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This loaded bagel with sardines starts with a thick swipe of whipped cream cheese, then gets topped with peppery radishes, crisp cucumbers, and tangy red onion. A satisfying high-protein way to start the day.
This post is sponsored by King Oscar | Opinions are my own.
I’ve always loved a classic lox bagel, but swapping in sardines felt like a fun twist—and the results were great. This loaded bagel has that slightly bougie feel, delivers a solid hit of omega-3s, and works just as well for breakfast or lunch as it does for that in-between moment when you’re suddenly starving. Bonus: it looks good enough to serve to guests.
Want more canned sardine recipes? You’ll love sardines and eggs, this sardine salad sandwich, and of course, this lemon pepper pasta with sardines.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- High in protein and omega-3s
- Big on flavor with minimal effort
- A fun new way to enjoy sardines for breakfast
Ingredient Overview
A quick look at the essentials before we dive into the recipe card:
- Sardines: I used King Oscar’s sardines packed in white wine vinegar and capers. They were awesome for this bagel. If you can’t find that variety, sardines packed in extra-virgin olive oil are perfectly fine.
- Capers: For extra briny goodness.
- Veggies: Thinly sliced radishes, cucumbers, and red onion bring a crisp freshness to every bite.
- Whipped cream cheese: Adds a lighter feel, but regular cream cheese is just as good.
Substitutions & Variations
- Pickled Veggies: For even extra tang, use quick-pickled radishes, refrigerator pickles, or a variety of quick-pickled vegetables.
- Flavored Cream Cheese: Herb-and-garlic or onion-and-chive cream cheese would be great with this recipe.
Recipe Tip
I recommend using a mandoline to thinly slice the radishes, cucumbers, and onions.
Notes About King Oscar’s Brisling Sardines
- Hand-packed in extra-virgin olive oil, floral white wine vinegar, and plump caper berries
- Authentically wood-smoked
- Wild-caught in Norway’s fjords and coastal waters
Brunch Bagel with Sardines
Ingredients
- 1 Everything bagels, or plain bagels
- 2 TBSP whipped cream cheese
- 1 tin of King Oscar Brisling Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil, White Wine Vinegar, and Capers, Use the capers from the tin to top your bagel
- Shaved red onion, Shave red onion by slicing it on the thinnest setting on a mandolin
- 1 thinly sliced cucumber, I like using mini cucumbers
- 1 thinly sliced radish
- 1 TBSP freshly chopped dill
- Lemon wedge, for serving
Instructions
- Toast your bagel to your preferred level of toastiness.
- Spread a generous amount of whipped cream cheese over each bagel half, then top them with the cucumbers, radishes, red onion, sardines, and the capers from the tin with the King Oscar sardines.
- Garnishe the bagels with some chopped fresh dill and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Nutrition
More Tasty Sardine Recipes to Try
Fish and Seafood
Lemon Pepper Pasta with Sardines
Appetizers
Sardine Toasts With Goat Cheese
Appetizers
Sardine-Stuffed Mini Peppers
Fish and Seafood
Delicious 😋