Bagels
When I lived in London we’d pick up warm Bagels from Brick Lane and enjoy fresh for Breakfast or stuffed for lunch, toasted for an afternoon snack or baked - filled with blue cheese and smoked bacon.
These Bagels can be frozen but are best eaten fresh.
Preparation time: 30 minutes plus proving time Quantity: Makes 10 Bagels Cooking time: 40 minutes
Ingredients
1x 6-7g sachet dried yeast
280 ml warm water
3 tablespoons caster sugar
2 teaspoons salt
450g/1lb. strong flour -sieved
Suggested Fillings -
pastrami and pickles
smoked salmon and cream cheese
salt beef and English mustard
roll mops and red onion
smoked chicken and cucumber
tuna Mayo and sweetcorn
salami and olive tapenade
crayfish, rocket and lemon mayo
rare beef and horseradish
brie and watercress
Method
- In a jug mix the yeast,100 ml of the warm water and 1 tablespoon of the sugar
- Leave somewhere warm for 5-10 minutes to rise, froth up and activate
- Pour in to a big bowl with the remaining, salt and half of the flour
- Stir till mixed
- Add enough of the remaining flour to form a dough ball - firm but not too soft and sticky - add a little more flour if needed
- Kneed well for 6-10 minutes till it springs back - the dough should be smooth and slightly elastic
- Place in a bowl and cover with a damp tea towel
- Leave somewhere warm till the dough doubles in size, approx. 40-60 minutes
- Knock back the mix and knead for a few minutes
- Divide the mix equally in to 10
- Roll each on tin to a ball, flatten down slightly and make a hole in the middle with your thumb, a wooden spoon end or a steal - make the hole approx. 2-3 cm wide ( I break the hole with my thumb and twirl it round one of my fingers to increase the hole size)
- Meanwhile bring a large pan of water to the boil with the remaining sugar
- Boil the bagels in batches for 40-60 seconds on each side
- Place on a greased tray
- Bake in a preheated oven gas 7/200*c/400*f for 25 minutes until golden
- Cool on a wire rack and serve warm for breakfast or stuffed with cream cheese and gherkins for a light lunch