Bagels are big loops of golden bread crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Although they are usually served for breakfast, it is actually possible to eat them at any meal of the day using a large number of savory or sweet toppings. To enhance the tasting experience, be sure to reheat and cut the bagels before eating them. They can be served open or in the form of a sandwich.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Reheat and Cut a Bagel
Step 1. Toast the bagel if it wasn't fresh from the oven
Hot bagels taste much better, as the crumb tends to harden upon cooling. If you have not purchased freshly baked bagels (ie prepared less than 6 hours before the time of consumption), it is good to toast them before eating them.
Step 2. Set the oven to 190 ° C and bake the bagel for 4-5 minutes
Toasting the bagel before cutting it allows you to obtain a crunchy crust and a moist crumb, pleasant to chew. Heat it in a convection oven or electric oven until it is crisp and warm to the touch.
Step 3. To speed up preparation, cut and toast the bagel in an upright toaster
If you can't reheat it in other ways, cut the bagel before trying to toast it. Although it is preferable to toast it before cutting it so that the bread retains a good level of moisture, heating it in a vertical toaster will not ruin its texture.
Step 4. Cut the bagel in half using a sharp, serrated knife
If you want to stuff it or garnish it, cut it in half horizontally. Place the bagel on a cutting board and hold the top still with your non-dominant hand. Make a clean cut in the side of the bagel using a sharp knife.
If you intend to eat it whole, without adding any ingredients, skip this step and serve it
Part 2 of 3: Add Fillings or Toppings
Step 1. Butter the bagel for a simple but tasty breakfast or snack
Spread butter on the inside of a freshly baked or reheated bagel. Measure about 1 tablespoon of butter and spread evenly a thin layer on both sides of the bagel with a knife. At this point serve him.
Step 2. Use 60g of cream cheese to make a classic-flavored bagel
Let the bread cool for 2-3 minutes to prevent the cheese from melting, then spread it evenly on both sides of the bagel using a knife.
Step 3. If you want to serve up a rich and tasty meal, make a smoked salmon bagel
The combination of smoked salmon and spreadable cheese is exquisite, perfect for enriching an ordinary bagel. Cut the bread in half and spread the cheese on both slices. Garnish each slice with 30g of cream cheese and 30g of smoked salmon. Serve the bagel open.
Here are some of the most used toppings to enrich smoked salmon bagels: tomato slices, capers, lemon juice and thin slices of red onion
Step 4. If you prefer a sweet variation, garnish the bagel with peanut butter and banana slices
Spread 2 tablespoons of peanut butter evenly on both slices of the bagel, then decorate with banana slices. You can also try other variations, for example, replace the banana with a thin layer of jam or marmalade, or spread Nutella instead of peanut butter.
Step 5. Turn the bagel into an egg sandwich
If you want to make a hearty breakfast, the bagel is perfect for making an egg sandwich. Fill it with fried or scrambled eggs, bacon or breakfast sausage, cheese and tomato.
Step 6. Use the bagel to make any type of sandwich
If you feel like eating a sandwich, grab a bagel, cut it up and stuff it with the ingredients you want. Feel free to experiment with any toppings and toppings that come to mind!
Part 3 of 3: Complete the Preparation
Step 1. Eat the open bagel
Garnish the bagel slices, you can decide to eat them one at a time, as if they were slices of toast. All the combinations proposed in the previous section can be tasted in this way.
Step 2. Eat the bagel as if it were a sandwich
Garnish the slices, combine them and eat the bagel as if it were a sandwich. This option is perfect when a lot of ingredients are used. In fact, with a sandwich it is possible to ensure that every single bite has the right proportion between bread and filling.
Being easier to transport than open bagels, the sandwiches are also perfect for a packed lunch or a quick bite to eat
Step 3. If you decide to make a sandwich, cut the bagel vertically before eating it
Although this step is absolutely optional, cutting it in half vertically after filling it ensures that every single bite has an ideal proportion between toppings and bread.
