Ingredients

• 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)
• 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

Instructions

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.