Homemade & Yummy

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Smoked Salmon Bagel with Artichoke Cream Cheese

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I can eat bagels any time of day. This Smoked Salmon Bagel with Artichoke Cream Cheese is the perfect option for any meal of the day. If you are not a lover of cold smoked salmon, this tasty creation just might change your mind.

Closeup of Smoked Salmon Bagel with Artichoke Cream Cheese, cup of coffee in the background.

Smoked salmon seems to be one of those ingredients that falls into two categories. Do you like it? YES or NO? For the longest time, I was in the NO category. My first experience with a smoked salmon bagel was not a positive one. Thank goodness that has changed over the years. Now one of my favourite things to make is Warm Potato Salad with Smoked Salmon and Dill. For a great brunch recipe, Smoked Salmon Egg In A Hole is a crowd pleaser!

The very first time I tried a smoked salmon bagel was a very long time ago. I had just started a new job in the big city. For lunch one day I decided to try a little deli that was located in the building I worked in.

Young and naive, I scanned the menu and saw Bagel and Lox. Since I absolutely LOVE bagels, this sounded like the perfect lunch. I ordered and anxiously waited. I was so excited to see what this was (since there was no explanation), and I didn’t think to ask. 

Recipe ingredients, smoked salmon, bagel, cream cheese and capers.

My order was ready. I paid and quickly found somewhere to sit and eat. I unwrapped the salmon bagel and took a bite. OMG! I still remember asking myself “what is this”? My taste buds did a backflip, and I think I actually spit out my mouthful of food. I certainly knew what a bagel was, but what the hell is a lox bagel?

Jump to present day, I totally enjoy a smoked salmon bagel with cream cheese. So glad I gave it another try. I also enjoy Smoked Salmon Salad for dinner too!

Smoked Salmon, Lox, Nova or Gravlox?

Do you know the difference between ALL these? Wow so interesting. I still have to try a couple of these tasty variations. My early experience with salmon was canned “pink” salmon. My mom didn’t even buy sockeye salmon never mind smoked salmon. In case you were wondering, you can indeed buy canned smoked salmon, and it is so delicious. Another great option to make a salmon bagel with.

Artichoke cream cheese slathered on top of a toasted bagel.

Over the years, my taste buds have developed nicely, and smoked salmon recipes happen in my kitchen on a regular basis. You would have thought with my Ukrainian background I would have eaten smoked salmon at some point. My mom did eat canned sardines and pickled herring. I will say those 2 ingredients ARE NOT something I eat either (or ever will).

Closeup of slices of smoked salmon piled on cream cheese on a toasted bagel.

Now as for bagels, I have not come across one that I didn’t like. I wish I lived close enough to have Montreal bagels at my disposal. I know there are a few great bagel places in the USA too. This smoked salmon recipe is one we totally enjoy for brunch on the weekends, but also for dinner with a salad.

Smoked Salmon Bagel and More

There are lots of delicious ways to incorporate delicious smoked salmon in recipes. Used in appetizers, salads, added to eggs, pasta, or as fillings for sandwiches. Easy Smoked Salmon Plate is a great way to enjoy it as well. I bet if you put on your creative hat, you just might come up with a tasty version of your own.

Smoked salmon and cream cheese is the classic deli paring for a smoked salmon bagel, just like in my “bagel and lox” experience. For this easy recipe I just added some jarred artichokes (the kind packed in oil) to plain whipped cream cheese. Do you like artichokes? If not, fresh dill works amazing too. Sun-dried tomatoes, olives, or pickles are great additions. Don’t forget all your wonderful spices. Making flavoured cream cheese is so easy.

Overhead shot of Smoked Salmon Bagel on a plate.

I like buying my smoked salmon frozen at Costco. You can purchase it in 1 large package (which is great for parties), but I usually buy the box of 10 small packages. I find 1 small package is enough for 2 people.

To make this smoked salmon bagel recipe:

  • thaw the smoked salmon (in the fridge)
  • mix up your flavoured cream cheese (or you can use plain)
  • choose a bagel flavour (I used Everything, but Pumpernickel would be great here)
  • cut the bagel in 1/2 and toast
  • cover each half with cream cheese
  • top with 2-3 slices of salmon
  • garnish is capers (or dill, or nothing)
  • top with a hit of freshly ground black pepper (optional)
  • EAT!

Close up of toasted bagel topped with cream cheese, slices of smoked salmon, garnished with capers and freshly ground black pepper.

So there you have my smoked salmon story and how I went from NO to YES. Sure glad I gave it another try (even if it was 30 years later).

How about you? Are you a YES or a NO?

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Closeup of Smoked Salmon Bagel with Artichoke Cream Cheese, cup of coffee in the background.

Smoked Salmon Bagel with Artichoke Cream Cheese

Deli style Smoked Salmon Bagel with Artichoke Cream Cheese is great for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Choose your favourite bagel, toast and slather with your choice of cream cheese. Layer on slices of smoked salmon, garnish with capers and enjoy!!
5 from 32 votes
Print Rate
Course: Breakfast/Brunch, Dinner Salad
Cuisine: Canadian
Keyword: Easy Deli Food
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 2
Calories: 324kcal
Author: Homemade & Yummy

Ingredients

  • 1 Everything bagel (or your choice of flavour)
  • 4 tbsp cream cheese
  • 2.5 ounces smoked salmon (thawed)
  • 2.5 ounces marinated artichoke hearts (drained and chopped)
  • 1 tsp capers (optional)
  • freshly ground black pepper for garnish (optional)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Thaw the smoked salmon in the fridge.
  • Chop artichokes and mix into the cream cheese. Set aside.
  • Cut bagel in half and toast.
  • Place 1/2 of the cream cheese on each of the bagel halves.
  • Layer slices of smoked salmon on top of the cream cheese.
  • Garnish with capers.
  • Top with freshly ground black pepper.
  • ENJOY.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 40mg | Sodium: 813mg | Potassium: 155mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 15.5% | Vitamin C: 9% | Calcium: 4.5% | Iron: 7.7%

Notes

Feel free to use your favourite variety of bagel and your choice of cream cheese. There are LOTS of ways to make this classic deli food.

 Smoked Salmon Bagel with Artichoke Cream Cheese long pin image.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. It took me a while to figure out the difference between all the salmons too! I remember trying smoked salmon for the first time on vacation when I had ordered and thought I was getting cooked salmon! I didn’t want to make a fuss so I tried it and haven’t looked back since! I love a good smoked salmon bagel now.

    Reply

  2. I vividly remember the first time I had smoked salmon; my Dad worked in the city and brought a whole sliced side home after visiting a famous deli.
    It was love at first taste. I used to love it on toast sprinkled with the vinegar from a jar of pickled onions. Which sounds odd but is sooooo good. (It is still one of my favourite lunchtime treats. Hot buttered toast, smoked salmon and a sprinkle of pickled onion vinegar)
    It was years later that I ordered a bagel and I am a bit obsessed with them now! So when I saw your artichoke cream I knew I just had to try it. I am glad I did! It was a perfect addition. I used a bit of dill as well and it was a lunch I never wanted to end. Thank you for introducing me to smoked salmon and artichoke. 😀

    Reply

    • WOW….thanks so much for your lovely story…it actually brought tears to my eyes. The artichoke is such an easy addition to the cream cheese that elevates this to a whole new level.

  3. Salmon, smoked or just salted, is something I grew up with in Siberia . There is no way I can say no to that! 🙂 Paired with artichokes and cream cheese , is like a heaven on a plate . When I worked in coffee shop in San Francisco, I did also put sprouts on top. Yummy eather way!

    Reply

  4. Wow – it totally blows my mind that you had no idea what lox was the first time you ordered it! I guess I just sort of assumed it was a more or less universal food. My 2 year old LOVES lox in everything, from pasta salads to bagels!

    Reply

  5. Smoked salmon may just be the only food that I’m not that big of a fan of. But I haven’t had it in so long, I think I need to give it another try… I LOVE salmon in general, so feel like I have to like smoked salmon, right?? In any event, this bagel is making me want to try ASAP!

    Reply

  6. How? How can anybody say no to smoked salmon? What alternate reality is this? Lol! Anyway I’m so glad you saw the light as myself and my wife are definite salmon yeses and we make ours almost exactly the same way, but without the artichokes so color me totally intrigued by your version! Lovely!

    Reply

  8. I LOVE smoked salmon bagels, we used to have them weekly and you’ve just reminded me to bring back that tradition. There’s nothing like capers and smoked salmon on a cream cheese bagel. Yum!

    Reply

  10. Yeah, I’m definitely in the no category! But I didn’t use to like beans, sweet potatoes, and spinach and I eat them all the time now. Never say never.

    Reply

  12. I actually had a similar experience to you with smoked salmon. I tried it a few times as a kid and definitely wasn’t a fan, but then I tried it recently and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it! I guess our taste buds change over the years huh? Thanks for linking to the article about the differences between types of cured/smoked salmon. I had no idea! You learn something new every day. 🙂

    This recipe looks divine! Nothing beats smoked salmon and cream cheese on a bagel. I love your addition of artichokes and capers. YUM! I bet it adds a totally different dimension to the dish and a little extra nutrition too. Great idea! My mom loves smoked salmon and artichokes, so I’ll have to make this for her soon. Thank you so much, Gloria!!

    Reply

  18. I don’t like smoked salmon but I think you are right, my eyes stuck with your recipe images. I like to try it now, look so delicious. Thanks for changing my mind, I think I found the smoked salmon recipe that I would love.

    Reply

  19. Smoked salmon on a bagel is one of my absolute favorite weekend breakfasts. Pairing it with artichoke cream cheese is brilliant! I’ll definitely be making this spread next weekend. My tastebuds thank you in advance! 🙂

    Reply

  22. Oh wow I didn’t know there were so many varieties! I too didn’t have smoked salmon / lox until later in life, I had no idea what it was and I was just as excited when I first had it! This sounds like the perfect breakfast!

    Reply

  23. Such a funny story about Bagel with Lox. I grew up eating smoked salmon. It was not very common. Rather a rare occurrence in Soviet Union but I loved it with buttered dark rye bread.

    I love the idea of artichoke cream cheese! I don’t know why I’ve never thought of that. I’ll definitely try it.

    Reply

  24. Oh goodness, I’ve never heard of artichoke cream cheese before and I am in *LOVE* with this idea. I eat salmon with cream cheese on toast regularly, so this is right up my alley. The perfect way to jazz things up without straying too far from a classic lox bagel. Your first experience with a lox bagel made me chuckle. Mine was in Montreal, and I had the opposite reaction. I was like, HOW CAN I LIVE A LIFE WHERE I EAT THIS EVERY DAY?

    Reply

  26. I absolutely LOVE lox- I even eat it without the bagel. YUM! I never thought to add artichokes to the cream cheese though.. that’s such a great idea!

    Reply

  27. I absolutely love salmon in every shape, form and preparation. Smoked salmon is one of my favorite things to have for brunch. I love the artichoke cream cheese, so delicious and the addition of the capers is great too. What a great and easy dish to have for Easter or mother;s day. Thank you for such an informative post!

    Reply

  28. We went to visit my husband’s friend and Latvia once and they took us to this humongous market and bought a fresh piece of salmon. They then took it home and cured it with either sugar or salt and then we eat it the next day on some type of brown bread with butter and thinly sliced onions. I had never had anything like that before and it was one of our favorite food memories. My husband needs his smoke salmon just like this however he’s never had the order two cream cheese. I can’t wait to surprise him with it someday!

    Reply

  29. We are huge fans of Salmon in our home and my husband loves his salmon with bagel and cream cheese mixed with dill. This is a winning combination and it’s one that never disappoints. Can’t wait to try this. Yum!

    Reply

  30. I’m definitely a YES! but everybody else is a NO in my house which means…. I don’t have to share;) I like to eat mine on crackers with cream cheese and I absolutely love it on a really good toasted bagel. You made me hungry.

    Reply

  31. My husband would totally flip for these. He fell in love with them when he went to Montreal for his bachelor party in October and has loved them ever since. Luckily we live near NYC and get great bagels so we can make this at home!!

    Reply

  33. I’m a solid YES! Smoked salmon is so delicious and we almost always have some in the fridge because I prefer savory breakfasts to sweet any day. And this is actually something I love for a light lunch or snack as well! Glad you came around to smoked salmon!

    Reply

  34. Count me into the “I love smoked salmon” category. I do like most seafoods but count me out on mackerel. I was on Weight Watchers many many years ago and we had to eat lots of fish. I bought some canned mackerel. I swear that the odor almost made me faint. I did NOT eat it. In fact I’ve smelled cat food that smelled better. Now, I love bagels, cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, and artichokes. Your recipe is a winner with me.

    Reply

  35. what a GREAT breakfast or lunch! Love that the cream cheese is infused with artichokes! Totally elevated then a drive thru bagel.

    Reply

  36. I am in love with everything about this, starting with that “everything” bagel 🙂 Adding artichoke to the cream cheese, well that just switches things up in a beautiful direction. Can’t wait to give this a try! Pinning!

    Reply

  38. My family LOVES bagels & lox… it is a favorite Sunday brunch staple. However, I have never made my own flavored cream cheese. I can not wait to try your artichoke cream cheese spread!!!

    Reply

  39. Love this informative post. I have to be honest, it’s not the flavor of smoked salmon – it’s the texture. Still having trouble getting past that. However I love bagels, cream cheese, artichokes and capers – so give me all of that please!

    Reply

  40. That’s too funny that you didn’t know what lox were! I practically grew up on smoked salmon — my French grandparents served it as an appetizer with toast points and chopped egg — for EVERY family gathering. My whole family loves smoked salmon on bagels with cream cheese, but I’ve never thought to add artichokes to the cream cheese base. What a great idea! With Easter coming up, I think this would go great with a mimosa or bloody mary for brunch! Thanks for the inspiration!

    Reply

    • OMG…as you can see my first experience with LOX was not great. I am SOOOO glad (30 years later) I decided to give it another try. Yes….brunch worthy for sure….especially with those drinks!!

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