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America's Melting Pot
Bagels with Schmear hero image coming soon
1861-1900 - Eastern European Jewish bakers and New York deli cooks
A deli-style bagel with a thick schmear of plain or scallion cream cheese, with optional onion, capers, tomato, and cucumber.
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Difficulty
Easy
Prep time
10 minutes
Cook time
5 minutes
Total time
15 minutes
Servings
4
Region
New York City and Jewish American delis
Era introduced
1861-1900
Introduced by
Eastern European Jewish bakers and New York deli cooks
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A schmear is more than a thin swipe. In Jewish American deli and appetizing-shop culture, it means a satisfying spread of cream cheese on a chewy bagel, sometimes plain and sometimes flecked with scallions or vegetables. The bagel arrived with Eastern European Jewish immigrants; cream cheese became an American dairy product; New York made the pairing iconic. This entry preserves the everyday deli format apart from the fuller bagel-and-lox sandwich.
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