She Strengthens

Breakfast Casserole with a Twist: Smoked Salmon and Bagel Delight

Are you tired of the same old breakfast routine? Look no further! We’ve taken the classic flavors of bagels, cream cheese, red onion, capers, and smoked salmon and turned them into a make-ahead breakfast casserole that’s sure to impress.

The Perfect Brunch Dish

This easy-to-make casserole is perfect for feeding a crowd. Simply combine cubed bagels, cream cheese, chives, and a savory custard in a baking dish, refrigerate overnight, and bake until puffed and golden brown. Top with smoked salmon, red onion, and capers for a delicious and elegant breakfast dish.

Choosing the Right Bagels

For an extra boost of flavor, we recommend using “everything” bagels, which typically feature a mix of poppy seeds, sesame seeds, garlic, onion, salt, and caraway seeds. You can find these bagels at most bagel shops or in the bread aisle of your local grocery store.

Game Plan

Remember to plan ahead, as the assembled casserole needs to soak overnight before baking. But trust us, it’s worth the wait!

Yield and Difficulty

This recipe yields 8-10 servings and is classified as easy. The total time required is 2 hours, plus overnight soaking time.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold cream cheese
• 1 pound “everything” bagels, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
• 8 large eggs
• 3 1/2 cups whole milk
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 4 ounces sliced smoked salmon, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons capers, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced red onion
• Butter, for coating the baking dish

Instructions

1. Prepare the Baking Dish: Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with butter and set aside.
2. Chill the Cream Cheese: Cut the cream cheese into 1/2-inch cubes and freeze for 10 minutes to make them easier to sprinkle into the casserole.
3. Assemble the Casserole: Place half of the bagel cubes in an even layer in the prepared dish, followed by half of the cream cheese and half of the chives. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
4. Whisk the Custard: Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a large bowl to combine.
5. Soak Overnight: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and cream cheese, cover with plastic wrap or aluminum foil, and refrigerate overnight.
6. Bake and Serve: Heat the oven to 350°F, remove the casserole from the refrigerator, and let it sit at room temperature. Uncover and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 50 minutes. Top with smoked salmon, capers, and onion, and let sit for 10 minutes before serving.