I thought I’d seen it all, when it came to Tex Mex Breakfast mashups. But now, Einstein Bros. Bagels has come up with something they call the Bagelrito, stretching the concept envelope even further. And I think I like their idea even more than my own ‘Monster Burrito’ treatment…
The (revolutionary?) Bagelrito: Will this Bagel – Burrito mashup
change your Breakfast dining habits forever?
First, we saw the Breakfast Taco, a regular Taco Shell filled with Scrambled Eggs, Sausage Crumbles, Bell Peppers and Chilis, then topped with Cheese and Salsa. I fell in love immediately. It was like a classic Tex Mex Breakfast Plate you could just pick up and take with you.
Then, the Breakfast Burrito emerged, bigger and fatter and potentially even more convenient than the BT, and capable of accommodating a greater range of fillings and toppings.
Since then, both Tacos and Burritos have insinuated themselves into just about every conceivable meal menu, in every cuisine from Italian to Indian, and the variations just keep on coming.
Something truly different
But now, longing for a dish more closely allied with their own core menu, Einstein Bros. Bagels has come up with that it calls the Bagelrito – everything you ever wanted in a Breakfast Taco or Burrito, but rolled in a sheet of Asiago Bagel Dough and baked.
According to a recent story in QSR Magazine, their version is, “loaded with two cage-free Eggs, thick-cut Bacon, Turkey Sausage, three Cheeses, Hash Browns, Salsa and Green chilies.”
“As the ‘King of Bagels’, we are constantly pushing the envelope and testing boundaries when it comes to menu innovation to meet guest expectations, and we’ve found the Bagelrito to be the best of both bagel and burrito worlds,” Chad Thompson, Chief Baker and VP of Menu Innovation at Einstein Bros. Bagels, told QSR. “The Bagelrito is portable and hearty enough to fill you up. It’s the first breakfast item to truly disrupt the category, rivaling the classic Breakfast Burrito and I can’t wait for everyone to try it.”
My take
Now, the nearest Einstein Bros. Bagels location to me is several hours’ drive away, in Plattsburgh, NY. But I couldn’t get one there, even if I was willing to make the trip just for that. The Bagelrito is still in market testing, available only at several Colorado locations close to the company’s Lakewood headquarters.
So… I’m going to try to replicate the Bagelrito in my own kitchen. I may not use actual Bagel Dough because it takes ages to make proper Bagel Dough, and you have to pay special attention to time and temperature during several steps. But I’ll try my old, faithful Pizza Crust dough in the experiment and see how things turn out. I’m planing to mix some grated Parmesan and finely-chopped Jalapenos into the dough, to boost the Tex Mex character of the dish and add a little touch of my own. And I’ll put some grated Cheddar, Jack or Mozzarella Cheese on top before baking and let ‘er rip.
A couple of notes, if you’re planning to try this yourself:
First, although we’re baking this creation in the oven, we want all critical stuffing ingredients to be pre-cooked, if they haven’t been cooked already. That means all raw meats and, of course, the Eggs, which you can prepare in any style you like (though scrambled is traditional).
Second, stuff and dress the Bagelrito any way you want, according to your taste. Remember what I said about stuffing Monster Breakfast Burritos: Anything goes!
~ Maggie J.