and wait until it is hot before pouring it into the egg mixture. Then, cover and let it cook for about one minute or until it is firm before sliding it out of the pan and adding the other ingredients.

How to store:

• Refrigerate: It is best to eat this roll within five hours. After that, the texture starts to get soggy, and the fish loses its flavor. Wrap it in parchment paper and plastic wrap, then put it in an airtight container for up to five hours in the fridge.   
• Freezing: Freezing is not recommended.  

More keto recipes:

Recipe tips:

• Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature, and beat it with a mixer until it is smooth before spreading it onto your egg mixture so it spreads easier.
• Go light when adding the salt. The salmon is usually very salty by itself.
• To keep your keto arugula salmon roll from falling apart, let it chill in the fridge for at least one hour before serving so it sets.
• Hold your salmon roll with fancy toothpicks if it still wants to fall apart.
• Instead of baking this in the oven, fry it in a pan like an omelet. It is fast and easy; you can add onions, garlic, peppers, and cheese. Then, just let it cool and roll it up as it is.
• Use the best, full-fat cream cheese you can find. Do not use the low-fat kind, or it will be watery.
• If you do not have a food processor, you can use a blender or a chopper to chop the pine nuts and arugula and mix the eggs and cheese.