bagel.

Crispy exterior, soft, chewy interior. Montreal style.

Ingredients:

  • 400g bread flour.

  • 220g water, warm (~100°F).

  • 1 egg.

  • 15g sugar.

  • 15g honey.

  • 15g diastatic malt powder.

  • 3g instant dry yeast.

  • 15g canola oil.

  • 13g kosher salt.

  • sesame and/or poppy seeds.

poolish:

  • 100g bread flour.

  • 100g water.

  • 1g (1/4 tsp) instant dry yeast.

boiling liquid:

  • 3L water

  • 150g honey.

cream cheese:

  • 500mL homogenous milk.

  • 250mL 35% heavy cream.

  • 1 tbsp lemon juice.

  • 5g (1 tsp salt).

Equipment:

  • large pot.

  • mixing bowl.

  • baking tray.

  • food processor.

Yield:

  • 8 bagels.

  • 1 cup of cream cheese.

Execution:

  1. poolish.

  • Mix together the poolish ingredients, cover tightly with cling film and let sit at room temperature for 8 hours.

2. mixing & cold ferment.

  • Whisk the egg, water, sugar, honey, dry yeast and oil together until well combined.

  • Separately, whisk together the flour, salt and malt powder.

  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add the poolish.

  • Stir together until it forms a shaggy dough, add salt.

  • Transfer to a work surface and knead for 12-15 minutes or until smooth.

  • If you’re using a stand mixer, knead for 7-8 minutes on medium speed.

  • Form the dough into a ball and place into a bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to proof at room temperature for 90 minutes.

3. portioning.

  • Divide the dough into 8 pieces, each weighing around 100-115g.

  • One portion at a time; roll into a log, roughly 10-11” long, and connect the two ends of the log with about 3” of overlap, now using your palm, roll the connected seam together.

  • Place the formed bagles onto a tray dusted with flour, let rest for 15 minutes.

4. boiling and baking.

  • Preheat a convection oven to 430°F.

  • Add the boiling liquid ingredients to a large pot, bring to a simmer over medium heat.

  • Once simmering add the bagels in batches, do not overcrowd.

  • Allow the bagels to cook for 30 seconds, then flip and boil for another 30 seconds.

  • Remove the bagels from the water and coat on both sides with your desired topping while still warm.

  • Place the bagels onto the parchment-lined baking tray and bake for 18-20 minutes, keep them evenly spaced out.

  • Halfway through baking rotate the tray 180°.

  • Remove from the oven once they have formed an even golden crust.

  • Allow to cool for 2 hours before serving.

5. storage.

  • Store at room temperature, covered for 2-3 days, warm up in a 350°F oven.

  • Freeze individually in plastic bags for 1 month.

6. cream cheese.

  • Combine milk and cream in a saucepan, heat the mixture to 185°F over medium heat.

  • Cut the heat, add the lemon juice and continue to stir for 2 minutes, curds should start to form and separate from the whey (yellowish liquid.)

  • Allow to sit for 5 minutes.

  • Pour the curdled milk & cream mixture into a colander lined with cheesecloth.

  • Squeeze the cheesecloth to drain as much liquid as possible.

  • Place the solids, into a food processor and season with salt, blend for about 1 minute or until smooth and aerated.

  • Season to taste with salt and lemon juice.

  • Store in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to one week.