Yes, I know that title sounds a little strange.

Well…perhaps more than just a little strange.

Preserved Lemon Beef Bagels ~ that sounds incredibly curious.

The fact of the matter is simple.
Just the other day we were enjoying a fabulous fortune of freshly buttered veggies, a little ground beef, and a generous portion of diced preserved lemons with a touch of fresh basil. Sprinkled with salt and drizzled with a balsamic reduction, it was flavor heaven.
As we chewed, ooed, and aahed, Brian turned to me in between licking his lips and diving in for another forkful, and said, “You should stuff meatballs or something with these lemons. They are amazing.”

Well, these aren’t meatballs, but “done, done, and done!” I say.

Mission accomplished – but even better than meatballs…

The meat was carefully combined with the magnificence of the preserved lemons and then formed into charming little “bagels” for a little fun.

Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do!

Preserved Lemon Beef Bagels

1 1/2 lb. lean ground grass fed beef
3 Tbs. preserved lemons, rinsed and finely chopped
3 Tbs. blue cheese (totally optional)
2 Tbs. fresh basil, thinly sliced
sea salt and pepper
1 Tbs. balsamic reduction
Baby butter lettuce, spinach, cucumber, and/or tomato for stuffing the bagel sammie.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. 
Combine the beef, lemons, cheese (if desired), basil, and salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients together well and form into 2-4 burger patties (depending upon your appetite – 4 means you will have TWO bagel sammies – this is what I would recommend). Once the patties are formed (feel free to use a burger mold for this), remove the center “hole” by punching through with a shot glass. Clean up the now “bagel patty” by smoothing the edges. Roll up the center hole into a well formed ball. This can be popped into your mouth as an appetizer before digging in to the full on sammie later.
On a parchment lined baking sheet, place all (4) bagels and bake 35-40 minutes.
Once cool enough to handle, sandwich your preferred fillings between two bagel sides and drizzle with balsamic.

Truly amazing.