Herby Courgette Arla LactoFREE Cream Cheese Bagel
Does it get more classic than a cream cheese bagel? If you’re someone who finds them uninspiring rather than mouth-watering, this recipe is here to change your mind.
We’ve put a nutritious and tasty twist on this ultimate brunch dish by adding some delicious fillings and serving it with a fresh homemade gazpacho. And the best bit? The entire recipe is lactose-free thanks to our Arla LactoFREE Whipping & Cooking Cream and Arla LactoFREE Soft Cheese
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Instructions
Method
How to make our cream cheese bagel with gazpacho
Whether you’re looking for a healthy lunch option or something that will wow your friends the next time you have them around for brunch, this healthy cream cheese bagel recipe couldn’t be easier to make.
Tip
Lightly grilling them or frying the bagels in a little olive oil (just a drizzle) to give them a toasted texture before you add any fillings.
Tip
Storing any spare bagels in a paper bag at room temperature.
Tip
Soaking stale bagels briefly in water and then baking them in the oven for five minutes. They’ll be as good as new!
Cream cheese bagels frequently asked questions
What goes well with cream cheese in a bagel?
While cream cheese is tasty on its own, why not jazz your bagel up by adding some extra ingredients? Salmon is an obvious choice but not for everyone. Instead, try adding ribbons of grilled courgette like in our recipe. Not only do they add a lovely melt-in-your-mouth texture (just like smoked salmon) but courgette also counts towards your five-a-day!
You could also add slices of avocado, fresh tomatoes, or even a handful of peppery rocket to enhance the overall flavour. Cream cheese also pairs well with thin slices of red onion or shredded carrot. Toss on some extra seasonings, such as fresh herbs, capers, or toasted sesame seeds, and you’ve got the bagel of your dreams.
Is a bagel with cream cheese healthy?
Eating the occasional cream cheese bagel is absolutely fine as long as you’re supporting it with a healthy diet. The other ingredients you add to your bagel will make a difference too. We’ve used courgette as a filling and paired it with a healthy, veg-packed gazpacho.
If you follow our bagel and gazpacho recipe, you’ll also be using 200g of Arla LactoFREE Soft Cheese and 60g of Arla LactoFREE Whipping & Cooking Cream – both of which collectively contain 506 calories. Split between four people, that’s just 126.5 calories per serving.
Should you toast a cream cheese bagel?
If you’re buying your bagels from a bakery or baking your own, you might not need to toast them if they’re still warm and fresh. If they’ve cooled down a lot or come out of a packet, you’ll want to lightly toast them to add some texture.
Ingredients
For the Gazpacho
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Red peppers, deseeded and roughly chopped
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2 |
|---|---|
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Cucumber, roughly chopped
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1 |
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Vine tomatoes, roughly chopped
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600 g |
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Small bunch mint, leaves picked
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|
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Red chilli, deseeded and roughly chopped
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½ |
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Garlic cloves, peeled (optional)
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2 |
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Extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
|
60 ml |
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Sherry vinegar
|
3 tbsp |
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Arla® LactoFREE Whipping and cooking cream
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4 tbsp |
For the bagels
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Courgettes, sliced into ribbons
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3 |
|---|---|
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Olive oil
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1 tbsp |
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Honey
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2 tsp |
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White wine vinegar
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1 tbsp |
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Coriander seeds, toasted and crushed
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1 tbsp |
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Small bunch fresh basil, finely chopped
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|
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Small bunch dill, finely chopped
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|
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Arla® LactoFREE Cream cheese
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200 g |
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Gherkins, finely chopped, plus 2 tbsp of brine
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8 |
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Bagels (can be gluten-free), halved and toasted
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4 |
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Salads leaves
|
80 g |
