Jason Speed
Have you ever been dying to eat something different, but it feels like you’ve had it all before? Thanks to bagel sandwiches, that’s a problem of the past. Due to the complete lack of restriction, they can be whatever sounds best at the time. When the only limit is your imagination, the flavor possibilities become endless.
Make It Yours
The immediate draw that these provide is freedom in design. A bagel sandwich can be as healthy (or unhealthy) as you want. With that being the case, they’re great at any point of the day, whether it’s first thing in the morning or as a midnight snack. Filling, tasty and portable, these are the perfect go-to for a meal on the go.
Everything Bagel Sandwich
Sometimes you just want a nice, easy breakfast, without all the hassle of cooking. Starting your day off simple, this bagel sandwich is effortless to make and will taste amazing. Thanks to the inclusion of arugula, this meal is packed full of vitamins. What this dish lacks in complexity, it definitely makes up for in flavor.
Ingredients
1 avocado
homemade scallion black pepper cream cheese
a handful of peppery arugula
1 everything bagel
Click here for full recipe and instructions. Try this with a yerba mate tea to start your morning with a healthy caffeine kick and a hearty dose of vitamins. Spring showers are here after all, and nothing alleviates the gloomy weather better than a bagel sandwich and a nice, warm beverage.
Steak and Cheese Bagel Sandwich
Make sure to bring a hearty appetite and two to three friends for this recipe. If you’re looking for a bagel sandwich that’s delicious, hearty, and leaves you satisfied, this is the dish for you. At first glance, this just seems to be a scaled down cheesesteak sandwich, until you notice it has double the meat content. If contemplating eating all that steak and cheese in one sitting somehow didn’t send you into a food coma, don’t worry, the recipe serves four.
Ingredients
4 onion bagels
2 lb. shaved steak
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
8 slices of American cheese or cheese of your choice
Click here for full recipe and instructions. This sandwich seems daunting at first, but it’s a nice break from hearty winter soups. Swap the onion powder for grilled onions (diced) to take this from a 9 to a 10. If it’s too much sandwich, this is great leftover, just reheat in a pan on medium-high heat.
The Universal Dish
When it comes to eating better, it can be hard trying to find healthy foods to replace the unhealthy ones. Since a bagel sandwich is completely customizable, they fit into any diet plan. Everything, from the dough to the toppings, can be changed or swapped out freely. From gluten-free to vegan, these have you covered.
Cauliflower “Bagel” BLT
Now, I’ll admit this is really stretching the definition of a bagel, but what diet “workaround” doesn’t stretch definitions? Despite its dubious classification, this bagel sandwich is so good, you don’t even need to be dieting to enjoy this. Due to the replacement of the traditional bagel with one made of cauliflower, it has a very small carb count, not many calories and zero gluten. Health benefits aside, the texture is great, and the flavor is incredible.
Bagel Recipe
1 small head cauliflower, cut into small florets (should yield 3 cups of cauliflower rice)
3 tablespoons almond flour (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
1 tablespoon coconut flour (I used Nutiva)
2 free-range organic eggs at room temperature
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of ground black pepper
Poppy seeds, sesame seeds, minced garlic or minced onion for topping
Toppings
8 slices organic uncured thick cut bacon
1 large ripe tomato, sliced
4 leaves crispy leaf lettuce
4 tablespoons mayo (make your own paleo mayo with this recipe)
Click here for full recipe and instructions. Try this with avocado and black pepper, for some healthy fats and extra flavor. Not many healthy imitation meals live up to the original, but this one sure does. This makes four servings, so share with your friends and watch their apprehension turn to amazement after just one bite.
Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Bagel
Are you craving a sweet treat after a long day? A bagel sandwich can easily be made into a luscious dessert that is sure to satisfy. The amazing flavors in this make it hard to break away, but it’ll get eaten so quickly it won’t matter much. Other than the vitamin C and antioxidants provided by the blueberries, the relatively small size of the dish acts as a great form of portion control.
Ingredients
1 Bagel, sliced in half
1 handful of blueberries
1 tsp caster or granulated sugar
1 tsp water
2 tbsp Mascarpone
1 and 1/2 tbsp good quality lemon curd
Click here for full recipe and instructions. This is a great dessert for when you want to treat yourself, but don’t want the pounds. Try trading the mascarpone with some low-fat Greek yogurt for a much-needed health boost!
Trial And Error Never Tasted So Good
Feel free to use these recipes as a jumping off point, and don’t be afraid to get creative! Experimenting with bagel sandwiches can be both rewarding, and delicious. Bagels can be frozen until they are ready to be used. Bring sandwiches on road trips and keep kids happy and satisfied. Play around with ingredients and use vegetables that are in season. A lunch this versatile should always be part of your on-the-go stash of recipes.