Forget Bagels – Put Smoked Salmon On This Crunchy Classic For A Better Breakfast

Science tells us there's an optimum time to eat breakfast, and starting the day with a healthy dose of protein is practically always a good thing. Lots of people opt for a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon, and if that's your bag, you might think there's no way to top it ... but you'd be wrong. Ditch the bagel (and avoid a potential surprisingly common knife injury) and use a hash brown as your early morning carbohydrate delivery device instead. It's not as heavy as the bread, has delightfully crisp edges, and the warm hash brown turns the cream cheese into an ooey-gooey treat. Meanwhile, the smoked salmon brings everything together in a delicious, bougie bite.

Nutritionally, it's a decent breakfast, too, as a 38-gram hash brown has a similar profile to a 39-gram whole grain bagel. Though there's some variation by type and brand, both typically contain about the same amount of salt. While a bagel spanks the potato for calcium (35.5 milligrams compared to a paltry 5.3 milligrams, respectively), there's over three times the potassium in a hash brown, at 217 milligrams. By contrast, the bagel has just 69 milligrams.

What is different is the texture. The crispy, crunchy hash brown takes this breakfast to another level. It's convenient, too, because you can just grab a handful from the freezer. If you cook your hash browns in the air fryer, they're almost as fast as prepping a bagel. If you're like us and McDonald's is your go-to for these potato-based treats, the good news keeps on comin': Your local Aldi is home to the closest dupe, according to Mike Haracz, a former corporate chef for the fast food giant.

Just as there are lots of bagel types out there, you can also play around with your hash browns by making or modifying your own. The choice of potato is crucial to a crispy hash brown — you don't want one that's watery because you'll end up with a pan of gloop. Firm russet potatoes with a dry skin are the top choice, as they're full of starch and not much moisture (though you'll still need to give them a good squeeze with a cloth after grating).

Pan-fry them in olive oil or butter, though beef tallow will give you a more fast food taste, and you can add any herbs or spices to give your breakfast more zing. We recommend a touch of grated horseradish! While all that's good foodie fun, don't be tempted to mess around with your hash browns after they hit the hot pan. Give them a few minutes before you even think about flipping; your nose will tell you if the potatoes are starting to burn.

When they're done, slather on the cream cheese and a generous fold of smoked salmon or mix it up a little more. Add a smear of wholegrain mustard for more depth of flavor, or swap out the salmon for mild, sweet smoked trout, which has almost as much omega-3. Where your hash brown goes in this breakfast combo doesn't really matter, either. It makes a delicious crust for your fish, or you can fill a skillet and feed the fam. All one has to do is stick in a fork and enjoy!