This Lox Bagel has an everything bagel base that’s piled with tangy cream cheese, lox or smoked salmon, fresh cucumber, capers, dill, and more!
Trevor is 100% obsessed with lox bagels, so don’t ask me why we’ve never tried making them at home.
Honestly, I think I was intimidated by it. They’re sooo fancy and seemed (key word here being seemed) really complex.
Let me tell you, making a lox bagel at home is insanely quick and easy. And bonus: it’s way cheaper than buying them at your favorite brunch spot.
What is a lox bagel?
A lox bagel is an open-faced sandwich made up of cream cheese and a fillet of brined salmon called lox topped with veggies, capers, and fresh dill.
Today, we’re using smoked salmon instead of lox, because that’s what my grocery store carries — use whatever you can find!
Regardless, it’s a super fresh, super delicious breakfast/brunch, lunch, or light dinner!
Ingredients
This recipe is very customizable. Use your favorite bagel, cream cheese, and veggies to make it your perfect lox bagel!
- Everything Bagel – toasted to your liking. I like it lightly toasted, so there’s a little crunch with a whole lotta chew.
- Cream Cheese – I use whipped for easy spreading.
- Lox – or smoked salmon, if preferred. I go into more detail below about the differences between lox and smoked salmon.
- Cucumber – adds an amazing light, fresh flavor to balance out the richness of the cream cheese and lox.
- Red Onion – provides crunch and a nice “bite” to contrast the rich lox.
- Capers – adds a “pop” of texture and ultra brine-y flavor.
- Salt and Pepper – enhances other flavors.
- Lemon Juice and Fresh Dill – to garnish. Add delicious tang, sweetness, and earthy flavor.
How to make
These lox bagels come together in 5 minutes! That’s quicker than picking one up from your local brunch spot.
- Toast your bagel and spread each half with whipped cream cheese.
- Top with salmon/lox, cucumber, red onion, capers salt, pepper, lemon juice, and dill.
- Serve and enjoy!
What is the difference between lox and smoked salmon?
Both lox and smoked salmon are varieties of salmon. However, they are prepared differently.
Smoked salmon is cured or brined, then smoked. Lox, on the other hand, is cured but not smoked. Lox also tends to be slightly saltier than smoked salmon.
Although these are called lox bagels, you can use either lox OR smoked salmon for this recipe. Either will be delicious!
Variations
This lox bagel recipe is delicious as-is with the perfect amount of salt, tang, and flavor. If you’re looking to switch things up, here are some ideas!
- Add other veggies. Try sliced tomatoes, radishes, roasted red pepper, etc.
- Add avocado. Either add sliced avocado or mash some into your whipped cream cheese.
- Add egg. Layer the lox with sliced hard boiled egg or top with a fried egg for some extra protein and creaminess.
- Use other cheeses. Sprinkle the top with feta or goat cheese.
- Spice it up. Finish the bagel off with a sprinkle of red pepper flakes.
- Use a different bagel. If everything bagels aren’t your thing, use plain, asiago cheese, sesame, etc.
- Use a flavored cream cheese. I love the plain cream cheese as a base for all the flavor piled on top but flavored cream cheeses are delicious as well!
What to serve with lox bagels
I also love to serve these bagels alongside one or two fresh and yummy sides for a complete brunch!
How to store
Since these lox bagels come together so quickly, I recommend whipping them up and just serving them right away!
Already assembled bagels should keep for a couple of days in the fridge but they won’t be as fresh.
– Jennifer
Lox Bagel
Ingredients
- 1 everything bagel sliced in half, then toasted
- 4 tablespoons whipped cream cheese
- 4 oz smoked salmon or lox
- 6 cucumber slices
- 2 slices thinly sliced red onion
- 2-4 teaspoons capers drained
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Lemon juice to taste
- Fresh dill to taste
Instructions
- Spread each toasted bagel half with 2 tablespoons whipped cream cheese.
- Top each half with 2 oz smoked salmon or lox, 3 cucumber slices, 1 slice red onion, and 1-2 teaspoons capers.
- Season with salt, pepper, lemon juice, and fresh dill, to taste.
- Enjoy!
- Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!
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Nutrition Information
*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.
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