Stunning Smoked Salmon Bagel Board for Mother’s Day Brunch
A bagel board takes the classic lox and bagel combo and turns it into an elegant spread that feeds a crowd. Instead of making individual bagels, you arrange everything on a large board so guests can build their own combinations.
It’s ideal for Mother’s Day brunch because it looks impressive but requires zero cooking skills. Just good shopping and smart arranging.
Choosing Quality Smoked Salmon That Won’t Break the Bank
You don’t need the most expensive smoked salmon for a great bagel board, but avoid the ultra-thin pre-sliced packages from the grocery store deli. Look for thicker-cut salmon from the refrigerated seafood section or a good deli counter.
Cold-smoked salmon (often labeled as lox or Nova) has the traditional silky texture most people expect. Hot-smoked salmon works too and costs less, but it flakes more and has a different texture. Plan for about 2-3 ounces per person.
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Board Assembly Strategy for Best Results
Start with your largest items first – bagels, salmon, and cream cheese containers. This gives you a framework to build around. Place small bowls for capers and onions before adding them, so the juices don’t run all over your board.
Slice bagels right before serving, not hours ahead. They’ll stay fresher and won’t dry out. Keep cream cheese at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving so it spreads easily without tearing the bagels.
Stunning Smoked Salmon Bagel Board for Mother’s Day Brunch
Ingredients
Vegetables
Condiments
Garnish
Equipment Needed
- Large wooden cutting board or serving platter (18×24 inches minimum)
- Small serving bowls for capers and onions
- Cheese knives or small spreading knives
- Serving spoons and tongs
Instructions
- Soften cream cheese: Remove cream cheese from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to soften for easy spreading.
- Prep vegetables: Slice cucumber into thin rounds, cut tomatoes into 1/4-inch thick slices, and slice red onion as thinly as possible. Pat tomato slices dry with paper towels.
- Arrange bagels: Slice bagels in half horizontally. Arrange bagel halves around the edges and corners of your large board, cut-side up.
- Add main components: Place both cream cheese containers on the board with small knives for spreading. Arrange smoked salmon slices in loose, overlapping layers in 2-3 sections of the board.
- Add vegetables and garnish: Fill small bowls with capers and sliced red onions, then place on board. Fan out cucumber and tomato slices in remaining spaces.
- Final garnish and serve: Tuck fresh dill sprigs around the salmon and vegetables. Add lemon wedges and small piles of mixed greens to fill any gaps. Serve immediately while bagels are fresh and cream cheese is spreadable.
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving (1 serving)
