I’m just a little bit in love with jewish food. I mean, what’s not to love? Chicken soup, bagels, pastrami, latkes, pickles, salt beef- it’s the ultimate comfort food. I must say though that it’s the salt beef and pastrami that really has my heart.  Now i’m not saying that i wouldn’t miss pork, life without pancetta or a herby sausage would be pretty unthinkable for me. However, not being able to eat pork led to a need for cured beef products and the birth of these wonderous things and for that i will be eternally grateful.

It’s also something that’s pretty hard to get hold of in the Bahamas and as a result it’s something i always crave upon my return. Usually this means a trip to my favourite Brass Rail in Selfridges for a well deserved pastrami sandwich (or if i’m really hungry then a classic Rueben- they’re GIANT). I decided to change all this yesterday though, it seems silly that something so easy to make is something i always neglect at home. it also helps that these can be assembled in no more time than it takes to toast the bagel meaning that these are a great lunch when you don’t have the time to be too leisurely about things (or when you’re just too hungry to wait).

Bagels with salt beef and wild rocket – serves 2

• 2 bagels
• 2 handfuls of wild rocket
• 8 cherry tomatoes
• 3 tbsp cream cheese (i went for light Philadelphia)
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• 1 tsp grainy mustard
• 3-4 slices salt beef

Cut each bagel in half and pop them in the toaster, use whichever type of bagel you prefer, i went for multigrain and the boy went for onion. Mix together the cream cheese both types of mustard and some black pepper, you don’t need any salt as the beef is salty enough. Finely slice the cherry tomatoes and wash the rocket. Once the bagels are toasted, smear the cream cheese thickly over half of each bagel and top with the sliced cherry tomato.

Then add 1.5-2 slices of salt beef and top with the rocket. Put the top of the bagel on and cut in half. Obviously you don’t have to do this but i would imagine it would be quite a challenge to eat whole!