Recipe: Rye Caraway Bagels


This week I decided to go back to basics. When first starting this blog my intention was to learn to bake at home. I had a long list of everything I wanted to try and over two years on there's still so much I feel like I haven't covered.

Top of said list, bagels. The recipe is from Ruby Tandoh's first baking book, Crumb, which is full of simple, unpretentious home bakes and great flavour combinations.

Rye caraway bagels
(Makes 8, recipe from Ruby Tandoh's Crumb)

325g strong white flour
125g dark rye flour
7g instant dried yeast
1 1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp sugar
250ml lukewarm water
1 tbsp oil
2 tbsp caraway seeds
Flour or polenta, to dust
2 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
4 tbsp water
1/2 tsp salt
30g poppy seeds
Oil, to grease

Mix together the flours and yeast in a large bowl. Add the salt and sugar, followed by the water and oil. Combine well with hands or on a medium speed with a dough hook in a stand mixer. Continue to knead for 10 minutes (on a low speed if using a stand mixer). The mix should be much less sticky than regular breads. Gently knead in the caraway seeds before covering the bowl with cling film and leaving to prove for 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size.

Turn out the risen dough, divide into 8 and shape. To shape into bagels, roll into a ball, push your finger through the centre and twirl around your finger to widen the hole. Dust a baking tray with flour or polenta, place the shaped bagels on and leave to prove for 30-45 minutes at room temperature. The bagels should have risen to almost 1 1/2 times their size.

Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180 degrees and bring a large pan of water to the boil. Add the bicarbonate of soda to the boiling water and turn down to simmer. In small batches, cook the bagels in the water for 60 seconds each side. Remove with a slotted spoon and place onto well-greased baking trays.

Mix together the 4 tbsp of water and salt and brush over the bagels. Sprinkle with poppy seeds and bake for 25 minutes.


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1 comment

  1. Thank you (from New York) for posting this recipe, Sophie. Just baked 7 of these bagels which are pretty good and with a few tweaks can be excellent:

    • dough needs more water. Too dry, causing cracks during shaping. Dough should be slightly tacky.

    • flour balance needs more rye for flavor or less white. High gluten wheat flour makes a difference in the texture.

    •. Bake at 500°F (260°C), about 12 min. on one side, then flip for additional 5 minutes. Use parchment paper without oil to line the pan.

    • 2 tbsp caraway seeds, no topping needed, but the poppy seeds are OK. Definitely no salt needed.

    • add 2 tsp. Malt powder

    •. Add 1 tsp. molasses

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