Open bagels spread with cream cheese and topped with sliced strawberries and lemon curd

SWEET THINGS

Strawberry and Lemon Curd Bagels with Cream Cheese

Toasted bagels with cream cheese, strawberries and bright lemon curd.

EASY

5 MINS

SERVES 2

ABOUT THE RECIPE

My sister-in-law once made me a version of these, and the combination stuck for good reason. Toasted bagel, cream cheese, strawberries and lemon curd give you creamy, fresh and tangy all at once. Very little effort, very café-brunch behaviour.

THE RECIPE

Ingredients

2 plain bagels, sliced in half

80 g cream cheese, softened

200 g strawberries, thinly sliced

80 g lemon curd

Method

1.

Toast the bagel halves until golden and lightly crisp. Let them cool slightly so they’re warm, but not hot.

2.

Spread the cream cheese evenly over each toasted bagel half.

3.

Arrange the strawberry slices in overlapping layers around the surface of each bagel, creating a pretty circular pattern.

4.

Spoon small dollops of lemon curd over the strawberries.

5.

Serve immediately and enjoy while fresh.

SAMANTHA'S NOTES

Cool the bagel slightly

Use ripe strawberries

Assemble fresh

Let the toasted bagel cool for a minute before spreading the cream cheese. If it is too hot, the cream cheese will melt and lose that creamy texture.

Ripe, sweet strawberries give the best flavour here. If they are slightly tart, the lemon curd will balance them beautifully.

These are best made just before serving, while the bagel is still lightly crisp and the strawberries look fresh. Add the lemon curd last so it stays glossy.

KEEP COOKING