For a long time now I’ve been wanting to make some homemade bagels. Done plenty of research and found a recipe that was easy and made delicious bagels.
The process does take some time…but you won’t regret making them and you might become a bagel snob.
I know I am.
Better Bagels
adapted from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe (go to the link if you need see step-by-step pics)
*Makes 8 bagels
INGREDIENTS:
Dough
1 tablespoon instant yeast or active dry yeast
4 cups (17 ounces) bread flour (be sure to fluff your flour before measuring it)
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 cups (12 ounces) warm water
Water Bath
2 quarts water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
Manual/Mixer Method:
To make this dough by hand or in a mixer, combine all of the dough ingredients and knead vigorously, by hand for 10 to 15 minutes, or by machine on medium-low speed for about 10 minutes.
The dough will be stiffer than other soft yeast doughs but will still be pliable and smooth once it has finished kneading. It should be stiff and floured enough not to leave much residue on your fingers after pinching a piece but not so stiff that you can’t easily pinch off pieces of dough and work with it.
Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover with lightly greased plastic wrap. Set it aside to rise for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until it is noticeably puffy.
Transfer the puffed/risen dough to a work surface and divide the dough into eight equal pieces. Working with one piece at a time, roll it into a smooth, round ball. Place the balls on a lined or lightly greased baking tray and cover lightly. Let them rest for 30 minutes. They’ll puff up very slightly.
Once they have rested, one-by-one, use your thumb to poke a hole through the center of each ball then twirl the dough and use your other fingers to stretch the hole until it is about 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The entire bagel will be around 4 inches across. Place the shaped bagels on a lined baking tray (the same one that you’ll bake them on).
Preheat your oven to 425°F.
Prepare the water bath by heating the water and sugars to a very gentle boil in a large pot.
Transfer the bagels, three or four at a time, to the simmering water. Increase the heat under the pan to bring the water back up to a gently simmering boil, if necessary. Cook the bagels for 2 minutes, flip them over using a wide spatula, and cook 1 minute more. Using a wide spatula, carefully remove the bagels from the water and place them back on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining bagels.
Top the bagels with your desired ingredients. If you are going to use a dry topping, such as sesame seeds or poppy seeds, whisk together 1 egg white with 1 tablespoon water and brush each bagel with the mixture before topping heavily with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, etc. If using Asiago or another cheese, there is no need to brush the bagels with an egg white glaze, simply place the shredded cheese on the bagels.
Bake the bagels for 20 to 25 minutes, or until they’re as deep brown as you like. Remove the bagels from the oven, and cool completely on a wire rack.
Bake your bagels one sheet at a time. Its fine if the bagels that went through the water bath sit out while the other bagels are baking.
yum!