Sourdough bagel recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup active sourdough starter

• 1 1/2 cups warm water

• 4 cups bread flour

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 1 tablespoon honey or malt syrup

• Optional toppings: sesame seeds, poppy seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, etc.

Instructions:

1. Mixing the Dough:

• In a large bowl, combine the active sourdough starter, warm water, bread flour, salt, and honey (or malt syrup).

• Mix the ingredients until they come together into a dough.

2. Kneading:

• Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.

3. First Rise:

• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise at room temperature until doubled. This may take 4-8 hours, depending on the temperature and the strength of your sourdough starter.

4. Shaping:

• After the first rise, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and divide it into equal portions. Shape each portion into a ball and poke a hole in the center to form a bagel shape.

5. Second Rise:

• Allow the shaped bagels to rise for another 1-2 hours, or until they have puffed up.

6. Boiling:

• Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Carefully lower the bagels into the boiling water and boil for about 1-2 minutes per side.

7. Optional Toppings:

• If you want to add toppings, sprinkle them on the bagels right after boiling while they are still wet.

8. Baking:

• Transfer the bagels to a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

9. Cooling:

• Allow the bagels to cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.

Enjoy your delicious homemade sourdough bagels!