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Restaurants›Wise Sons Jewish Deli 24th Street›Build Your Own Recipe

Build Your Own Recipe

Name: Wise Sons Jewish Deli 24th Streets Build Your Own Recipe
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 each Plain bagels; 4 each Sesame bagels; 4 each Everything bagels; 4 each Whole wheat or multigrain bagels; 2 cups Plain cream cheese; 2 cups Veggie cream cheese (finely chopped veggies mixed into cream cheese); 1 cup Scallion cream cheese; 8 oz Smoked salmon (lox); 2 cups Smashed ripe avocados; 1 cup Unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup Strawberry preserves; 1 cup Almond butter; 2 cups Vegan tofu shmear (silken tofu blended with lemon & seasonings); 1 cup Finely chopped mixed vegetables for veggie shmear (red pepper, cucumber, carrot); 1 cup Finely chopped scallions (green onions); 2 tbs Fresh lemon juice; 2 tbs Extra-virgin olive oil; 2 tsp Salt; 1 tsp Black pepper; 3 tbsp Capers (optional, for smoked salmon); 0.5 cup Thinly sliced red onion (optional); 2 cups Sliced tomato; 1 cup Cucumber slices; 2 tbsp Fresh dill; 1 tsp Freshly ground black pepper; 2 tbsp Toasted sesame seeds or everything seasoning (optional)

Inspired by Wise Sons Jewish Deli 24th Street

Time45m

Serves12

Assorted bagels with assorted shmears; plain, veggie, scallion, smoked salmon, smashed avocado, butter, strawberry preserves, almond butter, or vegan tofu shmear.

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Ingredients

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Bagels

4 each Plain bagels

4 each Sesame bagels

4 each Everything bagels

4 each Whole wheat or multigrain bagels

Shmears & Spreads

2 cups Plain cream cheese

2 cups Veggie cream cheese (finely chopped veggies mixed into cream cheese)

1 cup Scallion cream cheese

8 oz Smoked salmon (lox)

2 cups Smashed ripe avocados

1 cup Unsalted butter, softened

1 cup Strawberry preserves

1 cup Almond butter

2 cups Vegan tofu shmear (silken tofu blended with lemon & seasonings)

Shmear & Topping Seasonings / Mix-ins

1 cup Finely chopped mixed vegetables for veggie shmear (red pepper, cucumber, carrot)

1 cup Finely chopped scallions (green onions)

2 tbs Fresh lemon juice

2 tbs Extra-virgin olive oil

2 tsp Celtic sea salt

1 tsp black pepper

3 tbsp Capers (optional, for smoked salmon)

1/2 cup Thinly sliced red onion (optional)

Garnishes & Extras

2 cups Sliced tomato

1 cup Cucumber slices

2 tbsp Fresh dill

1 tsp Freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp Toasted sesame seeds or everything seasoning (optional)

Method

Bagels

Slice and toast

Slice each bagel in half horizontally. Toast to personal preference in a toaster or under a broiler until lightly golden and edges are crisp, about 2–4 minutes depending on appliance.

Keep toasted bagels warm by placing on a plate covered loosely with foil if not serving immediately.

Shmears & Spreads

Prepare plain cream cheese

Soften cream cheese to room temperature so it is easy to spread. Transfer to a bowl and whisk briefly until smooth, about 30 seconds.

Make veggie cream cheese

Fold the finely chopped mixed vegetables into 2 cups of softened cream cheese. Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper, mix until evenly distributed. Chill until ready to serve.

Make scallion cream cheese

Combine 1 cup softened cream cheese with the finely chopped scallions, 1/2 tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt and a pinch of black pepper. Stir until smooth and refrigerate.

Prepare smashed avocado

Halve and pit ripe avocados, scoop flesh into a bowl and mash with a fork until slightly chunky. Stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper and 1 tsp olive oil. Adjust seasoning to taste. Keep covered with plastic wrap directly on the surface to avoid browning.

Vegan tofu shmear

Drain silken tofu and add to a blender or food processor with 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Blend until smooth and spreadable. Taste and adjust lemon or salt.

Smoked salmon

Arrange smoked salmon slices on a plate. If desired, tuck small bowls of capers and thinly sliced red onion nearby for guests to add.

Butter and sweet spreads

Place softened butter, strawberry preserves and almond butter in serving bowls with small spreaders. If almond butter is thick, stir in 1–2 tsp warm water to loosen to a spreadable consistency.

Assembly & Serving

Set up the bagel bar: arrange toasted bagel halves, bowls of each shmear/spread, smoked salmon, garnishes (tomato slices, cucumber, red onion, capers, dill), and seasonings (salt, pepper, sesame/everything seasoning) on a long table or counter for self-service.

Suggested builds: Plain shmear with smoked salmon, capers and red onion; veggie shmear with cucumber and tomato; scallion shmear with smoked salmon and dill; smashed avocado with tomato and black pepper; butter and strawberry preserves on toasted bagel for a sweet option; almond butter with strawberry preserves for a nutty-sweet combo; tofu shmear with cucumber and dill for a vegan option.

Label each bowl so guests know which spread is which (e.g., 'Scallion Cream Cheese', 'Vegan Tofu Shmear'). Provide separate spreaders/knives for each spread to avoid cross-contamination.

Replenish items as needed and discard any perishable spreads left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.