Jalapeño Bagels

 

1 3/4 cups lukewarm water 1/2 teaspoon dry yeast 2 teaspoons salt 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar 5 to 6 cups flour 1/3 cup jalapeños, chopped 1/4 cup dried red peppers

Mix water, yeast, salt and sugar. Add flour and jalapeños and mix into a ball. Knead for 10 to 12 minutes, adding more flour if necessary, until dough is stiff. Add red peppers and knead for 3 minutes. Let dough rest 10 minutes, then cut into 12 pieces with a knife.

Roll each piece of dough on a table to form long cigar−like shapes. Then, for each of the twelve pieces, connect the two ends by overlapping them about 3/4 of an inch and rolling the ends together to make a ring shape. Make sure each joint is secure or it will come apart while boiling.

Cover with a damp towel and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours in a warm spot. In a large pot, bring 1 to 2 gallons of water to a rolling boil. Place bagels in boiling water and boil until they float (15 to 30 seconds). Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.