Homemade Bagels? Pita Bread?

[chely7425]

Anyone know how to make bagels or pita bread at home? We love both of these foods but they get expensive and I would love to be able to make them myself

[Arduinna]

Yes, I've made homemade bagels, bialys, bagel dogs and pitas for a long time. The trick with bagels is you need to mix, knead, rise, shape and then boil them before baking. Bagel dogs I also boil before baking, bialys are not boiled.

Here is my basic recipe

6 ¾ cups flour, 1/2 bread 1/2 all purpose
1 ⅓ cups warm water
1 ounce fresh yeast or 1 T dried yeast
¼ cup sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
3 tablespoons oil
2 eggs
Mix all ingredients in food processor or stand mixer until dough is elastic. Raise 1 hour. Punch down, shape and boil 2 minutes. Glaze with beaten egg white and top with favorite toppings. Onions, poppy seeds ect.

Bake 500 degrees until brown.

The rules aren't strict, just use basic bread making skills and substitute the correct method if mixing with a stand mixer or by hand.

I can't find my pita recipe right now, but it's really easy to make.


I realized I forgot to add part of the process. The raise one hour is assuming you are allowing a slow rise in the fridge for 9-12 hours ( can go up to 24) and then rising 1 hour after removing from the fridge. Alternatively, you can rise on the counter until doubled.

[Magelet]

I really like to broil the bagels for a short moment then boil then bake. it gives them a nice coloring. I've only made them once, with a recipe I think it was from heavenly homemakers? it was super easy and they came out great. took a little practice to shape them well.

We make pitas quite often. We haven't perfected getting them to have a pocket, they do sometimes, sometimes they don't. we follow the primary pita recipe on the fresh loaf, with part ww flour, and instead of letting them rise then shaping, we shape then let rise, which produces more pocket-ness.

[faeriecurls]

I've made the pitas from the Moosewood cookbook a few times - they were pretty good. They also got a good pocket if you wrapped them after they come out of the oven. I started making them in college and it's been fine. I also think the Bread Bible has some good recipes for both - I haven't used them though. Check out your library to see if they have a copy.

[chely7425]

Thanks ladies! I will definitely try the recipes... my kids could eat bagels all day and we only have gross ones here so I am pretty sure anything I make at this point will be better!

[Owen'nZoe]

The pita recipe in Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything book is great. It is very quick and easy to make, and gets two thumbs up from my Arab husband.

[chely7425]

Originally Posted by Owen'nZoe

The pita recipe in Mark Bittman's How to Cook Everything book is great. It is very quick and easy to make, and gets two thumbs up from my Arab husband.

I really need to get this cook book apparently... it seems like every time I ask a question someone brings up a recipe from this book!! My birthday is coming up... maybe some subtle hint dropping is in order for my hubby!

[Pariah]

I'd love to make bagels and pitas, I've never done that before. I'm curious, why do you boil the bagels before you bake them? I've never heard of doing that for a bread-y recipe before.

[faeriecurls]

Originally Posted by Pariah

I'd love to make bagels and pitas, I've never done that before. I'm curious, why do you boil the bagels before you bake them? I've never heard of doing that for a bread-y recipe before.

The bagels are boiled to help them develop the chewy crust. They aren't boiled long, but it basically sets the exterior so it doesn't rise much when baking. That leads to the much denser interior than most other baked goods. I believe traditional German pretzels are also boiled before baking for the same reason.