A freshly baked New York bagel, sprinkled with ‘Everything’ seasoning, can be the ultimate comfort food. The crisp crust with the soft, chewy interior, and the topping that’s a flavorful blend of seeds and spices, is a culinary delight. Today, we’ll delve into the art of bagel making and guide you on how to concoct this New York classic in your kitchen.
Sourcing the Right Ingredients
Prior to embarking on the bagel-making journey, it’s crucial to have the right ingredients at hand. Quality matters, because the taste and texture of your bagel will largely depend on the raw materials you use.
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The basic components of a bagel include flour, water, yeast, and salt. Opt for high-gluten flour to ensure that your bagels have a chewy texture. The yeast should preferably be active dry yeast. The water doesn’t have to be anything fancy – tap water will do just fine. As for the salt, use a fine-grained variety to ensure that it blends seamlessly with the other ingredients.
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For the ‘Everything’ seasoning, you’ll need a mix of seeds and spices. The traditional blend includes sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and coarse salt. However, you could always add your twist by incorporating other ingredients like dried chili flakes or caraway seeds.
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The Dough Making Process
Getting the dough right is critical for perfect bagels. It’s the backbone of the bagel and requires careful attention during preparation.
Start by dissolving the yeast in warm water. Ensure the water is not too hot; otherwise, it will kill the yeast. Once the yeast has dissolved, mix it with the flour and salt. Knead the dough for approximately 10 to 15 minutes until it’s smooth and elastic.
The dough should then be left to rise. It’s important to note that the rising time for bagel dough is generally longer than that of regular bread.
The Step of Boiling
Boiling the bagels briefly before baking is what sets them apart from other types of bread. This step gives them their signature chewy texture and shiny crust.
Once your dough has risen, shape it into rounds and let them rest briefly. Bring a pot of water to a boil, and then drop in the bagels one at a time. They should float to the top quickly. Each side should be boiled for about a minute to get the best results. Immediately after boiling, sprinkle them with the everything seasoning.
Baking the Bagels
After the boiling step, it’s now time to bake the bagels. Preheat your oven to a high temperature, usually between 425 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Your bagels will bake at this high temperature for the first few minutes. This initial blast of heat will help set the crust.
After those first few minutes, reduce the heat slightly and continue baking until the bagels are golden brown. The total baking time will depend on your oven and the size of your bagels, but usually ranges from 15 to 25 minutes.
Enjoying Your Homemade Bagels
Once your bagels are baked to golden perfection, let them cool on a wire rack. Resist the temptation to slice into them immediately. They’re best enjoyed slightly warm or at room temperature.
Whether you choose to slather them with cream cheese, top them with smoked salmon, or simply eat them on their own, these homemade New York bagels are sure to impress. Now that you’ve mastered this recipe, you can have a taste of New York no matter where you are. With a little patience and practice, you can make bagels that are just as good, if not better, than what you’d find in a New York bakery.
While it may seem like a lot of effort to make bagels at home, the end result is undeniably worth it. After all, nothing beats the taste and aroma of a freshly baked bagel, made with love in your own kitchen.
Making bagels can also be a fun and rewarding activity to do with family or friends. It’s a great way to spend some quality time together, and the delicious bagels you produce are just the icing on the cake.
So next time you’re craving a New York bagel, why not try making it yourself? Happy baking!
Adding Depth to the Flavour
The secret to an authentic New York bagel lies in the depth of the flavour. One way to enhance the taste is by using malt syrup or barley malt in the dough. Not only does it add a hint of sweetness, but it also lends a unique depth of flavour, giving your homemade bagels a distinct, bakery-like taste.
To introduce malt into your bagel recipe, you can add it in two stages: first, in the dough, and second, in the boiling water. When making the bagel dough, replace a little bit of the sugar with malt syrup. Next, add a spoonful of malt to the boiling water right before you add the bagels. This imparts a distinctive taste and helps to create that coveted shiny, crispy crust.
Apart from malt, another essential ingredient that enhances the flavour is brown sugar. Adding a small amount of brown sugar to the boiling water can give a subtle sweetness to the bagel’s crust. Moreover, it assists in achieving a beautiful golden-brown hue during baking.
The Importance of Shaping and Toppings
Shaping the bagels correctly is just as important as getting the dough right. Authentic New York-style bagels are not perfectly round; they are hand-rolled and thus have a certain rustic charm. To achieve this, roll your bagel dough into a log, wrap it around your hand, and roll the ends together until they stick.
The next step is to apply the everything bagel seasoning. Once your bagels have been boiled and are still damp, sprinkle the seasoning over them. This ensures that the sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and coarse salt stick to the bagels and bake into the crust.
Just before the bagels go into the oven, you can also brush them with an egg wash. This step is not necessary, but it helps to give the bagels a shiny, golden appearance. An egg wash is easily made by whisking together one egg with a tablespoon of water.
Conclusion: Savoring the Taste of Your New York-Style Bagels
In conclusion, making an authentic New York bagel with Everything seasoning at home may require some time and effort, but the end product is delectably rewarding. From high-gluten bread flour to the addition of malt and the careful boiling process, every step contributes to the unique character of the bagel.
Post baking, let your bagels rest on a baking sheet to cool off. Once they reach a comfortable temperature, spread some cream cheese on your homemade everything bagel, or enjoy it as is. The rich and flavorful taste of these New York-style bagels, with their crispy crust and tender interior, is a testament to your hard work and patience.
Remember, practice makes perfect. So don’t be disheartened if your first few attempts don’t turn out as expected. With time, you will be able to perfect your bagel recipe and make bagels that are as good as – or even better than – those from a New York bakery.
Encourage your friends and family to join in on the bagel-making process. It’s a fun, rewarding activity that allows everyone to enjoy the fruits of their labor. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the aroma of fresh, warm bagels wafting through your home. Happy bagel making!
