Bread & rolls
Boiled sesame bagels
A brief water bath sets the bagel surface before the rings enter the oven.
- Total time
- 200 min
- Servings / pieces
- 8
- Topic
- Bread & rolls
A brief water bath sets the bagel surface before the rings enter the oven. Relatively firm dough gives a close, chewy crumb. Make the holes larger than the desired finished size because they shrink during proofing. The timing includes the stated rises, which can take longer in a cool kitchen. Watch volume and dough tension as well as the clock. Weigh flour and liquid, keeping extra dusting flour separate from the measured dough ingredients.
Method
Step by step
- 01
Mix
Thoroughly combine flour, water, yeast, sugar and salt.
- 02
Develop the dough
Knead for about eight to ten minutes by hand or at low mixer speed. The dough should become cohesive and elastic. Brief pauses help if the mixture still tears readily while you are working it.
- 03
Let rise
Rise for 60–75 minutes until visibly enlarged without becoming excessively soft.
- 04
Shape
Shape eight balls, pierce their centres and widen each hole to four centimetres. Rest for 20 minutes.
- 05
Bake
Heat the oven to 220°C conventional. Gently simmer water with honey. Poach bagels for 30 seconds per side, drain, add sesame and bake for 20–24 minutes until golden.
- 06
Cool
Cool on a wire rack so steam can escape from the underside too. Slice only once the crumb is no longer hot; cutting too early can compress the interior and make it seem gummy.
Times are a guide. Your hob, oven and ingredients affect the result; use the cooking cues as well as the clock.
Ingredients and dough texture
Longer boiling creates a firmer outer layer. Keep to the stated timing for the first batch. Sesame adheres to the damp surface; do not coat the rings in extra flour before adding seeds.
Serving and storing
Split when cool and serve with cream cheese. Slice before freezing so the halves can later be toasted separately.
Kitchen questions
One more question?
Why do the holes close?
The initial holes were too small or the rings overproved.
Can I omit honey?
Yes; the bath still works, but surface browning changes slightly.
How can I coat all sides with sesame?
Gently turn the damp bagels in a shallow bowl of sesame without compressing them. Sprinkling instead mainly covers the top and uses fewer seeds, which is also acceptable.
