Bloody amazing bagels!

[MackerelOfFact]

I've always been fairly indifferent to bagels, until last week when I had one from a little independent bagel shop and it was gorgeous. I wondered if they were difficult to make, so Googled recipes and found this one:

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Ingredients:

7g sachet dried yeast
4 tbsp sugar
2 tsp salt
450g bread flour
poppy, fennel and/or sesame seeds to sprinkle on top (optional)

Method:

1. Tip the yeast and 1 tbsp sugar into a large bowl, and pour over 100ml warm water. Leave for 10 mins until the mixture becomes frothy.

1. Pour 200ml warm water into the bowl, then stir in the salt and half the flour. Keep adding the remaining flour (you may not have to use it all) and mixing with your hands until you have a soft, but not sticky dough. Then knead for 10 mins until the dough feels smooth and elastic. Shape into a ball and put in a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover loosely with cling film and leave in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1hr.

1. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. On a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into 10 pieces, each about 85g. Shape each piece into a flattish ball, then take a wooden spooon and use the handle to make a hole in the middle of each ball. Slip the spoon into the hole, then twirl the bagel around the spoon to make a hole about 3cm wide. Cover the bagel loosely with cling film while you shape the remaining dough.

1. Meanwhile, bring a large pan of water to the boil and tip in the remaining sugar. Slip the bagels into the boiling water - no more than four at a time. Cook for 1-2 mins, turning over in the water until the bagels have puffed slightly and a skin has formed. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain away any excess water. Sprinkle over your choice of topping and place on a baking tray lined with parchment. Bake in the oven for 25 mins until browned and crisp - the bases should sound hollow when tapped. Leave to cool on a wire rack, then serve with your favourite filling.

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It's less of a faff than it sounds and dunking them in the boiling water was the best bit. They were simply SPECTACULAR, so much so that I've made another batch 2 days later.

Just wanted to share really.

Thanks for that, they sound lovely.

Will definitely give them a try.

Oh, sounds great. I miss bagels, can rarely buy them here. Thank you.

yum- ds and I are very fond of bagels

My DH went through a phase of making bagels ... they were good, especially oatmeal ones. I ought to have another go, see how they turn out salt-free as a change from pittas (DEAD easy to make too, esp with a bread machine, and much nicer than bought)

I can't believe it'd never occured to me to try and make them before, I guess it was just because I didn't think they were that nice. But they so are! And really versatile, too.