Sourdough Onion Bagels (Printable Version)

Chewy sourdough bagels with golden sautéed onions for a flavorful start to your day.

# Ingredient List:

→ Sourdough Starter

01 - 3.5 oz active sourdough starter at 100% hydration

→ Dough

02 - 14 oz bread flour
03 - 1.75 oz whole wheat flour
04 - 0.35 oz sea salt
05 - 0.88 oz granulated sugar
06 - 8 fl oz lukewarm water

→ Onion Topping

07 - 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil or unsalted butter
09 - 0.25 teaspoon sea salt

→ Boiling

10 - 68 fl oz water
11 - 1 tablespoon barley malt syrup or honey
12 - 1 teaspoon baking soda

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions with 0.25 teaspoon sea salt and sauté for 8 to 10 minutes until soft and golden brown. Transfer to a plate to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine sourdough starter, bread flour, whole wheat flour, sea salt, granulated sugar, and lukewarm water until a shaggy dough forms.
03 - Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl and let rest at room temperature for 4 hours. During the first 2 hours, perform two stretch-and-fold motions at 30-minute intervals.
04 - Cover the dough and refrigerate overnight for 8 to 12 hours to develop flavor and structure.
05 - Divide dough into 8 equal portions. Roll each into a ball, then poke a hole in the center and stretch gently to form a bagel shape with approximately 2-inch diameter hole.
06 - Place shaped bagels on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover loosely, and allow to rise at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours until slightly puffy.
07 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Bring water, barley malt syrup or honey, and baking soda to a rolling boil in a large pot. Boil bagels one or two at a time for 1 minute per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and return to baking sheet.
08 - While bagels are still damp, press cooled sautéed onions onto the tops of each bagel. Bake at 425°F for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked through.
09 - Transfer bagels to a wire rack and cool completely before slicing and serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • That perfect chew comes from the combination of bread flour and a long, cold fermentation that's honestly worth the wait.
  • Sautéed onions turn sweet and golden rather than sharp, making these bagels genuinely craveable for breakfast or piled high with cream cheese and lox.
02 -
  • Don't skip the cold fermentation overnight—this is where sourdough bagels actually become sourdough bagels instead of just bagel-shaped bread.
  • If your bagels sink and stay at the bottom during boiling, don't panic; they'll eventually float up, and that's when you know they're done proofing enough to hold their shape.
03 -
  • If you can't find barley malt syrup at your regular grocery store, check a baking supply shop or order online—it's the difference between good and genuinely bakery-quality bagels.
  • Shape your bagels the day after fermenting while the dough is still cold; cold dough is forgiving and holds its shape better than warm dough.
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