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    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Lox Bagel With Creamy Labneh Cheese

    By Lily・Published: Jul 12, 2022・Updated: Mar 5, 2023・Post may have affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This lox bagel is a satisfying 5-minute meal made with a toasted bagel, smoked salmon, creamy labneh cheese, capers, fresh dill, and onion. Labneh cheese is an excellent reduced-calorie substitute for cream cheese, making this smoked salmon bagel light, refreshing, and so flavorful.

    smoked salmon lox bagel with creamy labneh cheese

    Traditionally, labneh is not eaten with seafood in the same dish. In fact, the Lebanese in me is questioning my sanity. However, after eating (and loving) this lox and labneh bagel at a high-end brunch restaurant, I wanted to make it at home.

    What I Love About This Recipe

    I love that this smoked salmon bagel is a quick 5-minute meal with a balance of protein, carbs, and fat. Labneh is super creamy and has much less fat than cream cheese. Also, labneh is not processed like cream cheese and it doesn't contain carob bean gum or natamycin (a natural mold inhibitor).

    Ingredient Notes

    ingredients to make a smoked salmon bagel
    • Bagel: Use any type of bagel.
    • Labneh: Use homemade labneh or store-bought labneh. Alternatively, you can substitute cream cheese if preferred.
    • Smoked salmon (lox): I prefer wild-caught smoked salmon, but any type of smoked salmon works.
    • Fresh dill: This herb goes really well with smoked salmon.
    • Capers: These add a salty bite.
    • Red onion: The best onion for this recipe is red onion.

    See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for quantities.

    How To Make A Lox Bagel

    toasted plain bagels on a plate

    Toast the bagel.

    spread some labneh cheese on the toasted bagel

    Spread the creamy labneh cheese on top of the toasted bagel.

    lox bagel recipe with labneh cheese

    Layer the smoked salmon, red onion, capers, and fresh dill.

    squeeze some lemon on top of the smoked salmon

    Squeeze some lemon juice on top. Serve immediately.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Make homemade labneh by straining store-bought plain yogurt, like this labneh from store-bought yogurt recipe. It takes 6 to 8 hours (overnight), then you have some fresh labneh in the morning for this recipe. Alternatively, you can go all in and make homemade labneh from scratch, however, block off 2 to 3 days to make it.
    • Not sure how to eat labneh? Eat labneh as a dip, like this za'atar labneh or garlic labneh. Another way to eat labneh is in a labneh pita sandwich.
    • Use fresh dill herb and lemon juice for the best lox bagel.
    • Toast the bagel until golden brown, so you have the right texture of chewy and toasted.

    Variations and Substitutions

    • Substitute cream cheese in lieu of labneh to make this a traditional smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel.
    • Use a different type of bagel instead of a plain bagel.
    • Substitute a piece of sourdough toast or toasted English muffin in lieu of a bagel.
    • Add a poached egg or fried egg on top of each bagel slice.

    Equipment

    This lox bagel recipe is super simple and only needs a toaster. Alternatively, you can toast the bagel in a toaster oven or oven.

    Storage

    This recipe does not store well in the fridge or freezer. I recommend preparing this smoked salmon lox bagel fresh every time.

    FAQs

    What is a bagel with smoked salmon called?

    A lox bagel is a bagel with smoked salmon. It's a toasted bagel eaten open-face with creamy cheese and smoked salmon.

    Is lox just smoked salmon?

    Historically, lox is thinly sliced preserved salmon in brine originating from the Scandinavian region. However, mainly lox bagel recipes use smoked salmon because it's more readily available from local grocery stores.

    Can you make these ahead of time?

    These bagels are best served fresh, however, you can prep the ingredients ahead of time for a quick and easy prep in the morning.

    Recipes With Labneh

    • za'atar labneh in a bowl
      Labneh With Za'atar and Olive Oil
    • labneh pita sandwich cut in half on a plate
      Labneh Pita Sandwich
    • pita chips dipping into some labneh with olive oil
      Labneh With Mashed Garlic Paste
    • homemade labneh in a bowl
      Homemade Lebanese Labneh Dip From Milk

    Simple and Quick Breakfasts

    • sumac eggs on a plate with the yolk runny
      Lebanese Sumac Eggs
    • egg white oatmeal in a bowl
      Fluffy Egg White Oatmeal
    • egg fritters on a white plate
      Crispy Egg Fritters (Ejjeh)
    • shakshuka eggs with potato hash
      Shakshuka Eggs With Potato Hash

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    📋 Recipe

    labneh and lox bagel

    Lox Bagel With Creamy Labneh Cheese

    Author: Lily
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: America
    Prep: 2 minutes mins
    Cook: 3 minutes mins
    Total: 5 minutes mins
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Servings 1
    This lox bagel is a satisfying 5-minute meal made with a toasted bagel, smoked salmon, creamy labneh cheese, capers, fresh dill, and onion.

    Ingredients
     
    US Customary - Metric

    • 1 plain bagel
    • 6 tablespoons of labneh cheese
    • 1 tablespoon of capers
    • a few pieces of red onion
    • two sprigs of dill

    Instructions

    • Toast the bagel. Spread the labneh cheese on top.
    • Add the smoked salmon, sliced red onion, fresh dill, and capers.
    • Squeeze some lemon on top. Enjoy immediately!

    Notes

    1. Substitute equal parts cream cheese in lieu of labneh cheese.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 bagel | Calories: 483 kcal | Carbohydrates: 54 g | Protein: 34 g | Fat: 16 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9 g | Trans Fat: 0 g | Cholesterol: 30 mg | Sodium: 1570 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 10 g

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    About Lily

    Howdy! My name is Lilian, but my friends call me Lily. I'm the founder and one of the recipe authors here at The Matbakh. I enjoy sunsets, long walks to the fridge, meaningful relationships, and anything related to food. I'm so happy you are here!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Charlie

      August 05, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      Fantastic way to use labneh as a sub for cream cheese… made this on an everything bagel and was top notch. Don’t forget the squeeze of lemon. Im didn’t use dill but imagine it would also be nice

      Reply

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    lily at the matbakh

    I'm Lily

    I'm an American Lebanese living in Texas. My kitchen, or matbakh, is a hodgepodge of recipes from the U.S. and Mediterranean region.

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