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Harissa Honey Bagel Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes

A Jewish twist on the viral Sriracha Honey Bagel.

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A crunchy bagel, baked to a crisp exterior, slathered with spicy harissa, drizzled with honey and then coated with a thick, rich layer of cream cheese… What could be more Jewish than this morsel of sweet and spicy food?

The inspiration for this simple snack comes from the viral TikTok Sriracha Honey Bagel recipe. At face value, the combination of Sriracha sauce, saccharine honey and lush cream cheese sounds simple, and perhaps even off putting. Yet nearly 12 billion views can’t be wrong, and we just had to try this combination for ourselves - but with a Middle Eastern spin.

First, the bagel. From New York to Montreal, the Jewish origins of the bagel cannot be disputed. New York Style bagels are bigger, fatter and owe their origins to the Jewish Eastern European migrants of 19th century Manhattan. Montreal-style bagels are much skinnier and crisper.

And if you were lucky enough to get food inside the Jerusalem central bus station, then you have undoubtedly also witnessed the marvel that is the Bagel Toast - a giant, doughy, oval bun with a hole in the middle whose only resemblance to a bagel is in name only.

Whatever bagel you choose as the base for your Harissa Honey Bagel, it’s hard to go wrong (or get far from Jewish history). In fact, even a stale, day-old bagel would work here!

Next, harissa. The Middle Eastern granddaddy of hot sauces is a North African staple whose exact recipe varies by country and even region. It’s made out of pounded or blended hot peppers, garlic, salt, and lots of olive oil. From there, there is no end to the customization, as some recipes use rose petals, caraway seeds or even fresh mint added to this complex spread.

Harissa is paramount to many Moroccan, Libyan and Tunisian Jewish recipes, from harissa chicken to crispy-fried tuna and egg sandwiches. And it’s the perfect counterpart to honey in our Jewish take on Sriracha Honey Bagel.

Finally, cream cheese may not seem Jewish upon first glance, but trust me, it might as well come with a Yiddish accent for all its Jewish progeny. This American invention was adopted as a replacement to the fresh pot cheese of the old world and became the star in blintzes, cheese crowns or the famous Jewish-American innovation, the New York style cheesecake.

Did you know that the Jewish philosopher Maimonides recommended eating up until being 2/3rds full? He would never have recommended that you clean your plate like your grandmother did. Get more Jewish food thoughts here. 

Cream cheese joins harissa and honey in our Jewish TikTok bagel recipe to produce a delectable mouthful with a very Hebraic feel.

But don’t take our word for it. Follow our recipe for Harissa Honey Bagel and discover your new favorite Jew-ish snack!

Ingredients

Servings 1 Serving
  • 1 bagel
  • 1 tablespoon harissa
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese
Instructions

Nutritional Facts

Nutrition Facts
Harissa Honey Bagel
Amount per Serving
Calories
519
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
17
g
26
%
Saturated Fat
 
9
g
56
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Cholesterol
 
44
mg
15
%
Sodium
 
899
mg
39
%
Potassium
 
230
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
79
g
26
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
21
g
23
%
Protein
 
14
g
28
%
Vitamin A
 
686
IU
14
%
Vitamin C
 
3
mg
4
%
Calcium
 
65
mg
7
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 204°C/400°F, or set the Broil function. Line a tray with baking paper.
  • Slice the bagel in half.
  • Spread harissa on both halves of the bagel. Follow it with a generous drizzle of honey. Spread with a butter knife or the back of a spoon.
  • Bake for 5 minutes, or until the bagel halves have browned around the edges and the topping has dried slightly.
  • Slather with cream cheese.
  • Enjoy!

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