Fresh bagels at home? Yes, please! These homemade bagels take a little time, but they are well worth it. They come out golden on the outside, soft and chewy inside, and ready for all your favourite fillings. Recipe compliments of Instant Pot.

Prep time: 1 hour | Cook time: 20 mins | Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 2 1/2 tsp instant yeast
• 4 1/4 cups flour (bread or self-raising)
• 1 Tbsp sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup milk

Method 

1. Add the yeast to the warm water and let it stand for 5 minutes to activate.
   Slowly mix in the flour, sugar and salt and massage together until a dough forms. You can use a stand mixer or just mix with a wooden spoon.
2. Once a dough forms, use your hands to knead the dough until it is pliable.
3. Once kneaded, insert the inner pot, place the dough inside and switch on to Keep Warm mode and set time for 60 min. Cover with the lid or a cloth.
4. Once the Instant Pot beeps, remove the lid and the dough, which will have risen. Remove the dough and cut it into equal-sized pieces. Then roll into small fist-sized balls. Push your finger into the centre of each ball to make the hole and form the bagels.
5. Wipe down the inner pot and then add 4 cups of water, set to Sauté mode, and bring to a boil.
6. Once the water is boiling, keep it at a rolling boil and add the bagels to boil for 1 minute. Then gently remove and set aside to dry.
7. Brush with milk and add your seeds of choice.
8. Set to Bake at 200°C for 10 minutes, turning halfway. The bagels will be a beautiful golden colour when done.