Express Bagel Recipes

THE BEST BAGELS {STEP-BY-STEP}

Steps:

• Line two half-size baking sheets with parchment paper (spray the parchment with cooking spray to help avoid sticking, optional) and set aside. Heat water in the microwave on high for 1 to 2 minutes or on the stove until it is between 110 and 130 degrees F.
• In a stand mixer add water, salt, 3 tablespoons brown sugar, about half of the flour, and the yeast on the top. Turn on mixer and add additional flour as needed to form a firm but still soft dough (see note). Dough should clear the sides and bottom of the bowl while it is mixing. It should be firmer than a roll or bread dough, but not so over floured that it becomes tough. Let mixer knead dough for 6 minutes to develop the gluten.
• Divide dough into 12 pieces (about 4 ounces each) and roll each into a ball. Cover the dough balls and let rest for 5 minutes to relax the dough.
• Once they have rested, one-by-one use your thumb to gently poke a hole in the center and carefully stretch the hole with your fingers until it is about an inch wide. For best looking bagels work quickly and gently, not worrying about trying to shape a perfect bagel. The less you handle them at this stage the better looking your bagels will be. Place the shaped bagels on the prepared baking sheets (6 per sheet). Cover them and let them rise for 20-30 minutes.
• While bagels are rising preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Heat 3-4 quarts of water in a wide-diameter pan with 4 tablespoons brown sugar to a boil, stirring to dissolve the brown sugar. You can use a large pot or a deep straight-edge skillet. Then adjust the heat until it stays at a low boil.
• After bagels have risen, transfer them, three at a time, to the simmering water so that the bottom (or ugly side) is facing up. Increase the heat under the pan to bring the water back up to a gently simmering boil, if necessary. Cook the bagels for 30 seconds to 1 minute, flip them over using a wide slotted spatula, and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute more. Using a wide slotted 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 or keep them plain. For a dry topping, such as sesame seeds or poppy seeds, whisk together 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush each bagel with the mixture before topping heavily with seeds or spices. If using Asiago or another cheese, there is no need to brush the bagels with an egg wash, simply place the shredded cheese on the bagels.
• Bake one sheet of bagels at a time 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.

EXPRESS BAGEL RECIPE

Steps:

• Put flour, sugar, and salt into large bowl and mix lightly. Add yeast and water, then knead together ingredients with hands. The dough will be sticky at first.
• Once you have combined the ingredients into a manageable dough, take out the dough onto a flat kneading surface. Knead dough firmly with your hands until the dough is no longer lumpy and powdery, approximately 15min. Add sprinkles of water or flour as necessary to keep the dough manageable -- it will get elastic but pretty stiff.
• Cut dough into 6 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp paper towel to prevent drying.
• Shape the dough. You can either poke a hole in the middle with your finger and stretch out into a bagel shape or roll out the dough into a rope and tie the ends together. The dough will expand, so leave a nice big hole in the middle.
• Cover the bagels with plastic wrap and let rest for about 15 minutes (30-40 min during winter time).
• In the meantime, fill a large pot with water and a teaspoon of sugar or honey and bring to a simmer. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• When the dough is ready, carefully drop them into the water and let them simmer for about 15 seconds on each side, flipping them only once. The bagels should float. Keeping the water boiling too hard or flipping too much will cause the surface of the bagels to crinkle later. I usually boil two at a time.
• Take the bagels out with a slotted spoon and blot excess water. If you would like to add toppings, do so now. For small or crumbly toppings such as sesame and poppyseed, dump out the toppings on a small plate and gently press the top of the bagel into the topping.
• Put the bagels onto a baking sheet and let bake until brown, approximately 15 minute.
• Note: You can use whole wheat flour and even ingredients such as cocoa, pureed spinach, pureed pumpkin/cinnamon/nutmeg to make different kinds (and different colors!) of bagel dough. Be sure to decrease the amount of added water accordingly -- I would try making the plain first to get an idea of what the dough should feel like.