Bagels

Description

Perfect with tea and coffee. If desired, you can double the ingredient quantities, and for decorating the bagels, prepare cinnamon, raisins, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, or dried onion and garlic. Adding honey to the boiling water bath gives the bagels a pleasant chewy texture with a hint of sweetness. Serve warm or chilled. Ideal with tea.

Instructions

1. 1

   Step 1

   In the bowl of a mixer, combine water, sifted flour, sugar, 1 teaspoon of salt, vegetable oil, and yeast. Mix at low speed using the dough blade until the dough is smooth and uniform (about 8 minutes).

2. 2

   Step 2

   Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise for 2 hours.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface and divide it into 6–8 pieces. Roll each piece into a "sausage," then join the ends to form a ring. Let the rings rest for 15 minutes.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Preheat the oven to 245 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Prepare small plates with poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and onion flakes.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Bring 4 liters of water to a boil in a large pot; you can add honey. Drop the bagels into the boiling water, 3 at a time, and boil for 1 minute on each side, or until they float to the surface. Using a slotted spoon, place the bagels on a rack on the counter to cool slightly.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Dip the tops of the moist bagels into the topping and place them on a baking sheet. If the bagels are salty, you can sprinkle them with coarse salt.

7. 7

   Step 7

   Bake the bagels in a preheated oven until golden brown, for 15 to 20 minutes.