Famous Sourdough Bagels
A step-by-step guide to making sourdough bagels at home, covering mixing, bulk fermentation, shaping, boiling, and baking for a shiny, chewy crust. This beginner-friendly recipe uses sourdough discard.
Ingredients
- bread flour
- sea salt
- sugar
- active dry yeast
- sourdough starter discard
- warm water
- egg
- everything bagel seasoning
- cheddar cheese
- pickled jalapeño slices
- chocolate chips
- blueberries
- sugar
Method
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the bread flour, sea salt, sugar, and active dry yeast.
- 2
Pour in the sourdough starter discard and the warm water.
- 3
Mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms.
- 4
Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and knead with your hands for about 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and cohesive.
- 5
Place the dough back into the bowl and cover it tightly with plastic wrap.
- 6
Let the dough rise in a warm place for 2 hours. A good spot is in the oven with only the oven light on. The dough should double in size.
- 7
Lightly grease a clean work surface. Turn the risen dough out onto the surface.
- 8
Gently fold and shape the dough into a log to create tension.
- 9
Using a bench scraper or knife, divide the dough into 16 equal portions, each weighing about 137-138 grams.
- 10
Take one portion of dough and roll it into a smooth ball.
- 11
To shape the bagel, poke a hole through the center of the dough ball with your finger. Gently stretch the dough outwards to create the classic bagel shape.
- 12
For bagels with fillings (like chocolate chips or jalapeño cheddar), flatten a dough portion, add the fillings to the center, and fold the dough over to enclose them completely before shaping into a bagel.
- 13
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons of sugar.
- 14
Carefully place the shaped bagels into the boiling water. Do not overcrowd the pot. They are ready to be flipped when they float to the surface. Boil for about 1 minute per side.
- 15
Using a slotted spoon, remove the bagels from the water, allowing excess water to drain off completely. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- 16
In a small bowl, whisk one egg to create an egg wash.
- 17
Brush the tops of the boiled bagels with the egg wash.
- 18
Add your desired toppings. For everything bagels, dip the top of the bagel into the seasoning. For jalapeño cheddar, sprinkle shredded cheese and place jalapeño slices on top.
- 19
Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F (218°C) for 18-20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- 20
Once baked, transfer the bagels to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy
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