Baked Salmon Brunch Bagel (Printable)
Tender baked salmon layered on herbed cream cheese and fresh vegetables atop a toasted bagel.
# What You'll Need:
→ Baked Salmon
01 - 2 salmon fillets (about 10.5 oz total), skinless
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 tsp lemon zest
04 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
05 - ½ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp black pepper
07 - 1 tsp fresh dill, chopped
→ Bagels & Spreads
08 - 4 plain or everything bagels, halved
09 - 4.2 oz (about ½ cup) cream cheese, softened
10 - 1 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped
11 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped
12 - 1 tsp lemon juice
→ Fresh Toppings
13 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
15 - 1 medium avocado, sliced
16 - 1 handful baby arugula or mixed greens
17 - 1 tbsp capers, drained
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Place salmon fillets on the tray. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dill. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until just cooked through. Allow to cool slightly, then flake into large pieces.
03 - While salmon bakes, mix cream cheese with chives, dill, and lemon juice in a small bowl until smooth.
04 - Toast bagel halves to golden brown.
05 - Spread herbed cream cheese generously on each bagel half. Layer with arugula, cucumber, red onion, avocado, and flaked salmon. Top with capers.
06 - Serve immediately, open-faced or as sandwiches.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The contrast between warm salmon and cool, creamy toppings makes every bite interesting
- It looks impressive but comes together in under 40 minutes, leaving you more time for coffee and conversation
- You can prep most components ahead and just assemble when guests arrive
02 -
- Overbaked salmon becomes dry and unpleasant, so pull it from the oven as soon as it flakes easily
- Cold cream cheese can tear your bagel, so letting it soften is not optional
- Slicing your vegetables paper thin prevents them from sliding off when you take a bite
03 -
- Pat your salmon fillets completely dry before seasoning, this helps them develop better color in the oven
- Everything bagel seasoning sprinkled over the top adds an incredible savory crunch