Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Bagel Bar

Ingredients

• 4 everything bagels, halved and toasted
• 8 oz cold-smoked salmon, thinly sliced
• 16 oz full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
• 3 tablespoons sour cream
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, roughly chopped, plus whole sprigs for serving
• 1 small shallot, finely minced
• 2 tablespoons capers, drained
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced into rings
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges
• Flaky sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste

Steps

1. 1

   1. Beat the cream cheese and sour cream together with a hand mixer or stand mixer on medium speed for 3 minutes until light, airy, and billowy in texture.

2. 2

   2. Fold in the lemon juice, lemon zest, minced shallot, and chopped dill, then season generously with flaky salt and cracked black pepper.

3. 3

   3. Transfer the whipped cream cheese to a wide serving bowl, smoothing the top with the back of a spoon and creating a gentle swirl.

4. 4

   4. Toast the bagel halves until golden and crisp at the edges, then arrange them cut-side up on a large wooden serving board.

5. 5

   5. Drape folded slices of smoked salmon across one section of the board and arrange the capers, red onion rings, lemon wedges, and fresh dill sprigs in clusters around the board.

6. 6

   6. Set the bowl of whipped cream cheese at the center of the board with a silver spoon for serving, and bring everything to the table immediately.