Smoked Salmon Bagel
A classic smoked salmon bagel with lemony herb cream cheese, red onion, capers and fresh vegetables. A 10-minute breakfast or brunch that feels special.
A smoked salmon bagel is one of the easiest ways to make breakfast feel like a weekend brunch. A toasted bagel gets a thick layer of herb cream cheese, silky smoked salmon, thin red onion and a few salty capers.
Mixing fresh dill or chives and a little lemon zest into the cream cheese makes it taste brighter and fresher than plain cream cheese.
Set out all the toppings and let everyone build their own.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 10 minutes
- No cooking beyond toasting
- Great for brunch with guests
- High in protein
Ingredient Notes
Smoked salmon: Look for cold-smoked salmon or lox, sliced thin. It is ready to eat straight from the package.
Bagels: Everything, sesame or plain bagels all work. Toast them lightly so they stay chewy.
See the recipe card below for full measurements.
How to Make Smoked Salmon Bagel
Make the herb cream cheese
Stir the cream cheese, dill, lemon zest and pepper together until smooth.
Toast
Toast the bagel halves until golden at the edges but still soft inside.
Assemble
Spread each half with herb cream cheese. Layer with cucumber, tomato and smoked salmon, then top with red onion and capers.
Serve
Sprinkle with everything seasoning and extra dill, and serve with lemon wedges.
Tips for the Best Results
- Soak the sliced red onion in cold water for 5 minutes for a milder flavor.
- Let the cream cheese soften so it spreads without tearing the bagel.
- For a crowd, set up a bagel bar with all toppings in bowls.
- Pat capers dry so they do not make the bagel soggy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Soggy bagel | Toast it and add wet toppings just before eating. |
| Thick, harsh onion | Slice it paper thin and rinse it. |
| Cold, hard cream cheese | Soften it at room temperature for 20 minutes. |
Substitutions
- Smoked salmon: Canned salmon mixed with a little mayo and lemon, or sliced hard boiled eggs.
- Cream cheese: Whipped cream cheese or labneh.
- Bagels: Toasted English muffins or rye bread.
What to Serve With It
- Banana oat breakfast smoothie
- Fresh fruit salad
- Hard boiled eggs
- Coffee
Storage and Reheating
Fridge: Store opened smoked salmon tightly wrapped and use within the time on the package, usually 3 to 5 days. Herb cream cheese keeps 5 days.
Freezer: Unopened smoked salmon freezes for up to 3 months. Assembled bagels do not freeze well.
Reheat: Serve cold or at room temperature.
Tools That Make This Easier
- Bagel slicerCuts bagels evenly and safely.Check price on Amazon
- Toaster with bagel settingToasts the cut side only.Check price on Amazon
- Slate serving boardsMakes a beautiful brunch spread.Check price on Amazon
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Smoked Salmon Bagel
A classic smoked salmon bagel with lemony herb cream cheese, red onion, capers and fresh vegetables. A 10-minute breakfast or brunch that feels special.
Ingredients
Herb cream cheese
Bagels
Instructions
- Stir the cream cheese, dill, lemon zest and pepper together until smooth.
- Toast the bagel halves until golden at the edges but still soft inside.
- Spread each half with herb cream cheese. Layer with cucumber, tomato and smoked salmon, then top with red onion and capers.
- Sprinkle with everything seasoning and extra dill, and serve with lemon wedges.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 22 g
- Carbohydrates
- 52 g
- Total Fat
- 15 g
- Saturated Fat
- 7 g
- Fiber
- 2 g
- Sugar
- 7 g
- Sodium
- 1300 mg
Nutrition is an estimate per serving without optional sauces, calculated from standard USDA values. It will vary with brands and portion sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between lox and smoked salmon?
Lox is salt-cured salmon that is not smoked. Smoked salmon is cured and then cold-smoked. Both are ready to eat and work on bagels.
Do you have to cook smoked salmon?
No. Cold-smoked salmon and lox are ready to eat from the package.
Is smoked salmon safe during pregnancy?
The FDA advises pregnant people to avoid refrigerated smoked seafood unless it is cooked, such as in a hot dish, because of the risk of Listeria.
What toppings go on a lox bagel?
Cream cheese, red onion, capers, tomato, cucumber, dill and everything bagel seasoning are the classics.
