1. Preparation
Gather all the ingredients: bagels, cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, red onion, and fresh dill.
Slice the bagel in half horizontally using a serrated knife.
Finely slice the red onion into thin rings.
Rinse the capers under cold water to remove excess brine and set aside.
Chop fresh dill if using fresh, otherwise prepare the dried dill.
2. Assembly
Spread a generous layer of cream cheese on each half of the toasted bagel.
Layer the smoked salmon evenly over the cream cheese on both halves.
Add a few capers on top of the smoked salmon for an extra burst of flavor.
Distribute the sliced red onion evenly on the salmon.
Sprinkle chopped fresh dill or dried dill over the top for garnish.
3. Serving
Serve the bagel halves on a plate.
Optionally, garnish with additional dill or a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness.
Enjoy immediately while the bagel is fresh and the cream cheese is cool and creamy.