These bagels are easy to make at home and taste so much better than any that you can buy from the supermarket. They freeze well too, once baked, so you could make some for today and some for the freezer.
Ingredients for bagels
500g strong white bread flour (you could use very strong for this recipe to give a chewier texture)
10g fine sea salt
5g easy bake (instant/ fast action) or 15g fresh yeast
10g malt extract (optional but does add a distinctive flavour and colour to the bagel)
285g water (57% hydration)
You will need 1 tablespoon bicarbonate of soda and a large pan of water.
Method
Place the flour, yeast, salt (keep the salt and yeast separate) and malt extract in a large bowl. Add the water, measuring it carefully. Using your hand like a claw at first mix your dough and start to squeeze the water into the flour until there are no dry bits left. Try not to add any more water. You want a stiff dough to create that distinctive chewy, dense texture of a bagel. Knead in the bowl for a minute or so (take a look at my video for help with this). Cover with a proving cloth and leave to rest for 10 minutes up to an hour. Do one round of stretch and fold, cover and leave to rest again for 10-30 mins. Do a second round of stretch and fold and then cover and leave to ferment until airy and light.
Divide into six even pieces and shape into rolls. Allow to rest for a few minutes. Then poke a hole in the centre of each roll and stretch out into a bagel shape with a large hole in the centre. Place on a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper and dusted with flour. Allow to rise until they have grown by about 50%.
Preheat your oven to 220C, 425F, Gas mark 7.
Bring a large pot of water to boiling point and add 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda. Carefully place two bagels into the pot (if the pot is large enough to take them comfortably) for one minute, flip over and leave for 1 more minute. Then lift out with a slotted spoon to drain. Place on the baking tray and once you have boiled all of the bagels you can either egg wash them or sprinkle with seeds. Bake for 20-25 minutes in the pre-heated oven until golden brown and fully baked. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Want to learn more about making bread?
If you want to learn more about making bread then my online courses can help. How about my Savoury Breads course which teaches you shaping techniques and different ways to flavour your breads.
Or if you join my Bread Made Easy Membership you can access all of my online bread classes and join me for a monthly online demo and bread chat.
