What Are Bagels?
Bagel is a type of bread made from flour, yeast, and water. It is shaped into a ring or donut. It has a crispy and shiny exterior, whereas the interior is dense and chewy. The bagel came from Polish cuisine and was introduced by the Jewish community living in Poland. However, the earliest record of a bread that was shaped like a ring and was boiled first and then baked was mentioned in an Arabic cookbook of the 13th century. However, it was the Polish Jews that made the rest of the world familiar with this technique of making a ring-shaped bread or bagel. Today, you can find different styles of bagels all across the world.
What Makes Bagels Different From Bread?
Although the recipe or ingredients for both bagel and bread are the same, the preparation makes the two so different from each other. Here is how a bagel is different from bread:
- Firstly, a bagel is shaped like a ring or a donut with a hole. In contrast, the bread is generally in a rectangular or elongated shape.
- Bread is baked in the oven by mixing all the ingredients. But to make a bagel, you must first shape the dough, then boil it for a few seconds or minutes, and then bake it.
- A bagel has a dense and chewy texture, whereas bread is fluffy and moist.
- The crust of a bagel is crisper and thicker than that of bread.
How to Shape Bagels?
Start by rolling the dough piece using your hands on a floured surface in such a way that it shapes like a cylinder. Now hold one end of the cylinder between your thumb and index finger, and wrap the other end on your hand to meet the first end. Pinch the two ends together and remove the leftover piece. You will get a homemade bagel bread ring.
What to Serve with Bagels?
You can enjoy homemade bagels as both a sweet and savory dish. Here are a few ideas for you to try:
Peanut butter and jelly: Try peanut butter and jelly in a bagel instead of bread. You will enjoy it.
Cream cheese: A simple cream cheese filling with your favorite fruits that go so well in a bagel.
Nutella: You can never have enough of Nutella in a bagel. Try hazelnut spread as well!
Smoked salmon: Smoked salmon, cream cheese, and leafy greens are a perfect savory combination with a bagel.
Egg benedict: Give yourself a breakfast treat with egg benedict on a bagel with fresh tomatoes on the side.
Chicken: Turn a bagel into a leftover chicken sandwich with shredded chicken, marinara sauce, and a slice of cheese.
Here are our delicious recipes that you can serve with Bagels:
How To Store Bagels?
Wrap the bagel in parchment paper and place it in a plastic zip-lock bag. Place it in a cool, dry place or refrigerate. It will stay fresh for up to 5 days. Moreover, you can also freeze bagels. To do so, cut them in half, place the slices in a zip lock bag and refrigerate. Reheat in the microwave once they reach room temperature. Frozen bagels will last for up to 2 months.
