This bagel board is the kind of brunch that makes everyone smile, whether you’re celebrating with one other person or a small group. I’ll show you exactly how I put one together.
The best part is how much you can vary it. Try classic flavor combinations, or go a little wild and mix and match ingredients you’ve never tasted together before. Anything goes!
Choose your board
For this all-in-one brunch board I use a wooden serving board, but a large cutting board works just as well. Don’t have one, or is yours too small? Cut a piece of kraft paper and lay it down the middle of your table. Use two or three layers to catch the juices from the fruit and any warm items.
I’d actually put a sheet of kraft paper or parchment paper on unfinished wood every time, so it doesn’t stain. I had to scrub hard to get the strawberry juice and the salmon grease out afterward. Learn from my mistakes, haha! ;)
Start with the bagels
The stars of this board are the bagels, of course. They’re the ideal base for any topping, with endless flavor combinations. Plain and sesame bagels are perfect here.
Did you know bagels get their classic chewy texture from being boiled in a pot of water before they’re baked in the oven? The result is a shiny, golden brown bagel with a sturdy crust and a soft inside.
Cut the bagels in half with a bread knife and toast them briefly in a toaster or under the broiler. Arrange them in the middle of the board in a zigzag pattern for the most fun effect.
Spreads and dips for your bagel board
With the bagels in the middle of the board, it’s time for the toppings. I start by making room for the dips and spreads, which I scatter across the board in small jars.
Here’s what I like to put on mine (the list is far from complete):
- Cream cheese, three ways
- Classic plain, or with herbs
- A homemade bell pepper version: mix store-bought peppers stuffed with goat cheese into some cream cheese.
- A homemade pesto version: stir pesto into cream cheese.
- Butter (plain or with herbs)
- Chocolate spread
- Cookie butter
- Peanut butter
- Jam
- Honey
- Pear syrup
- Balsamic glaze
- …
Make your own everything bagel seasoning
For this board I also made my own seasoning mix, inspired by the American everything bagel seasoning. It’s packed with flavor and takes any bagel up a level. Mix the following in a jar and you’re done:
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- 2 tbsp white sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp black sesame seeds
- 1 tbsp coarse sea salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder and/or onion powder
Fruit and veggies
Fruit and vegetables give you plenty of room to experiment too. I pick a range of colors so the board looks bright and cheerful, and I cut everything into bite-size pieces. That way you can simply build your bagel at the table, with no extra chopping.
Veggies:
- Red onion
- Cucumber
- Cherry tomatoes
- Avocado
- Radishes
- Arugula
- Baby spinach
- Bell pepper
- Grilled asparagus
- Other grilled vegetables
- …
Fruit:
- Raspberries
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- (Blood) oranges or mandarins
- Kiwi
- Mango
- Figs
- Banana*
- Apple*
- Pear*
- Dried fruit
*Save a spot on the board for these three and add them right before serving, or they’ll turn brown. A squeeze of lemon juice helps too.
Fish, meat and eggs
Last, I like to add some fish, meat and eggs. These go on the board at the very end, and you can serve them cold or warm, whatever you like best. Here’s what I had in mind:
- Smoked salmon
- Crispy bacon
- Eggs (scrambled, boiled, fried)
- Strips of chicken breast
- Canned mackerel
- …
Mix and match your bagels
Your bagel board is ready, so it’s time to eat! How you top your bagel is entirely up to you, of course. Here are a few of my favorite combinations, including some less obvious ones:
- Plain bagel with chocolate spread, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
- Sesame bagel with bell pepper cream cheese, radishes, avocado and homemade everything bagel seasoning
- Plain bagel with plain cream cheese, smoked salmon, cucumber, kiwi and red onion
- Sesame bagel with pesto cream cheese, scrambled eggs, tomato and dill
Enjoy! Love, Ellen
Looking for more brunch ideas? I’ve got you! Browse the Lunch Recipes and Breakfast Recipes pages for plenty of inspiration.
Did you make this bagel board? I’d love to hear how it turned out, so leave a comment below!
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