There’s something undeniably satisfying about a classic Lox Bagel piled high with delicious toppings! This recipe features a toasted everything bagel slathered with tangy whipped cream cheese, silky smoked salmon or lox, crisp cucumber slices, sharp red onion, briny capers, and fresh dill. I absolutely adore making Lox Bagels for a special weekend brunch or even a quick and luxurious lunch. It’s incredibly easy to assemble, requires no cooking (just toasting!), and delivers an amazing combination of flavors and textures. It’s the perfect treat for a lovely spring Sunday like today, April 20, 2025!
Why You’ll Love This Lox Bagel
- Classic Deli Flavor: Captures the iconic taste of a New York-style bagel with lox and cream cheese.
- Quick and Easy: No cooking required (besides toasting the bagel) – just simple assembly!
- Flavor Explosion: A perfect balance of salty, savory, tangy, fresh, and creamy flavors.
- Customizable: Easily adjust the toppings and amounts to your preference.
- Perfect Brunch Staple: An elegant yet effortless option for brunch gatherings.
Ingredients for a Classic Lox Bagel
Here’s what you’ll need to assemble this delicious bagel sandwich. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Components
- Everything bagel, sliced and toasted (Bagel)
- Whipped cream cheese (Dairy Spread)
- Smoked salmon or lox (Fish)
- Cucumber slices (Vegetable)
- Thinly sliced red onion (Vegetable)
- Capers, drained (Condiment)
Seasoning & Garnish
- Salt (to taste) (Seasoning)
- Pepper (to taste) (Spice)
- Lemon juice (to taste) (Acid)
- Fresh dill (to taste) (Herb)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
While I adore the classic toppings on my Lox Bagel, feel free to get creative!
- Different Bagel: Use a plain, sesame, poppy seed, pumpernickel, or even a gluten-free bagel.
- Flavored Cream Cheese: Use chive & onion, vegetable, or scallion cream cheese instead of plain.
- Add Avocado: Thinly sliced or mashed avocado adds extra creaminess.
- Add Tomato: Thin slices of ripe tomato are a popular addition.
- Different Onion: Use finely chopped shallots or green onions instead of red onion.
- Skip the Capers: If capers aren’t your thing, simply leave them off.
How to Make the Perfect Lox Bagel
Assembling this classic Lox Bagel is incredibly easy:
Toast Bagel
- First, I slice my everything bagel in half horizontally.
- I toast the bagel halves to my desired level of crispness using a toaster or under the broiler.
Assemble the Bagel
- Once toasted, I spread each bagel half generously with whipped cream cheese (about 2 tablespoons per half).
- On each half, I carefully arrange the slices of smoked salmon or lox (about 2 oz per half).
- Next, I layer on the fresh toppings: cucumber slices (about 3 per half) and a slice of thinly sliced red onion.
- Finally, I sprinkle the drained capers over the top (about 1-2 teaspoons per half).
Season and Serve
- I season the assembled Lox Bagel halves with salt and pepper to taste.
- I add a fresh squeeze of lemon juice over the top for brightness.
- I finish with a sprinkle of fresh dill.
- Enjoy!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Lox Bagel
Here are my secrets for making the ultimate Lox Bagel:
- Use Quality Ingredients: Good quality smoked salmon/lox, fresh bagels, and crisp vegetables make a difference.
- Toast the Bagel: Toasting provides a crucial textural contrast to the creamy and soft toppings.
- Whipped Cream Cheese: Whipped cream cheese is lighter and easier to spread than block cream cheese. If using block, make sure it’s softened.
- Thinly Sliced Onion: Slice the red onion very thinly so its flavor doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. Soaking sliced onions in ice water for 10 minutes can also mellow their bite.
- Don’t Forget Seasoning: A little salt, pepper, fresh dill, and lemon juice at the end really bring all the flavors together.
How to Serve
This Lox Bagel is typically served open-faced, showcasing all the delicious toppings! It’s perfect for:
- Brunch: The star of any brunch spread.
- Lunch: A quick, easy, and satisfying lunch.
- Special Breakfast: An elegant breakfast treat for weekends or holidays.
- Appetizer: Cut the assembled bagel halves into smaller wedges for easy party appetizers.
Serve immediately after assembly for the best texture (crisp bagel!).
Make Ahead and Storage
Bagels with lox and cream cheese are best assembled fresh just before serving to prevent the bagel from becoming soggy. However, you can prepare the components ahead:
- Toast bagels (store cooled toast in an airtight container briefly).
- Slice onion and cucumber.
- Have cream cheese ready. Assemble right before you plan to eat.
FAQs about Lox Bagel
- What’s the difference between lox and smoked salmon?
- Traditionally, lox is cured in a salt brine (not smoked), while smoked salmon is cured and then smoked (cold or hot). However, the terms are often used interchangeably in delis and recipes today. Both work beautifully here!
- Can I use regular cream cheese instead of whipped?
- Yes, just make sure it’s fully softened to room temperature so it’s easily spreadable. Whipped cream cheese offers a lighter texture.
- Can I make this gluten-free?
- Absolutely! Just use your favorite gluten-free bagel.
Enjoy this classic, flavorful, and incredibly easy Lox Bagel! It’s a timeless combination for a reason.
Print
Lox Bagel
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
- Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Snack
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Lox Bagel has an everything bagel base that’s piled high with tangy whipped cream cheese, luxurious lox or smoked salmon, crisp cucumber slices, capers, fresh dill, and thinly sliced red onion. A classic and delicious breakfast or brunch!
Ingredients
- 1 everything bagel, sliced in half horizontally and toasted
- 4 tablespoons whipped cream cheese (or plain cream cheese)
- 4 ounces smoked salmon or lox
- 6 thin cucumber slices (English or Persian recommended)
- 2 thin slices red onion
- 2–4 teaspoons capers, drained
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Fresh lemon juice, to taste (optional)
- Fresh dill sprigs or chopped dill, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Bagel: Slice the everything bagel in half horizontally. Toast the bagel halves to your desired level of crispness.
- Spread Cream Cheese: Spread 2 tablespoons of whipped cream cheese evenly over the cut side of each toasted bagel half.
- Layer Toppings:
- Divide the smoked salmon or lox evenly between the two bagel halves, arranging it over the cream cheese.
- Place 3 cucumber slices on top of the salmon on each half.
- Place 1 thin slice of red onion on top of the cucumber on each half.
- Sprinkle 1-2 teaspoons of drained capers over each half.
- Season: Season each bagel half with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Add a light squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkle of fresh dill, if desired.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately as open-faced bagels.
Notes
- Bagel: An everything bagel is classic, but plain, sesame, or poppy seed bagels work well too. Toasting is recommended.
- Cream Cheese: Whipped cream cheese spreads easily. You can substitute regular block cream cheese (softened slightly). Plain or chive cream cheese are good options.
- Salmon vs. Lox: Smoked salmon and lox can be used interchangeably here based on preference.
- Cucumber: English or Persian cucumbers have thinner skin and fewer seeds.
- Onion: Thinly sliced red onion adds a sharp bite. If preferred, soak slices in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the flavor.
- Capers: Drain capers before using. Rinsing them briefly can remove some brine if desired.
- Seasoning: Adjust salt, pepper, lemon juice, and dill to your personal taste.