If you want to know how to make lox bagels at home this is it. This easy 5-minute recipe will tell you everything you need to know about lox bagels including different kinds of salmon in case you cannot easily find lox where you live.
This is a delicious breakfast or lunch for one OR you can make a larger spread for a breakfast get together or brunch.
Related: Want to make your own bagels? Try my homemade Everything Bagels recipe.
Lox Bagels Ingredients
- Lox or other smoked salmon
- Bagels – I like everything or plain for this
- Cream cheese
- Capers
- Dill
- Other toppings like: cucumber, red onion or tomato
What is Lox?
- Lox- Traditionally the belly fat from salmon that is salt cured, either in a saltwater brine or salt. Sometimes called belly lox. It is not cooked with heat.
- Nova Lox- Traditional lox that is lightly smoked. More common and more often used in restaurants or delis.
- Smoked Salmon- usually divided into two categories (hot and cold). For this recipe you want cold smoked salmon which is still soft and looks silky like lox. Hot smoked salmon is cooked through and flaky / firm.
- Gravlax- Dry cured salmon made with salt, sugar and spices. Similar to lox in that it is not smoked or cooked with heat.
How to make Lox Bagels
Slice the bagel in half and toast it (in a toaster or quickly under the broiler).
Spread a layer or cream cheese over the toasted bagel. Add the lox. Sprinkle with capers and chopped dill.
Top the lox bagel with any other toppings you prefer like: sliced cucumber, tomato, thinly sliced red onion and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve cold.
Notes & Variations
- Lox Bagel Spread (or Lox Schmear) – in a food processor add the cream cheese, lox, capers, dill and a few slices of cucumber and red onion. Blend until smooth. Smear this over a toasted bagel for a commute friendly lox bagel option.
- I rarely used plain cream cheese in this recipe although you can. I prefer a savory cream cheese like chive and onion.
- If you can’t find capers (or find you fought to buy them) chopped green olives are a tasty substitute IMO.
More Favorite Breakfast Recipes
- Monkey Bread
- Classic Pancakes
- Pecan Pie Sticky Buns
- Classic Waffles
- Hashbrown Casserole
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
- Breakfast Casserole
- French Toast Casserole
- The Best Fruit Salad
- How to Cook Bacon
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
- Stuffed French Toast
Lox Bagels
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Lox or cold smoked salmon
- 1 everything bagel
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 2 teaspoons capers
- 1 teaspoon dill
Instructions
- Slice the bagel in half and toast it (in a toaster or quickly under the broiler).
- Spread a layer or cream cheese over the toasted bagel. Add the lox.
- Sprinkle with capers and chopped dill.
- Top the lox bagel with any other toppings you prefer like: sliced cucumber, tomato, thinly sliced red onion and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve cold.
Notes
- Lox Bagel Spread (or Lox Schmear) – in a food processor add the cream cheese, lox, capers, dill and a few slices of cucumber and red onion. Blend until smooth. Smear this over a toasted bagel for a commute friendly lox bagel option.
- I rarely used plain cream cheese in this recipe although you can. I prefer a savory cream cheese like chive and onion.
- If you can’t find capers (or find you fought to buy them) chopped green olives are a tasty substitute IMO.