Baked Salmon Brunch Bagel (Printable)
Tender baked salmon with herbed cream cheese and fresh garnishes on a toasted bagel.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Salmon
01 - 2 skinless salmon fillets (approx 5 oz each)
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
04 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
05 - 1/2 lemon, sliced
→ Bagels & Spreads
06 - 4 plain or everything bagels, halved
07 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
08 - 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
09 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
10 - Zest of 1/2 lemon
→ Garnishes
11 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
12 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
13 - 1 medium ripe tomato, sliced
14 - Capers, to taste
15 - Fresh dill sprigs
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Arrange salmon fillets on the prepared tray. Drizzle with olive oil, season evenly with sea salt and black pepper, and top with lemon slices.
03 - Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily. Allow to cool slightly before flaking into large chunks.
04 - Combine the softened cream cheese, chopped dill, chives, and lemon zest in a small bowl. Mix until smooth and homogeneous.
05 - Lightly toast the cut sides of the bagels until golden brown.
06 - Spread a generous layer of the herbed cream cheese onto each bagel half. Top with the flaked baked salmon.
07 - Layer the red onion, cucumber, and tomato slices over the salmon. Finish with capers and fresh dill sprigs.
08 - Serve immediately while the bagels are still warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The salmon stays tender and moist when baked gently, creating a buttery contrast to the tangy cream cheese.
- Most of the prep work happens while the salmon cooks, so you're never really waiting around.
- It's elegant enough to serve guests but casual enough to make on a weekday morning.
02 -
- Overbaking salmon by even two minutes can make it dry and flaky in an unpleasant way; set a timer and check it at 15 minutes.
- Softening your cream cheese before mixing prevents lumps and makes spreading infinitely easier than cold, hard cheese.
- Slice your vegetables thin enough that they stay flat on the bagel, or they'll slide around when you take a bite.
03 -
- Buy salmon from a fishmonger if you can; they'll skin it for you and ensure it's fresh enough for eating warm.
- Don't skip the lemon zest in the cream cheese—it brightens everything and makes people ask what you did differently.