Bagels

TO CHECK OUT: https://alexandracooks.com/2018/08/16/very-good-bagels-easy-ish-too/

INGREDIENTS

• ½ cup / 120 ml warm water
• 2 teaspoons / 6 g active dry yeast
• 4 ½ teaspoons / 19 g granulated sugar
• 3 ½ cups / 450 g bread flour or high gluten flour (you may need up to 1/2 cup / 60g for kneading)
• 1 ½ teaspoons / 9 g salt
• ½ cup / 120 ml warm water (you may need ± ¼ cup / 60 ml more)
• Toppings

DIRECTIONS

1. In ½ cup / 120 ml of the warm water, pour in the sugar and yeast. Do not stir. Let it sit for five minutes, and then stir the yeast and sugar mixture until it all dissolves in the water.

2. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast and sugar mixture.

3. Pour ½ cup / 120 ml of warm water into the well. Mix and stir in the rest of the water as needed.  You want a moist and firm dough after you have mixed it.

4. On a floured countertop, knead the dough for about 10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Try working in as much flour as possible to form a firm and stiff dough.

5. Lightly brush a large bowl with oil and turn the dough to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp dish towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, until the dough has doubled in size. Punch the dough down, and let it rest for another 10 minutes.

6. Carefully divide the dough into 6 pieces (I used a scale to be extra precise, but it’s not necessary). Shape each piece into a boule

7. Coat a finger in flour, and gently press your finger into the center of each dough ball to form a ring. Stretch the ring to about ⅓ the diameter of the bagel and place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet.

8. After shaping the dough rounds and placing them on the cookie sheet, cover with a damp kitchen towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425ºF / 220ºC / Gas Mark 7.

9. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat. Use a slotted spoon or skimmer to lower the bagels into the water. Boil as many as you are comfortable with boiling. Once bagels have floated to the top, lLet them sit there for 1 minute, and then flip for another minute. Extend the boiling times to 2 minutes each, if you’d prefer a chewier bagel (results will give you a more New York-Style bagel with this option).

10. If you want to add toppings to your bagels, do so as you take them out of the water. Alternatively, you can use an egg wash to get the toppings to stick before baking the bagels.

11. Once all the bagels have boiled (and have been topped with your choice of toppings), transfer them to an oiled or parchment-lined baking sheet.

12. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until golden brown (I usually err on the side of 20 minutes).