Bruce Ezzells Bagels Recipes

BRUCE EZZELL'S BAGELS

Steps:

• To make the sponge, combine the ingredients in the bowl of a standing mixer and mix with a spoon till the ingredients are combined. Set aside at room temperature for 4 -12 hours. Do this before going to bed if you want fresh bagels in the morning.
• Add salt, honey, malt syrup, and flour to the sponge, the flour last. Attach dough hooks to your mixer and mix at low speed for 8-10 minutes. This is a stiff, bucky dough so don't walk away from the mixer if it has a tendency to walk across your counter top.
• Once the dough is mixed remove it to your counter and cover with a cloth to let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place a baking stone in the oven.
• Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces. Round each piece and set aside to rest for a few more minutes, covered.
• To shape take each ball of dough and flatten out slightly using the palm of the hand, making a disc approximately 3.5 inches wide. Make a hole in each using your thumb and place back on the counter, covered, to rise.
• Bring your water (in a wok or large pot) to a simmer, then add the baking soda.
• After 10 minutes flip each bagel over so the bottom is now facing up. When this side begins to get slightly puffy and rounded it is time to boil. This may take as little as 5 minutes, but depending on the temperature of your kitchen, how cold your countertop is, etc., it might take longer. When the bagel looks and feels a bit puffy, it's ready to boil.
• Drop the bagels 3-4 at a time into the simmering water (depending on how large your pot is). They should float immediately or within a few seconds. Let them simmer for one minute, then flip them over using a chopstick or spoon and let the other side simmer for one minute. Remove from the water using a skimmer or large spoon and place on a clean tea towel.
• Sprinkle them with sesame, poppy seeds, salt or whatever you prefer immediately after removing them from the water, and place on parchment paper.
• Slide parchment paper onto baking stone and bake for 12-13 minutes or until golden brown.

BAGELS

Steps:

• Mix the yeast with 300ml lukewarm water. Put the flour, sugar and 1 tsp salt in a large bowl and mix together. Pour over the yeasty liquid and mix into a rough dough.
• Tip out onto the work surface and knead together until smooth and elastic - this should take around 10 mins.
• Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a piece of oiled cling film. Place in a warm area and leave until doubled in size, about 1 hr, then uncover and tip onto your work surface.
• Divide the dough into 10 portions and form into balls - I like to weigh them to make sure that they're all the same size. Line up on 2 parchment-lined baking trays and cover lightly with cling film.
• Leave for around 30 mins or until risen and puffy, then remove the cling film.
• Use a floured finger to make a hole in the centre of each bagel, swirling it around to stretch the dough a little, but being careful not to knock out too much air. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Add the bicarbonate of soda to alkalise the water (see tip, below left). Place 1-2 of the bagels in the water at a time and boil for 1 min (2 mins if you want a chewier bagel), turning over halfway through. Using a slotted spoon, lift out the bagels, drain well and place back on the baking tray.
• Brush the bagels with the egg white and sprinkle with your chosen seeds. Bake for 20-25 mins or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool before eating. They will keep for 3-4 days, or freeze for 2 months (see How to freeze, below left).

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.

GRANDMA SHERRILL'S BAGELS

Steps:

• Mix flour, hot water, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large bowl; transfer dough to a work surface and knead for 10 minutes. Place dough in a bowl and let rise for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Form dough into 24 balls; punch a hole in the middle of each ball with a finger, creating a bagel shape. Place bagels on the prepared baking sheet; let rise for 20 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; cook bagels, working in batches, in the boiling water, about 45 seconds per side. Place boiled bagels on a clean towel to drain. Return bagels to the baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and lightly browned, 30 to 35 minutes.

HOMEMADE BAGELS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a food processor, add the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Pulse until incorporated.
• While running, slowly add the warm water until the dough balls up. You may not need all the warm water.
• Carefully push the dough back into the blade's path and continue to process for an additional 30 seconds or until the dough is firm and stretchy, but not sticky nor squishy.
• Gently round the dough into a ball and place in a lightly oiled bowl. Cover with a damp, warm towel for an hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
• Add the barley malt syrup to about 6 quarts of water and bring to a boil.
• Place a tray with about 2 quarts of water on the bottom shelf of the oven. Preheat to 425°F (220°C).
• Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 6 equal pieces (roughly 5 ounces (140 g) a piece if you use a scale). Cover the pieces with a damp towel.
• One at a time, form the dough into a ball, pinching the seams together at the bottom. Place the dough seam side down and-cupping your hand over the dough-apply gentle pressure, working the ball in circles until the seams on the bottom are smoothed out. Gently reshape the edges of the ball into a circle.
• Using your thumb, press down into the center of the ball to the counter. Working in a circle, carefully stretch the dough into a ring until the hole at the center is about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
• Place the dough rings under a damp towel and let rise for 10 minutes.
• Working in batches of two, place the bagels in the boiling water/syrup. They should float at the surface. Let them boil for 30 seconds, then flip and boil for an additional 30 seconds.
• Remove the bagels from the water/syrup and gently pat dry with a clean towel.
• Brush the tops with the beaten egg. Optionally, if you want toppings, dip the egg-washed side of the bagel into the mixture of your choice.
• Place the bagels on a parchment paper-covered baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Enjoy!