Vegan Smoked Salmon & Herbed Cream Cheese Bagel
You’ll never believe this smoked salmon & herbed cream cheese bagel is 100% vegan. This carrot lox beautifully mimics the texture and appearance of smoked salmon; nori flakes add a gentle sea flavor, caper brine brings a salty, fishy taste, and the herbed cream cheese brings that signature creamy texture. Your first bite will transport you to lox bagel heaven. Whether you’re planning a weekend brunch with friends, a summer picnic, or need a protein-packed breakfast to start your day, this vegan smoked salmon bagel is the perfect choice.
Protein Packed Vegan Recipes
Why You’ll Love This Vegan Smoked Salmon Recipe
Great for Brunch – Always stumped about what to make for brunch? This Vegan Smoked Salmon will be the star of your weekend brunch spread, impressing everyone with its high protein content that everyone wants for their mid-day meal. And you bet no one will miss meat or dairy.
Veggie Packed Seafood Alternative – Crunchy, juicy, and highly nutritious, carrots are also an excellent source of fiber, vitamin K1, antioxidants, and protein. The seasoned-to-perfection “carrot lox” in this recipe provides a satisfying texture and flavor reminiscent of smoked salmon, making it suitable for a protein-packed snack or sandwich that’s so close to the real thing.
Creamy Dairy Free Cream Cheese – Made from tofu and raw cashews, herbed cream cheese is the real game-changer. Tofu adds a creamy texture, while cashews provide healthy fats and protein. This dairy-free alternative tastes as good as store-bought, offering a savory base that beautifully complements the “carrot lox”.
Versatile – One of the most impressive things about this vegan smoked salmon recipe is its versatility. If you’re not a fan of bagels, don’t worry! You can enjoy it over crackers for a quick snack, toss it into salads to add flavor, incorporate it into soups or pasta dishes, or even enjoy it over rice for a satisfying meal.
Dairy-Free—This recipe is entirely dairy-free, making it suitable for vegans and those with lactose intolerance or dairy allergies. Thanks to tofu and cashews instead of traditional cream cheese, you can enjoy a creamy and flavorful spread without animal products.
How to Make Vegan Smoked Salmon
Prepare the Carrot Lox
Ribbon the carrots as thinly as possible using a vegetable peeler or mandoline slicer. Combine olive oil, sesame oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, miso paste, maple syrup, nori flakes, caper brine, and lemon juice in a bowl. Toss carrot strips in the marinade until fully coated.
Allow the carrots to marinate for at least 10 minutes. Transfer the carrots and marinade onto a baking tray and bake for 8-10 minutes until tender.
Make the Herbed Cream Cheese
Combine extra firm tofu, raw cashews, garlic, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, dill, oregano, fresh chives, and salt, and blend until smooth. Add plant milk if needed to achieve a creamy consistency.
Assemble the Bagel
Toast the whole wheat bagels. Spread a generous layer of herbed cream cheese on each half. Top with carrot lox and garnish with fresh dill and capers. Squeeze a bit of lemon juice over the top.
Recipe Tips for Vegan Smoked Salmon
Thinly Slice the Carrots – For the smoothest texture and flavor, use a vegetable peeler or mandoline slicer to ribbon the carrots as thinly as possible. Thinner ribbons absorb the marinade better and cook more evenly, producing a tender and “lox-like” consistency.
Marinate the Carrots – Allow the ribboned carrots to marinate in the seasoning blend for at least 10 minutes before baking. This will infuse the carrots with flavor and help them develop a rich, smoky taste reminiscent of smoked salmon.
Adjust Cream Cheese Consistency – When blending the herbed cream cheese ingredients, adjust the plant milk needed to achieve your desired consistency. Add a small amount until the cream cheese is smooth and spreadable.
Make Ahead – To save time, prepare the carrot lox and herbed cream cheese in advance and store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This makes assembling bagels quick and convenient for busy mornings.
Make it Soy-free – To make this recipe soy free, make a cashew based cream cheese or your favourite store bought alternative.
More Vegan Recipes You’ll Love
VIRAL CHOPPED ITALIAN SANDWICH
VEGAN SHAWARMA RECIPE (OSMOW’S COPYCAT)
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Vegan Smoked Salmon & Herbed Cream Cheese Bagel
Ingredients
For the Carrot Lox
- 3 medium-sized carrots
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp miso paste
- 2 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp nori flakes (seaweed blended into flakes)
- 2 tsp caper brine
- Juice of half a lemon
For the Herbed Cream Cheese
- 400 g extra firm tofu no need to press
- ½ cup raw cashews
- 1 clove garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil optional
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dill
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp fresh chives
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1-2 tbsp of plant milk if needed to thin
For Serving
- 2 whole wheat bagels
- Fresh Dill
- Capers
Instructions
- Ribbon your carrots as thinly as possible. This will help them become soft.
- Mix the marinade ingredients in a container, then toss in the ribboned carrots until fully coated. You can let them sit in the marinade or bake immediately, although marinating for at least 10 minutes is best.
- Transfer carrots & marinade onto a baking tray and bake at 350f for 8-10 minutes.
- While that’s cooking, make your high-protein cream cheese. Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Add plant milk if needed to thin.
- Assemble your bagel with your cream cheese, carrot lox, and top with some fresh capers, lemon juice & fresh dill.