Cheesy Ham and Egg Bagel

A filling and delicious bagel packed with a fried egg, cooked ham and fresh spring onions. It is topped with grated cheddar and grilled until the cheese melts into a golden, savoury topping. Finish with brown sauce, ketchup, mustard, or your favourite combination for a quick breakfast, lunch or snack.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings Bagels

Ingredients

To Serve

Instructions

Slice the bagels in half horizontally and set them aside.
2 large bagels
Trim the spring onions and slice them thinly. Keep a little of the green part aside if you want to use it as a fresh garnish.
Heat the butter or oil in a frying pan over a medium heat.
1 tbsp butter
Crack the eggs into the pan and fry until the whites have set. Cook the yolks to your preferred consistency. Season lightly with salt and black pepper.
2 large eggs, salt, freshly ground black pepper
While the eggs cook, place the ham in the pan for a minute or two to warm through. You can also fold or lightly brown the ham if you prefer a little extra texture.
4 slices cooked ham
Toast the cut sides of the bagels until lightly crisp. Do not over-toast them, as they will go under the grill shortly.
Place the bottom halves of the bagels onto a baking tray. Add the cooked ham, followed by the fried egg.
Scatter the sliced spring onions generously over the egg and ham.
2 medium spring onions
Add the top half of each bagel and then cover the tops with the grated cheddar. Press the cheese down gently so it stays in place.
75 g mature cheddar cheese
Place the bagels under a hot grill. Grill for several minutes until the cheddar has completely melted and started to turn golden in places.
Keep a close eye on the cheese because it can go from melted to over-browned very quickly.
Remove the bagels from the grill and allow them to stand for a minute before serving.
Serve hot with brown sauce, tomato ketchup, mustard, or a mixture of your favourites. For an extra fresh finish, scatter over a little of the reserved spring onion.
Brown sauce, Tomato ketchup, English mustard

Equipment

Notes

Serving Ideas:

This bagel works brilliantly at any time of day. For breakfast, serve it with a mug of coffee or tea. At lunchtime, add a simple salad or some crispy potatoes on the side.

For a more indulgent version, try using mature cheddar. You could also experiment with different cheeses, such as Red Leicester, smoked cheddar or a little Gruyère.

The sauces are another easy way to change the flavour. Brown sauce gives the bagel a sweet and savoury finish, while ketchup adds a familiar tomato sweetness. Mustard provides a sharper bite that works especially well with the ham and melted cheese.

For a little extra heat, add a few drops of hot sauce before grilling.

Tips:

Keep the bagel slightly crisp rather than heavily toasted. The melted cheddar will soften the top, while the toasted edges provide just enough texture. If you like a softer yolk, cook the egg just until the white has set, then let the yolk mingle with the melted cheese when you take your first bite.

Nutrition