Smoked salmon bagel with whipped cream cheese and quick pickled cucumber

A smoked salmon bagel should be simple. Cream cheese, silky smoked salmon, something sharp on the side. Done. But after making this more times than I can count, I started adding a quick cucumber and red onion pickle and whipping the cream cheese with lemon and chives. It’s still simple, but it tastes a little more "put-together".

📝 Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• zest from half a lemon
• 1 tablespoon dill, finely chopped
• 1/2 large cucumber, ribboned with a vegetable peeler (lengthways)
• 1/4 small red onion, very thinly sliced
• 150 grams (5.3oz) full-fat cream cheese
• 1-2 tablespoons milk or cream
• zest from half a lemon
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped
• 2 seeded bagels
• 100 grams (3.5oz) smoked salmon

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Quick cucumber pickle ---
2. 2In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, sugar, salt, lemon zest and chopped dill until the sugar has dissolved.
3. 3Add the cucumber ribbons and sliced red onion, then toss gently to coat everything in the pickling liquid. Leave to pickle for 15 minutes, giving it a gentle mix once or twice so all the pieces soak evenly.
4. 4--- Whip the cream cheese ---
5. 5In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese with the cream or milk for about 2 minutes until smooth, light and fluffy.
6. 6Stir through the lemon zest and chopped chives until evenly combined.
7. 7--- Toast the bagels ---
8. 8Slice the bagels in half and lightly butter the cut sides.
9. 9Place them buttered side down in a frying pan over medium heat and toast until golden and crisp.
10. 10--- Assemble the bagels ---
11. 11Spread a generous layer of whipped cream cheese over the warm toasted bagels.
12. 12Arrange the smoked salmon in soft folds for height and texture.
13. 13Lift the cucumber ribbons from the pickle, letting any excess liquid drip off, then pile them loosely over the salmon. Scatter over the pickled onion slices.
14. 14Add a few fresh dill sprigs, a twist of black pepper and a final touch of lemon zest. If you like, finish with a light scattering of sesame or poppy seeds.