Roast Beef, Blue Cheese and Caramelised Onion Bagels

bluemoon downunder's Note:

Adapted from a recipe in the pre-Christmas issue of the Australian magazine 'New Idea' which contained several recipes which make good use of Christmas day leftovers. This recipe could, of course, be made at any time of year when you have left over roast beef. At other times, you could always buy sliced roast beef at your local deli. You can either halve your bagels and toast the halves, or simply warm them in the oven. Whichever you prefer. :) And if you know you like lots of mayonnaise or dressing on burgers or bagels, consider increasing the quantities of the cheese and the mayonnaise. The other recipes posted from this collection are Roast Potato Tortilla, Char Siu Pork Pancakes and Ham, Cheese and Mushroom Quiche.

• Total Time: 25 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 6.0 Roast B ...

• 200 g leftover roast beef
• 120 g firm blue cheese
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 6 bagels
• 6 butter lettuce leaves or 2 dozen baby spinach leaves
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• sea salt, to taste, sprinkled on the tomato (optional)
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste, sprinkled on the tomato (optional)
• fresh basil leaf, to sprinkle on the tomato (optional)

Caramelised Onions

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 red onions, thinly sliced
• 2 -4 garlic cloves, crushed, to taste (optional)
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• sea salt, to taste
• fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. Making the Caramelised Onions: Heat the oil in a large, preferably non-stick, pan; add the onions (and garlic if you are including garlic) and cook, stirring, over a low to medium heat, until they have softened; add the brown sugar and continue stirring until the sugar has dissolved; season with salt and pepper, to taste.
2. Remove from the heat and stir the shredded beef in with the onions (and garlic); and cover to keep warm.
3. Cut the rind from the cheese, coarsely chop the cheese; place in a blender, add the mayonnaise and blend until smooth; add the salt and pepper.
4. Using a serrated edge knife, halve the bagels, place them on an oven tray and grill them on each side until they are toasted.
5. Assembling the Bagels: Spread the cheese mixture over the cut sides of the bagels and to the bottom half of the bagels add the lettuce or baby spinach leaves, the tomato slices (and a sprinkling of salt, pepper and basil if using) and the beef and onions, finishing with the top of the bagel. If you have any of the cheese mixture left, add it on top of the beef and onions before placing the bagel top back in place.

Reviews

[seesko]

Very yummy lunch today. I made this on english muffins because I was out of bagels. It turned out great. Followed the recipe exactly except for the english muffin. My husband really enjoyed these and has asked to have them again soon. Thanks blue.

[appleydapply]

A wonderful lunch. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I used baby spinach, deli roast beef, and gorgonzola cheese. I mashed my cheese & mayo with a fork instead of using the blender. I decided I wanted a bit more to spread around, so I added a couple of TB of softened cream cheese, too. It was all delicious and I only regret that my fresh basil is gone for the season; next time I try this I hope to top with fresh basil! (I made a chiffonade of some spinach to sprinkle on top and pretend it was basil, but it just wasn't the same). Even my kids liked this so we were all happy.

[Noo]

This was a real treat for lunch today.Instead of bagels (you can't get a decent one here!) I used my Poppy and Sesame Seed Rolls -Bread Machine#348192,and lightly toasted them.Instead of whizzing my cheese in the processor,I put it into the microwave for 10 seconds to soften it,and then mashed it and mixed it with the mayo (less washing up!). The whole thing was just delicious..soft sweet onions,the richness of the Stilton all married together with the beef so beautifully. Another triumph BlueMoon..many thanks. Made for 1-2-3 Hits.