Saturday, Sunday, everyday brunch! Let me introduce you to the Italian breakfast bagel.
Easy and quick enough to make before running out the door in the morning (especially if you cook the eggs the night before), this open-faced, hot, cheesy delicacy holds its’ own as a casual brunch whether you are binge watching movies or sipping a Bloody Mary with friends.
Toast a bagel, smear with spicy, pickled peppers, top with your favorite salami, scrambled egg and a final layer of cheese. Heat and eat or serve!
Buon Gusto!
1 Parmesan bagel (you could use plain or onion bagels alternately)
3 eggs
2 TB milk
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
1 TB sliced Mama Lil’s peppers (out of the jar, some of their oil will be there too)
4 thin slices Gusto brand Napoli salami (or salami of your choice)
2 slices Provolone cheese
Rosemary or oregano sprigs for garnish (optional)
I used three eggs but you could easily get away with two. I scramble them without salt or pepper so I can set a little aside for the pups. If you use really good eggs, you won’t even notice the absence but do add a little if you like. I put the pepper on while I am assembling (Tom is a stickler for pepper on his eggs, but errs on the side of not adding salt).
You could switch up the peppers for sun-dried tomatoes or plain, roasted red bell peppers if you don’t need the spice (guess who wants spicy).
Many cheeses work here instead, especially the melting variety. I actually used the extra-thin, pre-sliced white cheddar I can buy at Whole Foods, but provolone seems more Italian. If you use extra thin slices, you can double them up. The benefit to pre-sliced versus other is simply a matter of saving time. Fresh mozzarella would also be delicious, in which case basil is a must.
The salami I used was approximately the same size as the bagel.
I put a sprig of rosemary on top while they were in the oven. The sprig was then removed before eating but the heat imparted a soft flavor of herb without overpowering. You could also sprinkle some chopped, dried oregano or fresh chopped rosemary over the peppers before adding the salami.
I tried one bagel with the salami on bottom and one bagel with a slice of salami on bottom, and a slice of salami under the cheese. I prefer the former for the texture, but the latter showcases more of the meat. You decide which you prefer.
Keywords: Brunch, Breakfast, Italian Bagel, Pizza Bagel