Waterbagelsplain Food

REAL HOMEMADE BAGELS

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/4 cup water, flour, sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, vegetable oil, and yeast in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Mix on low speed using the dough hook until well-developed, about 8 minutes. To ensure the gluten has developed fully, cut off a walnut-sized piece of dough. Flour your fingers, and then stretch the dough: if it tears immediately, the dough needs more kneading. Fully developed dough should form a thin translucent "windowpane."
• Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel, and let rise for 2 hours.
• Punch the dough down, place it on a lightly floured work surface, and use a knife or dough scraper to divide the dough into 6 pieces (or more, for smaller bagels). Roll each piece of dough into a sausage shape about 6 inches long. Join the ends to form a circle. Repeat with the remaining dough, and let the bagels rest for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange small plates with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and onion flakes next to the baking sheet.
• Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add honey, if desired (see Editor's Note). Boil the bagels, three at a time, until they rise to the surface of the pot, about 1 minute per side. Remove the bagels with a slotted spoon and place them on the parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Dip the tops of the wet bagels into the toppings and arrange them, seeds up, on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired. Bake in the preheated oven until the bagels begin to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

HOMEMADE BAGELS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Stir together 1/2 cup warm water and 1 tablespoon malt syrup in a small bowl; sprinkle the yeast on top. Let soften a minute, then stir. Set aside until foamy or bubbly, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk the flour and salt in a large bowl; make a well in the center. Pour in the yeast mixture and 2/3 cup warm water and stir with a wooden spoon to make a shaggy dough. Not all the flour will be mixed in.
• Knead the dough in the bowl to mix in more of the flour, and work the dough into a rough ball in the bowl.
• Knead the dough: Turn out the dough onto a clean surface and begin kneading. As you knead, the dough will become tacky and stick to your fingers, then it should lose its stickiness and form a somewhat smooth ball (this should take 3 to 4 minutes). If the dough is still sticky, lightly dust with flour.
• Once the dough starts to smooth out, continue kneading until it's very satiny and pillowy feeling (this should take 5 to 10 minutes). Rip off a small piece of dough and gently stretch the 4 corners. If it can stretch very thin without tearing, it's ready. If it tears, knead another 2 minutes and test again.
• Transfer the dough to a clean bowl lightly misted with cooking spray, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature until doubled in size, about 1 hour. You don't want the dough to over-proof or form bubbles on the surface. Keep an eye on it; the dough can proof quickly in a warm spot.
• Divide the dough: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and mist with cooking spray. Turn out the dough onto a clean surface and press to flatten and deflate the dough, making sure to press out any large air bubbles. Divide into 6 pieces, 3 1/2 to 3 3/4 ounces each.
• Pull the corners of each piece together into the center of the dough, turn over so the seam is on the bottom and roll the dough against the counter into a tight ball with a smooth surface. Do not use any flour or the dough will not stick to itself properly.
• Form the bagels: Form the bagels one at a time: First stick your thumb through the middle of a dough ball, then insert your index finger and gently start to stretch the hole.
• Roll the bagel in a circle around your index fingers to stretch the hole until 1 1/2 to 2 inches wide. If the hole pulls back together, let rest 1 to 2 minutes, then reshape.
• Transfer the bagel to the baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough balls. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. The bagels will puff slightly.
• Cook the bagels: About 30 minutes before boiling, preheat the oven to 450˚ F and remove the bagels from the refrigerator. Bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a wide pot. Stir in the remaining 3 tablespoons malt syrup. Gently add 2 or 3 bagels, rounded-side down, and boil for 2 minutes, flipping halfway through.
• Remove the bagels with a slotted spoon and put back on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining bagels. It's OK if they deflate a bit as they cool but they should mostly keep their shape. (If they do deflate and wrinkle, they'll still be good - just a little flat.)
• Line a separate baking sheet with parchment paper and dust with cornmeal. Brush the tops and sides of the bagels with the egg white and sprinkle with toppings. Place rounded-side up on the cornmeal-dusted baking sheet, about 1 inch apart.
• Bake on the middle oven rack until the bagels are golden brown and crisp, rotating the pan halfway through, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool at least 15 minutes. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

WATER BAGELS (PLAIN)

Steps:

• In a large bowl thoroughly mix 1 1/2 cups flour, sugar, salt and undissolved yeast.
• Gradually add warm water to dry ingredients and beat for 2 minutes with electric mixer (at medium speed), scrape bowl occasionally.
• Add 1/2 cup flour.
• Beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl.
• Stir in enough additional flour to make a soft dough (about 2 to 2 1/2 cups).
• Turn dough on to a lightly floured board and knead until smooth and elastic (about 10 minutes).
• Place dough in ungreased bowl, cover and let rise in warm, draft free place for 20 minutes.
• (Dough will NOT be doubled in bulk.) Punch dough down and turn out on to a lightly floured board.
• Roll dough into a rectangle, 12 x 10 inches.
• Cut dough into 12 equal strips, 1 x 10 inches each.
• Pinch ends of strips together to form a circle.
• Place on ungreased baking sheets.
• Cover and let rise in warm, draft free place for 20 minutes.
• (Dough will NOT be doubled in bulk.) In a large shallow pan, boil a 1 3/4 inch depth of water.
• Lower heat and add a few bagels at a time.
• Simmer bagels for 7 minutes (3 1/2 minutes on each side).
• Remove bagels from water and place on a towel to cool.
• Cool bagels for 5 minutes, then place them on ungreased baking sheets.
• Bake bagels at 375°F for 10 minutes.
• In a small bowl, beat egg white with cold water.
• Remove bagels from oven and brush with egg white/water mixture.
• Return bagels to oven and bake about 20 minutes longer, or until done.
• Remove bagels from baking sheets and cool on wire rack.