There's nothing quite like a fresh, New York style hot bagel straight from the oven.
And if you want to capture the authentic flavor and texture of a New York bagel, you'll need to follow a few key steps.
First, it's important to use the right type of flour. New York bagels are traditionally made with high-gluten flour, which gives them their distinctive chewy texture. You can find high-gluten flour at most specialty baking stores or online.
Next, you'll need to mix the dough. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Slowly add in warm water and mix until the dough comes together in a rough ball. Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, until it becomes smooth and elastic. Cover the dough with a damp cloth and set it aside to rise for about an hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Once the dough has risen, it's time to shape the bagels. Divide the dough into equal pieces (about 8 pieces for standard-sized bagels). Roll each piece into a ball and then use your thumb to make a hole in the center. Gently stretch the hole until it's about 2 inches in diameter. Place the shaped bagels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and set aside to rise for another 20-30 minutes.
While the bagels are rising, bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a generous amount of malt syrup or barley malt. Malt syrup gives the bagels their characteristic golden color and slightly sweet flavor. Boil the bagels for about 1 minute on each side, then remove them from the pot with a slotted spoon and place them back on the baking sheet.
Now it's time to top the bagels. You can either brush them with an egg wash (a beaten egg mixed with a splash of water) and sprinkle with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or other toppings of your choice, or you can skip the egg wash and just sprinkle the seeds on top.
Bake the bagels in a preheated 425 degree Fahrenheit oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Remove the bagels from the oven and transfer them to a wire rack to cool.
And that's it! With a little bit of time and patience, you can enjoy the delicious taste of straight-from-New-York bagels right in your own home. Just be sure to invite some friends over to share them with – there's nothing quite like a warm, freshly-baked bagel to bring people together.
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