Brunch Baby
Truth be told, all moms really want on Mother’s Day is peace and quiet and a big platter of food she doesn’t have to make. End of story. And this bagel bar brunch is the perfect way to make her happy and make it easy on you. With the ultimate egg & grilled avocado bagel recipe below, you can’t go wrong. Simple, delicious, gooey. Pairs well with peace and quiet.
Bagel Bar
So, what exactly is a bagel bar? For you dads out there that may be trying to wing this all that means is a platter of ingredients she’d love on a bagel so she can mix it up and make a variety of bagel sandwiches and extra snacks to munch on throughout the day. My ideal bagel bar includes candied bacon, lox, arugula, capers, herb cream cheese, grilled avocado, bagels (of course), egg, crunchy garlic in chili oil, and fresh strawberries. If you want to really go all out or mix it up here are few more ideas:
- Brie cheese & cubed cheddar cheese
- Pesto
- Dried fruit
- Nuts (Pistachios, Marcona almonds)
- Chocolate or chocolate covered nuts
- Sliced turkey
- Sliced heirloom tomatoes
- Grilled peppers
Cream Cheese Amped Up
Of course, every bagel bar needs this amped up cream cheese that takes literally five minutes to make. So simple. The differences between this homemade version and the store bought is night and day will definitely earn you some serious points. You start with a plain cream cheese that is softened for a bit at room temperature to make the mixing part a little easier.
To that you add in diced shallots, fresh chives, fresh basil, lots of lemon zest and the season with salt and pepper. That’s it. But just like with the bagel bar itself you can change it up to what she likes best. In case your special someone is more of a sweet or spicy person here are more ideas variation of cream cheese:
- Honey, Basil & Lemon Zest
- Strawberry, Basil & Lemon Zest
- Jalapeno & Chive
- Cinnamon & Sugar (Powdered Sugar)
- Sundried Tomato & Roasted Garlic
Grill Me up Some Avocado
Creamy avocado adds a nice touch to any bagel sandwich. It’s that bit of healthy to counterbalance to all the decadence we have going on. And, to make it even better, try grilling your avocado first. Why grill it? Grilling brings a smokey, charred flavor to the avocado and, frankly, just looks cool. Because you rub the avocado first with lemon juice you don’t need to worry so much about it browning. Once you slice it give all the slices a drizzle of lemon juice as well. Layer it right on the bagel or serve on the platter for extras later. Grilled avocado also makes a great base for guacamole dip.
Eggs Poached or Over Easy
Over Easy
Pro tip. If you are making eggs over easy you want to cook them in a little olive oil and a teaspoon or so of unsalted butter on a low temperature. Season well and flip once for about 30 seconds. The idea is to keep the yoke intact yet still runny. For that I use a non-stick pan like this one. Then you can set the eggs out on a plate and garnish with a little parmesan cheese or fresh basil.
Poached Eggs
If you prefer poached eggs, you can go the freestyle method of simmering water with salt and little vinegar giving it a swirl to create a vortex. Then crack the eggs individually into ramekins and lower into the water. Or you can use a pan like this to make the job easier. I’m about 50/50 on these methods. Sometimes I just like to go for easier, especially when I’m making poached eggs for a larger crowd. Click for product.
Ultimate Bagel Bar Sandwich
So let’s get down to the perfect bagel sandwich. For my money I want that herb cream cheese layered on thick with a grilled avocado, a runny egg and some garlic crunch in chili oil for just a little kick. Oh yeah, and piled on a nice crusty, fresh bagel that’s been lightly toasted. That’s honestly all my dreams come true on a plate. And oh what a perfect bite it is. I saved room to nibble on that candied bacon and strawberries for dessert and may or may not have washed it down with a mimosa or two.
Bagel Bar Brunch Ingredients:
- Variety of fresh bagels
- Shallot & cream cheese (see below)
- Avocado
- Eggs over easy or poached
- Garlic Crunch in chili oil (optional)
- Candied bacon (bacon baked with a sprinkling of brown sugar and cracked pepper)
- Fresh strawberries
- Lox
- Sliced red onions
- Capers
- Arugula
- Orange juice
- Prosecco
Shallot & Herb Cream Cheese Recipe:
Ingredients
- 1 8 oz block cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 shallot bulb, diced
- 1/4 cup chopped basil
- 1/4 cup chopped chives
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- fresh cracked pepper
Method
- In a medium bowl combine the softened cream cheese with the finely diced shallots, basil, and chives. Add in lemon zest, salt and pepper. Mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use. Can be made several days ahead.
Other Ideas for your Bagel Bar Brunch Menu:
In addition, to spice things up on your bagel bar try my spicy aioli made with Calabrian chili’s. It’s fruity and zingy with a building heat that is great on ANY sandwich. Click for recipe.
Spicy Aioli
Apple Brie & Fig Jam Crostini
In addition, if you want to add a little preassembled crostini to your brunch bar, then this one of my absolute favorites. Or you could slice up the toasted bagels and put out the fig jam, brie, sliced apple, and pesto and let her assemble it. Click for recipe.
