So we are in quarantine like just about everyone else in the world. Since we now have all the time we could ever want to do any given project, I’ve turned everything into a project! Breakfast has turned into it’s own little event. I’ve been whipping up coconut crusted french toast, funfetti pancakes, brown sugar candied bacon, the list goes on.
I’ve been trying to avoid going into grocery stores altogether by having my groceries delivered. The problem here is so many items are out of stock. This includes bagels.
The other day it rained and we fired up the Disney Plus and I decided it was the day to attempt making bagels from scratch. I feel like basics such as bagels are the toughest to get right.
The ingredient list is quite simple (I had everything in my pantry already). I will say the process to make these are a bit time consuming but you have to trust me on this one -these bagels are worth it. They are New York style so they are chewier than the regular bread like consistency of some.
The original recipe (here) calls for bread flour. The protein in the bread flour makes the bagels chewier. My adaptation calls for plain old all purpose flour and are just as chewy. I just boiled them for two minutes rather than one and it changes the texture.
My recipe is for plain, but you can add any toppings you’d like! I love sesame bagels, you could use poppy seeds, add cinnamon to the dough, the possibilities are limitless. I’d actually really love to add pizza seasonings and top with a sprinkle of grated cheese OMG YES!
NY Style Bagels
yield 8 bagels
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (one packet)
- 1 ½ tablespoons (4 ½ teaspoons) granulated sugar
- 1 ¼ cups warm water(you may need a little more depending on how the dough comes together)
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour(you may need extra for kneading)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- a little oil (whatever kind you like) for bowl
- 1 egg white for egg wash (use a whole egg if you like a darker bagel)
Directions
1. In ½ cup 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 1/3 cup of the remaining warm water into the well. Mix and stir in the rest of the water as needed. Depending on where you live, you may need to add anywhere from a couple tablespoons to about ¼ cup of water. You want a moist and firm dough after you have mixed it.
4. On a floured work surface, knead the dough for about 7 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 or 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 8 equal pieces.
7. Shape each piece into a round, making it as smooth as possible.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat. Carefully lower the bagels into the water. I boiled 4 at a time, but you can boil as many as you are comfortable with. Once the bagels are in, it shouldn’t take too long for them to float to the top (a couple seconds). Let them sit there for 2 minutes, and them flip them over to boil for another 2 minutes.
11. Once all the bagels have boiled, transfer them to a lightly oiled baking sheet.
12. Whisk your egg white and brush on the bagels. This will give them a shiny crust. If you want to add toppings to your bagels, do so after the egg wash so they will stick nicely.
13. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
FAQs
The Key to a Real New York Bagel
New York bagels get boiled prior to baking, defining their special texture in a solution of water and barley malt. A long boil and thicker crust inhibit rising, resulting in a dense interior while a short boil yields a crusty yet chewy bagel bite.
What is the secret to New York bagels? ›
The Key to a Real New York Bagel
New York bagels get boiled prior to baking, defining their special texture in a solution of water and barley malt. A long boil and thicker crust inhibit rising, resulting in a dense interior while a short boil yields a crusty yet chewy bagel bite.
What makes an authentic New York bagel? ›
NYC bagel purists will claim the main difference between a New York bagel vs. a regular bagel is the water you boil them in. Much like a specific vineyard terroir is used to make a wine, certain minerals in New York City tap water are attributed to creating the best bagels.
What makes New York bagels so different? ›
A New York–style bagel is always boiled in water that has had barley malt added, which gives a bagel its signature taste, texture, and leathery skin.
What makes NY NJ bagels so good? ›
Secondly, and most importantly, New Jersey's water is the best suited for making bagels. NJ gets its water from the Catskill Mountains, which has very soft water, meaning it has low concentrations of calcium and magnesium. This soft water perfectly matches the high protein concentration of the bread flour.
What is the most popular bagel filling New York? ›
If you're looking for an iconic pairing, go for a bagel with plain cream cheese and lox (smoked salmon) – it's the quintessential New York Bagel sandwich.
What is the difference between a New York style bagel and a regular bagel? ›
Bagels from the Big Apple are boiled instead of being steamed, as most other bagels are. This allows them to have a crisp, dark crust while still maintaining a chewy, doughy interior. New York style bagels are also made using malt and salt without any sugar. That's quite different from Montreal bagels.
What is the difference between New York and Montreal style bagels? ›
Montreal bagels tend to be smaller, thinner, sweeter and less salty than their New York City counterparts. Both are boiled, but Montreal employs wood-burning ovens for baking, while New York utilizes burlap planks. Many NYC loyalists tout the local tap water as the secret ingredient.
What does boiling do to bagels? ›
Boiling bagels give it's distinct chewy and dense texture. It helps it create a thin, slightly crispy texture when you boil it for 30-6o seconds on each side it also contributes to the bagel's shiny appearance. Boiling also prevents over expansion to keep its unique shape.
Why do you boil bagels in baking soda? ›
Baking soda makes the water more alkaline, giving the bagels a pretzel-like quality that contributes to their chewiness. Just one teaspoon helps the bagels develop a shiny, dark-brown exterior as they bake. One thing to keep in mind: Keep the water bath at a constant simmer.
Brooklyn Bagel's Plain Bagels are boiled then baked in authentic Brooklyn style, making them soft and chewy on the inside, but crunchy on the outside. Slice open, toast, and eat with butter or cream cheese. These bagels are also great to use for breakfast sandwiches.
How to get bagels shiny? ›
Boiling the bagels is what gives them their characteristic shiny, chewy crusts and is a step that cannot be skipped. If they aren't boiled, they aren't bagels! Where my other bagel recipes use a plain water bath, traditionally bagels are boiled in a water bath with barley malt syrup or even sometimes baking soda.
What are the ingredients in NYC bagels? ›
UNBLEACHED UNBROMATED ENRICHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMINE MONONITRATE, RIBOFLAVIN, FOLIC ACID), WATER, BROWN SUGAR, MALT SYRUP, contains 2% or less of each of the following: SEA SALT, YEAST, RAISIN JUICE CONCENTRATE, MALT POWDER, MOLASSES POWDER, SOYBEAN OIL, WHEAT ...
What is the best hydration for bagels? ›
Bagel dough is low hydration, meaning the water content is typically between 50-55% compared to the flour weight. Low hydration doughs require extensive mixing to ensure enough gluten develops. You can mix by hand, or mix with a stand mixer.
What is the secret to making bagels? ›
10 Tips for Making Schmear-Worthy Homemade Bagels
- Moisture: Wetter dough means crispier bagels. ...
- Water temp: The colder the better. ...
- Dry active yeast: Let it chill. ...
- Flour: Embrace the gluten. ...
- Mixing: Low and slow is the way to go. ...
- The rise: Your kitchen climate is A-okay. ...
- Flavor kick: After the proof.
In American Jewish cuisine, a bagel and cream cheese is sometimes called a "whole schmear" or "whole schmeer". A "slab" is a bagel with a slab of cream cheese on top. A "lox and a schmear" is to a bagel with cream cheese and lox or “Nova” smoked salmon.
What makes New York style bagels different from other types of bagels brainly? ›
Final answer:
New York style bagels are different due to their size, texture, and the specific process of hand-rolling, boiling, and baking used in their production. The presence of malt or sweetener in the boiling water and the water in New York itself also contribute to their unique flavor.
