Smoked salmon has always been a crowd pleaser, adding its unique salty, smoky essence to a plethora of dishes, ranging from dips and bagel sandwiches to potato pancakes and pizza.

Smoked salmon comes in two varieties: cold-smoked and hot-smoked. The former isn't really cooked but rather dry-cured in salt and smoked at a temperature of 70 to 85 degrees F, resulting in a silky texture that melts in one's mouth. On the other hand, hot-smoked salmon follows a similar curing process but is then smoked at a temperature of 185 to 200 degrees F. This heat fully cooks the fish, yielding a meatier and flaky end product, akin to roasted salmon or jerky in texture.

Many gastronomical delights are whipped up from cold-smoked salmon, however, there are plenty of enticing dishes that highlight its hot-smoked counterpart. From party appetizers to brunch dishes and, believe it or not, even martinis, smoked salmon finds its place everywhere on the menu.

We have the traditional Swedish dish where russet potatoes turn into a crisp-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside pancake that's amped up by ribbons of smoked salmon, red onions, and capers. There's also a delightful dip where smoked salmon is pureed with a combination of mayonnaise, sour cream, and cream cheese, then stirred in with finely chopped salmon, capers, and dill.

You can also step up your brunch game with smoked salmon replacing the classic ingredient, combined with a hollandaise crafted from caper-infused butter, and a topping of crunchy brown butter-fried capers. An inspired creation from Wolfgang Puck takes the form of a pizza featuring silky smoked salmon, crème fraîche, and either black or golden caviar as toppings.

This versatile delight can also jazz up your classic potato blini transformed into a waffle with toppings of smoked salmon, sour cream, and dill. Or think about an open-face sandwich with smoked salmon and a perky horseradish-crème sauce complemented by a refreshing fennel-apple salad.

This smoky gem also works wonders in a creamy pasta alla vodka, seasoned with a homemade barbecue spice blend and bathed in a sweet pineapple-based sauce, makes a divine centerpiece for any meal. They even have a place at the cocktail table, adding a subtly savory touch to martinis.

Whether you're incorporating smoked salmon in a salad, a savory bread pudding, deviled eggs, tartare or even a luxurious appetizer combining two types of smoked fish on top of crispy potato pancakes, it proves to be a versatile flavor powerhouse. So go ahead and elevate your dishes, and let this salty and smoky delight weave its magic in your next meal.