New York Style Bagel Recipe - Finding Silver Linings (2024)

So we are in quarantine like just about everyone else in the world. Since we now have all the time we could ever want to do any given project, I’ve turned everything into a project! Breakfast has turned into it’s own little event. I’ve been whipping up coconut crusted french toast, funfetti pancakes, brown sugar candied bacon, the list goes on.

I’ve been trying to avoid going into grocery stores altogether by having my groceries delivered. The problem here is so many items are out of stock. This includes bagels.

The other day it rained and we fired up the Disney Plus and I decided it was the day to attempt making bagels from scratch. I feel like basics such as bagels are the toughest to get right.

The ingredient list is quite simple (I had everything in my pantry already). I will say the process to make these are a bit time consuming but you have to trust me on this one -these bagels are worth it. They are New York style so they are chewier than the regular bread like consistency of some.

The original recipe (here) calls for bread flour. The protein in the bread flour makes the bagels chewier. My adaptation calls for plain old all purpose flour and are just as chewy. I just boiled them for two minutes rather than one and it changes the texture.

My recipe is for plain, but you can add any toppings you’d like! I love sesame bagels, you could use poppy seeds, add cinnamon to the dough, the possibilities are limitless. I’d actually really love to add pizza seasonings and top with a sprinkle of grated cheese OMG YES!

New York Style Bagel Recipe - Finding Silver Linings (1)

NY Style Bagels

yield 8 bagels

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast (one packet)
  • 1 ½ tablespoons (4 ½ teaspoons) granulated sugar
  • 1 ¼ cups warm water(you may need a little more depending on how the dough comes together)
  • 3 ½ cups all purpose flour(you may need extra for kneading)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt
  • a little oil (whatever kind you like) for bowl
  • 1 egg white for egg wash (use a whole egg if you like a darker bagel)

Directions

1. In ½ cup of the warm water, pour in the sugar and yeast. Do not stir. Let it sit for five minutes, and then stir the yeast and sugar mixture, until it all dissolves in the water.

2. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle and pour in the yeast and sugar mixture.

3. Pour 1/3 cup of the remaining warm water into the well. Mix and stir in the rest of the water as needed. Depending on where you live, you may need to add anywhere from a couple tablespoons to about ¼ cup of water. You want a moist and firm dough after you have mixed it.

4. On a floured work surface, knead the dough for about 7 minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Try working in as much flour as possible to form a firm and stiff dough.

5. Lightly brush a large bowl with oil and turn the dough to coat. Cover the bowl with a damp dish towel. Let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size. Punch the dough down, and let it rest for another 10 minutes.

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6. Carefully divide the dough into 8 equal pieces.

7. Shape each piece into a round, making it as smooth as possible.

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8. Gently press your finger into the center of each dough ball to form a ring. Stretch the ring to about ⅓ the diameter of the bagel and place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet.

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9. After shaping the dough rounds and placing them on the cookie sheet, cover with a damp kitchen towel and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 425ºF.

10. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Reduce the heat. Carefully lower the bagels into the water. I boiled 4 at a time, but you can boil as many as you are comfortable with. Once the bagels are in, it shouldn’t take too long for them to float to the top (a couple seconds). Let them sit there for 2 minutes, and them flip them over to boil for another 2 minutes.

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11. Once all the bagels have boiled, transfer them to a lightly oiled baking sheet.

12. Whisk your egg white and brush on the bagels. This will give them a shiny crust. If you want to add toppings to your bagels, do so after the egg wash so they will stick nicely.

13. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.

New York Style Bagel Recipe - Finding Silver Linings (6)
New York Style Bagel Recipe - Finding Silver Linings (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to New York bagels? ›

The Key to a Real New York Bagel

New York bagels get boiled prior to baking, defining their special texture in a solution of water and barley malt. A long boil and thicker crust inhibit rising, resulting in a dense interior while a short boil yields a crusty yet chewy bagel bite.

What makes an authentic New York bagel? ›

NYC bagel purists will claim the main difference between a New York bagel vs. a regular bagel is the water you boil them in. Much like a specific vineyard terroir is used to make a wine, certain minerals in New York City tap water are attributed to creating the best bagels.

What makes New York bagels so different? ›

A New York–style bagel is always boiled in water that has had barley malt added, which gives a bagel its signature taste, texture, and leathery skin.

What makes NY NJ bagels so good? ›

These ingredients are mixed with Jersey water. Why is the water in New Jersey so important to the end product? Jersey has soft water that contains a low concentration of minerals. This allows for the perfect baking chemistry when mixed with the flour's high concentration of proteins.

What is the most popular bagel filling New York? ›

If you're looking for an iconic pairing, go for a bagel with plain cream cheese and lox (smoked salmon) – it's the quintessential New York Bagel sandwich.

What is the difference between a New York bagel and a regular bagel? ›

There are three main components that differentiate an NYC bagel from any other bagels: the water, the rolling of the dough, and the boiling process.

What does boiling do to bagels? ›

A brief boil gives bagels a thin and fairly elastic crust that will still allow the bagels rise quite a bit in the oven, resulting in a softer texture. A longer boil and a thicker crust prevents the bagel from rising very much at all, giving you a very dense interior.

How to get bagels shiny? ›

Baking soda makes the water more alkaline, giving the bagels a pretzel-like quality that contributes to their chewiness. Just one teaspoon helps the bagels develop a shiny, dark-brown exterior as they bake.

What is a Brooklyn style bagel? ›

Brooklyn Bagel's Plain Bagels are boiled then baked in authentic Brooklyn style, making them soft and chewy on the inside, but crunchy on the outside. Slice open, toast, and eat with butter or cream cheese. These bagels are also great to use for breakfast sandwiches.

What gives New York bagels their color? ›

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.

What is the difference between New York bagels and Jerusalem bagels? ›

Unlike the common bagel, Jerusalem bagels are not boiled before baking, so they are tender and fluffy where regular bagels are dense and chewy. Their ingredient list often includes milk or milk powder and sugar, making them slightly sweet as well. This is a super-simple and rewarding bread to make at home.

What is the secret ingredient in a bagel? ›

Maple syrup – It activates the yeast and gives the bagels a hint of sweetness. Warm water – Along with the maple syrup, it gets the yeast going, and it brings the dough together. Active dry yeast – They couldn't rise without it! Sea salt – It's key for really flavorful homemade bagels.

What is an authentic New York bagel? ›

A true New York Bagel has a shiny, thick, crisp (but not crunchy) crust and a dense chewy center with lots of flavor. It should be between 3″ and 3.5″ in diameter and about 1″ tall. Toroidal in shape with an irregular small hole in the center.

Why is NY water better for bagels? ›

Popular mythology tells us that the soft water that trickles down from the Catskills in upstate New York has a profound effect on the softness of the bagels. Since there are less minerals (magnesium and calcium, for example) in this water, the gluten proteins don't tense up and make the bagels too tough to chew.

What is the secret to making bagels? ›

10 Tips for Making Schmear-Worthy Homemade Bagels
  1. Moisture: Wetter dough means crispier bagels. ...
  2. Water temp: The colder the better. ...
  3. Dry active yeast: Let it chill. ...
  4. Flour: Embrace the gluten. ...
  5. Mixing: Low and slow is the way to go. ...
  6. The rise: Your kitchen climate is A-okay. ...
  7. Flavor kick: After the proof.
Jan 13, 2023

What do they put on bagels in New York? ›

Toppings — Traditionally accepted toppings are limited to poppy, sesame, salt, onion, and everything. Modernists toppings can include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, other "seasonings." Water — Many believe New York City water is the secret to the city's bagels.

What makes New York bagels different from other bagels iReady? ›

Explanation: The primary characteristic that makes New York-style bagels unique among other bagels is that they are boiled before they are baked. This distinctive preparation method gives New York style bagels their iconic chewy texture and slightly shiny surface.

References

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