These cream cheese and tomato bagels are inspired by Modern Bread and Bagel which I visited on my recent trip to New York. I don’t think I truly understood the deliciousness of bagels until I ate them here! These toasted bagels are topped with cream cheese, basil, tomato, cucumber, red onion and lemon juice. This bagel is open faced which allows for a higher topping to bagel ratio.
Cream cheese bagel recipe: ingredients
This bagel recipe requires 10 ingredients:
- Bagels
- Full fat cream cheese
- Everything but the bagel seasoning
- Basil leaves
- Heirloom or beef tomato
- Cucumber
- Red onion
- Cherry tomatoes
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Lemon
If you like, you can also sprinkle some sea salt, fresh dill and capers over your bagels. If you can’t find all the ingredients there are some substitutions you can make:
Firstly, feel free to use your favourite bagels. I used plain New York Bakery Co. bagels. However, you can use seeded or flavoured bagels, or even make your own!
I bought the ‘everything but the bagel seasoning’ from Trader Joe’s when I was in New York. If you live in the U.K. the ‘everything but the bagel seasoning’ is available on Amazon. Alternatively, you can make it yourself – try this seasoning recipe from The Edgy Veg.
When I ate this bagel in New York it was made using heirloom tomato slices. These tomatoes are huge and delicious. They are difficult to find in the U.K., however a beef tomato slice is a great alternative.
What cream cheese for bagels
Personally I like to use plain full-fat cream cheese for my bagels. However, if you’re trying to reduce your calorie intake, replace this with a low-fat version.
You could also try making a flavoured cream cheese. Why not stir through some finely chopped spring onions or diced jalapeños?
Furthermore, you can could buy some flavoured cream cheese. I recommend a garlic and herb cream cheese.
It is now possible to get vegan cream cheese. The Philadelphia almond and oat plant-based cream cheese is delicious.
Cream cheese bagel toppings
For more vegetarian topping ideas for your cream cheese bagel, try some of these:
- Sliced avocado and mixed seeds
- Hot sauce
- Fried or scrambled egg
- Bananas, cinnamon and honey
- Sliced strawberries and desiccated coconut
Cream cheese bagel with tomato: similar recipes
If you liked this recipe try out my other speedy lunch ideas with cheese:
- Goat cheese, apricot and walnut panini
- One-pot creamy spinach and eggs
- Pesto and mozzarella grilled cheese
Cream Cheese Bagel with Tomato
Ingredients
Method
- Slice the bagels in half and heat in the toaster until golden brown. If you don't have a toaster, place them under a hot grill for a few minutes until lightly toasted. Leave to cool slightly for a couple of minutes.
- Spread each bagel half with 50g of cream cheese.
- Top each bagel half with a few shakes of 'everything but the bagel seasoning' and 1½ torn basil leaves.
- Slice 4 large pieces from the heirloom tomatoes. Top each bagel with a slice.
- Top each bagel with 5 slices of cucumber and a few red onion shavings.
- Pulverise the 8 cherry tomatoes. Place in a seive and remove excess liquid. Place in a bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Spoon a quarter of the tomato mixture onto each bagel.
- Drizzle each bagel with a little olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- (Optional) sprinkle over some dill sprigs, capers and a little sea salt. Enjoy!
Simple but yummy
[…] To whip this up, all you need are toasted bagels, cream cheese, fresh tomatoes, red onion slices, and some herbs for garnish. Just spread the cream cheese on the bagel, layer on the tomatoes, and finish with onion and herbs. For a detailed recipe, check out this delicious recipe. […]
[…] wondered why a toasted bagel tastes so different from an untoasted one? The answer lies in science. Toasting triggers specific chemical reactions that enhance both flavor […]