Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel Board
A simple board with smoked salmon and cream cheese, bagels, capers, hard boiled eggs, and more for a fun appetizer or light meal.
I’m sure you’ve seen the multitudes of different boards of food published by magazines and food bloggers. So many beauty shots of boards chock full of charcuterie, veggies, fruits, dips, etc. and all displayed as a still life to boot.
While beautiful, I haven’t gone to that extent, but I did enjoy this delightful Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel Board with neighbors. It’s simpler but no less tasty.
We are partying in a different manner this year for sure but it was still fun. Chairs set a distance apart, each person responsible for their crew following some agreed upon guidelines, making it an outdoor event and keeping the health of everyone at the forefront.
I think these occasional forays, while not the same as my standard fare of a huge crowd in my backyard, help to normalize our lives and provide some much needed human contact.
While I prepared this as an appetizer, the plethora of ingredients would work well for any number of summer events. Even if you’re committed to staying close to home, setting a table with an assortment of goodies for your family to make their own mini bagels, combined with a touch of bubbly, would surely lighten any spirits.
I’m adding this favorite of mine to June’s edition of Progressive Eats. My friends and I decided that we all need more Easy Summer Dishes…foods that are fast, simple, and yet still delicious.
There is nothing much easier than filling a big board or plate with some store bought and easily made foods and handing out plates and napkins.
Honestly the only thing I made for this board were the hard boiled eggs. And those I did in an Instant Pot (affiliate link), maybe one of the single most amazing things that appliance is good for. Beautiful yellow yolks and shells that almost fall off.
I do wish I was still making my own pickles but I haven’t the garden space; still, sweet baby gherkin pickles are my favorite so I did source some of those for this event.
The full list of ingredients I used for this board included:
- Mini Bagels
- Cream Cheese
- Capers
- Smoked Salmon
- Cucumbers, fresh or slightly pickled in salt, sugar, and water
- Red Onion
- Everything But the Bagel blend – really a blend of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, dried onion, dried garlic, and salt. Most grocery stores and spice shops carry it but you can make your own too; it’s so good I love having some on hand.
To Serve on the Side: - Cherry Tomatoes
- Avocado
- Baby Gherkin Pickles
- Hard Boiled Eggs
I’ve included the same list in the recipe card at the bottom of the post but use these as a suggestion.
When I made this board it was as part of an appetizer course for a party but I would make this for brunch too in a heartbeat. Just for your family? You might want to add a touch of fruit. Serving as a main course, a nice green salad would be the perfect compliment. Also perfect for any holiday gathering from Fourth of July through Christmas; it really is a favorite!
Even the person at our event who not fond of salmon was able to fashion a delicious bagel for their course so I love how adaptable it is. Seriously, bagels aren’t just for breakfast anymore!
Welcome to Progressive Eats, our virtual version of a Progressive Dinner Party. This month’s theme is a Easy Summer Dishes, and our host is Barb who blogs at Everydayum.com
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, a progressive dinner involves going from house to house, enjoying a different course at each location. With Progressive Eats it’s a virtual party. A theme is chosen each month, members share recipes suitable for a delicious meal or party, and you can hop from blog to blog to check them out. Come along and see all of the delicious summer inspired dishes!
Easy Summer Dishes
Appetizers
- Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel Board – Everydayum.com (You’re Here!)
- Radish Toast, Two Ways – Sarah’s Cucina Bella
Side Dish
- Country-Style Potato Salad with Creole Mustard – Karen’s Kitchen Stories
- Cucumber Salad – Healthy Delicious
- Blistered Shishito Peppers with Cheese – The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Indian Carrot Salad – SpiceRoots
- Chicken Fried Rice – The Heritage Cook
- Minty Couscous Salad – Mother Would Know
Desserts
- Fudgy Brownies from Scratch – That Skinny Chick Can Bake
PIN IT! ‘Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel Board’
Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel Board
Ingredients
- 12 mini bagels I got the mini bagels at Costco
- Capers
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 10 ounces Salmon smoked
- 1 cucumber thinly sliced. I leave the rind on for color but if you prefer, remove it before slicing
- ¼ red onion thinly sliced
- Everything But the Bagel Seasoning
- 16 ounces cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 Avocado sliced
- 12 Sweet pickles either gherkins or bread and butter
- 6 Hard Boiled Eggs cooked, cooled and halved
- 12 Lemon Wedges
Instructions
- Layer ingredients on one bagel half…schmear with cream cheese, then top with capers, salmon, red onion, cucumber, and Everything But the Bagel seasoning. Drizzle with a hint of lemon juice from the lemon wedges. Schmear additional cream cheese on top bagel half if desired and put on top.
- Serve with halved cherry tomatoes, avocado, halved hard boiled eggs, and sweet pickles.
- Great with chilled Prosecco that has been combined with a hint of orange liqueur or Limoncello.
Just what I want to do with the lox I made the other day. Such perfect combination!! Love this, Barb.
This is an excellent idea! Bagels and lox is my very favorite breakfast. And to do it as a board (and as an appetizer!) is fantastic. I’ll definitely try this whenever I start hosting people again.
It will happen…hopefully soon! And Happy Birthday; wish we could all get together and nosh and celebrate with you!
This is my absolute favorite breakfast. I love that you added cucumbers! I always do that too and my husband thinks I’m crazy. It’s so good though.
Well we can think HE is crazy! They seem perfect to me; I love the crunch and the subtle flavor.
This looks amazing! I love the sprinkle of sesame seeds. Way better than a charcuterie platter! If you need and everything bagel recipe, I have one!
Funny you should ask…would love to see yours and link to it if it’s on your blog; the kitchn means nothing to me! 🙂
I had thought of making my own but clearly that got away from me; sometimes it’s nice to have something simple AND delicious isn’t’ it?
What a great option for parties or light meals! I especially love the idea of adding crunchy cucumbers – so good!!
They do add such a nice crunch sometimes. I pickled these a bit but I’ve also done them plain and now it’s sort of expected that the cucumbers will be on my salmon and cheese board!
Love this type of simple entertaining. And it works well for these days of physical distancing. My only bone to pick is with what passes for a bagel in your neck of the woods. But of course, at this point, you can’t come here to taste the real thing. Just beware that when we do get together, I’m bringing a huge bag of everything bagels – once you taste them, you’ll never go back!
Oh I love boards like this that I can just nosh on all evening! For me, I don’t even need anything else!
Me either although that night someone did make a big bowl of shrimp sauteed in butter…it was my idea of the perfect seafood platter. 🙂
Oh that sounds good too!!
Nice! Love this sort of meal — easy to put together, and extremely tasty. Plus I love the combo of salmon and cream cheese.
Smoked Salmon is my go-to breakfast, Barb, so I’d be thrilled to have this spread for breakfast, lunch or dinner!!! Delicious!!!