We just reached the end of our ten-episode season run over on the Things Bakers Know podcast, and we went out with a bang (or, er, boil?) with an episode devoted entirely to bagels. If you listen to the show regularly, you’re familiar with the segment lovingly called “Jess-opinions,” in which co-host Jessica Battilana drops her most fervent (and occasionally controversial) takes. But this time, it was fellow host David Tamarkin who brought the heat, when he declared that New York bagels are trash.
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Before you break out your pitchforks, know that David followed up with a lot of nuanced clarification of that statement, and acknowledged that you can find great bagels in the Big Apple, where he’s lived for decades. But it inspired my own hot take — a Rossi-pinion, if you will. And that is that sweet bagels are good! And they should be celebrated, not denigrated! Case in point: These Cinnamon-Sugar Crunch Bagels, which are a loving homage to the Panera version that many of us grew up eating.
But if you don’t agree with me and prefer a more classic bagel, I’d suggest Martin’s Bagels, which include a lengthy fermentation time for maximum flavor. Or try Montreal Bagels, smaller and slightly sweeter than their New York counterparts, thanks to honey in the boiling water. And if you’re a sourdough baker, you’ll love these naturally leavened Sourdough Bagels, which have a subtle tang and pleasant chew.
Of course, bagels make the best breakfast sandwiches, and nothing proves that more than our 2021 Recipe of the Year, Ultimate Sandwich Bagels. Come for the bagel, stay for the ingenious “egg packet” that hides inside.
The matter of where to find great bagels may be worth debating, but with these recipes, one place is guaranteed to deliver: your home kitchen.
