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So, caraway is apparently controversial? I know there are those who think the spice doesn’t belong in rye bread and consider it optional for sauerkraut, but I have gone my whole life knowing with absolute certainty that caraway is as mandatory as the sesame and poppy seed — one of the seeds on an everything bagel. Of course it is! Except that nope, it isn’t. Yes, it’s on some (including the first, formative ones I ate, apparently), but it’s considered weird to add caraway.
I have news for you: Caraway isn’t the only oddball begging to go into everything bagel seasoning! Try adding garlic chive seeds (I grow my own 💅), or fried shallots from Asian grocery stores. You could make spooky everything bagel seasoning with black sesame seeds instead of white, black sea salt, black garlic and nigella seeds. You can replace the everything bagel seasoning altogether and use furikake (aka rice shakies) instead! *moshes aggressively*
Make this pasta salad when you need to use up some cherry tomatoes (popping off in everyone’s garden this year!) and cucumbers, and feel free to use your favorite tinned fish instead of smoked salmon. Serves 4
Ingredients
Everything bagel seasoning
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 tablespoon dried garlic flakes
1 tablespoon dried onion flakes (or fried shallots/bawang goreng, crushed up)
1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
1 teaspoon caraway or nigella seed (optional, I guess)
Pasta salad
½ pound bowtie pasta
1 cup diced cucumbers and/or cucamelons
½ medium red onion, minced
Salt and pepper
4 ounces (half a brick) cream cheese, warmed slightly
Splash of milk
1 tablespoon sour cream
4 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning plus extra for garnish
4 ounces smoked salmon
Chopped parsley
A handful of cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)
Instructions
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package, then drain, reserving a cup of the hot pasta cooking liquid.
In a large mixing bowl, season the cucumbers, onions and cherry tomatoes with a few pinches of salt and pepper. Set aside.
In another bowl, whip the softened cream cheese with the splash of milk and sour cream until it’s smooth and creamy, then mix in everything seasoning until evenly blended. Flake the smoked salmon into the cream cheese mixture, then add the cooked pasta. Fold the ingredients until thoroughly combined, adding a splash of pasta cooking liquid as needed to help the sauce come together and coat the noodles.
Taste, add salt and pepper if you think it needs it, then sprinkle on the parsley, the cherry tomatoes and more everything seasoning. Serve at room temperature or chilled.