Sunday, April 26, 2009

Bagels

While time consuming, these are VERY easy to make and well worth it. Especially when they are fresh out of the oven, they are the perfect blend of soft, chewy and crispy. I love these smeared with a bit of garden vegetable cream cheese.

Bagels

Bagels

INGREDIENTS
3 1/2 cups bread flour
4 1/2 tsp dry yeast
3 Tbsp honey or sugar
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cup hot water (about 120-130 degrees)

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 1/2 Tbsp sugar

1 egg white
1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp corn meal

DIRECTIONS
Using a stand mixer, using your normal beater blade, mix together 3 1/4 cups flour, yeast and salt. If using sugar, mix it in with the flour, if using honey, mix it in with the hot water. Add hot water and mix together, add remaining flour 1 Tbsp at a time until dough becomes heavy and difficult to handle. Switch to dough hook, mix in remaining flour and continue mixing on medium low for 10 minutes. Add additional flour if sticking to the side of the mixing bowl.

Coat a large glass bowl with vegetable oil, turn out dough into bowl losely cover with plastic wrap, set aside and let rise 1 hour.

Punch down, set on lightly floured surface, form into 10 evenly sized balls, let rest 2 minutes.

Bagels - Balls

Flatten balls in palm and push thumb through center to form bagel shape. Set aside and allow to rise for 10 minutes.

Bagels - Formed

While the bagels are rising, in a 6 qt stock pot, bring 3 qts of water with the 1 1/2 Tbsp of sugar to boil.

Preheat oven to 400F and sprinkle 2 baking sheets with the cornmeal.

Once the bagels have risen, using a skimmer/strainer lower them into the water 3 at a time and boil for 30 seconds each side. Using the skimmer move them to the baking sheet. Once they've all been moved to the baking sheet, brush with the egg white and sprinkle with salt.

Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes. Cool on a rack.

Bagels - Out of Oven

4 comments:

Becca said...

Finally, a recipe I can use my skimmer for... I got it free from one of my PC shows, and it has been used one whole time. I've had it for at least a year and a half. Following Flylady rules, I would have to get rid of it! :) I don't know if that rule should apply to kitchen tools, do you? Anyway will have to give this a shot on a weekend when I am feeling ambitious. Thanks!

Kiy said...

I'd love to try these, and I *don't don't don't* make bread. However, I adore bagels and love that these aren't fried. Maybe someday.

Gorgeous pics and wonderful directions, as usual!

Kiy

threesidesofcrazy said...

I've always wanted to try bagels, but have never had a great recipe. Now I have no excuse for not making them.

Chrissy D said...

That looks scrumptious!