Bagels are one of the most popular bread items, yet no one really knows the process behind making them. These simple, yet tasty bundles of joy are sure to convince you out of bed in the morning for the perfect breakfast treat.
Bagels are one of the most popular bread items, yet no one really knows the process behind making them. These simple, yet tasty bundles of joy are sure to convince you out of bed in the morning for the perfect breakfast treat.
Whether you have them with cream cheese and smoked salmon, chocolate spread and sliced banana, or Recipe Developer Liv's personal favourite but may be the most controversial - toasted with butter and marmite, they will always be delicious. The great thing about bagels is that they are so versatile and can be topped or served in any way. What’s your favourite bagel filling?
The bagel dough is slightly different to most doughs, you may notice that when you are making them, the dough is a lot stiffer and tighter than usual, this is due to the small amount of water which is added, this is essential as it ensures they will withstand the boil, which will achieve the chewy texture which you associate with the bagel.
You’ll be able to find many different ways on how to shape the ‘perfect’ bagel. Whether you roll it into a sausage and pinch the ends together or create a hole using the handle of a wooden spoon, it all comes down to practise. Liv's made many bagels and she still get overjoyed when she's made the ‘perfect’ bagel. Whichever way you go about shaping the bagel, it won’t impact the taste so don’t worry if they aren’t as round as you would like them to be or the hole has closed during the baking. It will take time like anything and you’ll soon be a bagel King or Queen.
Bagels have that characteristic of the smooth outside and the chewy middle, this all comes down to the boil. Boiling the bagels before they go into the oven for 45 seconds on each side will give that chewy middle we all love. It also makes sure that the crust is set before it bakes in the oven. The longer you boil the bagels, the thicker and chewier the crust will be. After lots of experimenting we found 45 seconds on each side to be the perfect amount of boiling time, although you can always try experimenting with different times depending on personal preference.
You can top bagels with pretty much anything, keep them plain, give a sprinkling of poppy seeds, mix of sesame seeds, literally anything. This is to be done whilst the bagels are slightly wet to ensure that whatever you choose to top them with sticks and stays on during the baking process.
The smell of the bagels baking will fill your kitchen with pure delight, nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread. Then it is down to you to top with your favourite fillings, be it sweet or savoury. The possibilities are endless.
We still have limited stock left of our February Bread Club Box - Poppy Seed Bagels. We provide all the dry ingredients you'll need to create some wonderfully delicious Bagels. Let us know what your favourite filling is in the comments below!
Comments will be approved before showing up.
