Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Bagel Thin — 34g Protein, Under $5.50
There is a version of this that costs fourteen dollars at a brunch spot and feels like an occasion. This version costs under five dollars and fifty cents and takes three minutes to assemble, which in practical terms makes it a significantly better deal. Smoked salmon on a toasted bagel thin with a generous spread of cream cheese, thin red onion, capers, and a squeeze of lemon — every element of the classic combination in the right ratio, with the bagel thin keeping the carbs reasonable and the smoked salmon providing 34 grams of protein before the morning has properly started. The kind of breakfast that makes you feel like you have your life together.
Ingredients
Method
- Toast the bagel thin halves until golden and crisp.
- Spread the cream cheese generously over both halves while still warm.
- Lay the smoked salmon slices over the cream cheese on both halves, folding them slightly so they sit in loose waves rather than flat.
- Arrange the thin red onion slices over the salmon.
- Scatter the capers evenly across both halves.
- Squeeze a little lemon juice over everything.
- Add a generous crack of black pepper.
- Finish with fresh dill sprigs and a dusting of everything bagel seasoning if using.
- Serve immediately while the bagel is still warm and crisp.
Notes
Smoked salmon sold in small packets at most grocery stores is the budget-friendly way to get this ingredient without buying a full side of salmon. Look for it near the deli section or in the refrigerated section — store brands are consistently less expensive and taste identical once layered with cream cheese and capers. Bagel thins provide the same eating experience as a full bagel for roughly half the carbs and less than half the calories, and a pack of six lasts the week.
