Asiago Cheese and Truffle Salt Bagels

Pretty much the best day ever, you may recall, is the day I made bagels last year. Talk about life changing- Bubbe was so proud! One day, I assume, marriage and kiddos will surpass this as the pinnacle of my life, but for now, bagels it is. Sorry Bubbe! I mean how can children hold a candle to the waft of freshly tasted homemade bagels awaiting schmear? That’s what I thought. Last year’s bagels were delicious and all, but I upped the ante this year with cheese. I’m sorry, how awesome is cheese? Makes anything better. And then I added my new addiction- truffle salt. Oh no she didn’t! Yes I did. Truffles are a fungus similar to mushrooms that pretty much tastes like heaven. Since purchasing my truffle salt, I have sprinkled it on everything. Brussels spouts? Yes please! Mashed potatoes? Don’t mind if I do! Ice cream? Why the heck not!

Hello, lover. Here is all you need for your own bagels. I adapted my recipe from this one. Hey I don’t know how to make bagels yet- I’m good but I’m not that good.

New Year’s Eve hat optional. First up, make the sponge by stirring 1/2 teaspoon yeast into 2 cups bread flour in a large bowl. Then add 1 1/4 cups water until you get a smooth batter. Then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for two hours until the batter is foamy and bubbly.

In the same bowl, add the additional 1/4 teaspoon of yeast and stir. Then add 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the salt and honey. Stir with a wooden spoon or mix on low speed with a dough hook until you form a ball, Then work in the other 1/2 cup flour to stiffen the dough (you may not need all the flour).

Then knead for 10 minutes (or about 6 minutes by mixer). Add the Asiago cheese during the last minute of kneading (I kneaded the cheese in by hand to ensure it was even.) The dough should be firm and thoroughly mixed. If it is dry, add a but more water, and if it is sticky, add a bit more flour.

Now we are getting there! I can almost smell these tasty bagels. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces and roll into balls. Cover the rolls with a damp towel and let them to rest for 20 minutes.

Now line a sheet pan with parchment paper. To shape the bagels, push a roll through the center and stretch out the hole to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Put the bagels on the pan and cover lightly with plastic wrap. Let sit for 20 minutes.

To test the bagels to see if they are ready to retard in the refrigerator, your bagels need to pass the float test. Basically, fill a bowl with room temperature water. If your bagels float within 10 seconds of being dropped in the water it is ready! Pat it dry, cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. If it doesn’t float, return the bagel to the pan and let it proof more. Check again every 10 minutes until the bagel floats.

The next day, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F with the one rack set in the middle of the oven. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the baking soda. Drop the bagels into the water, boiling only as many as will fit. After 1 minute flip them over and boil another minute. While the bagels are boiling, sprinkle the same parchment-lined sheet pans with cornmeal. Sprinkle the bagels with the shredded Asiago cheese and more truffle salt as soon as you remove them from the water.

Almost there! When all the bagels have been boiled and topped, place the pans in the oven. Bake for 8 minutes, then rotate 180-degrees, lower the oven temperature to 450 degrees F and continue baking for 8 more minutes, or until the bagels are brown and the cheese is melted. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving. Or do what I did and rip into a warm bagel immediately!

Oh man I wish you could smell these.

Please pass a mimosa. Thanks.

Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker.

Asiago Cheese and Truffle Salt Bagles

Amy

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Servings 6

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• Sponge:
• 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 1/4 cups room temperature water
• Dough:
• 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
• 2 cups bread flour
• 2½ teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 cup Asiago cheese shredded
• Bagels:
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• Cornmeal for dusting
• 1/2 cup Asiago cheese shredded

Instructions

 

• Make the sponge by stirring 1/2 teaspoon yeast into 2 cups bread flour in a large bowl.
• Add 1 1/4 cups water until you get a smooth batter. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for two hours until the batter is foamy and bubbly.
• In the same bowl, add the additional 1/4 teaspoon of yeast and stir.
• Add 1 1/2 cups of the flour and the salt and honey. Stir with a wooden spoon or mix on low speed with a dough hook until you form a ball, Then work in the other 1/2 cup flour to stiffen the dough (you may not need all the flour).
• Then knead for 10 minutes (or about 6 minutes by mixer). Add the Asiago cheese during the last minute of kneading (I kneaded the cheese in by hand to ensure it was even.) The dough should be firm and thoroughly mixed. If it is dry, add a but more water, and if it is sticky, add a bit more flour.
• Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces and roll into balls. Cover the rolls with a damp towel and let them to rest for 20 minutes.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. To shape the bagels, push a roll through the center and stretch out the hole to 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Put the bagels on the pan and cover lightly with plastic wrap. Let sit for 20 minutes.
• To test the bagels to see if they are ready to retard in the refrigerator, your bagels need to pass the float test. Basically, fill a bowl with room temperature water. If your bagels float within 10 seconds of being dropped in the water it is ready! Pat it dry, cover the pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. If it doesn’t float, return the bagel to the pan and let it proof more. Check again every 10 minutes until the bagel floats.
• The next day, preheat the oven to 500 degrees F with the one rack set in the middle of the oven.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the baking soda. Drop the bagels into the water, boiling only as many as will fit. After 1 minute flip them over and boil another minute. While the bagels are boiling, sprinkle the same parchment-lined sheet pans with cornmeal. Sprinkle the bagels with the shredded Asiago cheese and more truffle salt as soon as you remove them from the water.
• When all the bagels have been boiled and topped, place the pans in the oven. Bake for 8 minutes, then rotate 180-degrees, lower the oven temperature to 450 degrees F and continue baking for 8 more minutes, or until the bagels are brown and the cheese is melted. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Notes

Prep time does not include retarding in refrigerator overnight.

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Amy

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