Homemade Bagel Pizzas with Vegetables

Ingredients:

Homemade bagel dough

• 1.5 cups (190 g) high-gluten flour
• 2 tsp. (6 g) light brown sugar
• 0.5 tsp fast-acting yeast
• 1 and 1/4 teaspoons coarse salt
• 0.5 cups (120 g) warm water (approximately 40°C)
• 2 tbsp. barley malt syrup
• Flavorless oil to grease the bowl
• 1 tbsp. baking soda
• Cooking spray for baking sheets
• 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tbsp water
• Dried crushed garlic for sprinkling

Pizza

• 1.5 cups store-bought tomato pizza sauce
• 1.5 cups finely grated mozzarella
• 12 banana pepper rings, halved
• 48 black olive rings
• 6 orange grape tomatoes, quartered (or 12, halved if too small)
• 0.5 cup broccoli florets, cut into 0.5 cm pieces
• Parmesan, freshly grated

Preparation:

1. Homemade Brown Sugar Bagels

   
   In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the flour, brown sugar, yeast, and 3/4 teaspoon of salt. In another bowl, combine the warm water with 0.5 tablespoons of barley malt syrup, then add to the dry ingredients. Mix by hand, then begin kneading with a mixer fitted with a dough hook until the dough is smooth, 7–10 minutes.
2. Place the dough in an oiled bowl, then cover with cling film and refrigerate overnight.
3. Let the dough rest at room temperature for an hour, then turn it out onto a clean work surface. Divide it into 12 equal portions and roll them into smooth balls. Form the bagels by inserting your thumb into the center of each ball and gently stretching your fingers to form a 2.5 cm (1-inch) hole. Cover the bagels with a towel and let them rise for 15 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 230°C. Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan and add baking soda and the remaining 1.5 tablespoons of barley malt syrup.
5. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats (grease well if using parchment) and place a clean kitchen towel next to a pan of simmering water.
6. Working with four bagels at a time, boil them for 1 minute on each side (time them). Using a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer them to a kitchen towel to remove excess water, then transfer them to baking sheets.
7. Brush the bagels with beaten egg and sprinkle with dried garlic and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bake until golden brown and the garlic is crisp but not burnt, about 12 minutes. Let cool slightly.
8. Bagel pizzas: Preheat oven to 200°C.
   
   Cut the bagels in half horizontally and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Top each half with a thin layer of tomato sauce and 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella. Then use half a banana pepper ring to make a mouth, two olive rings for eyes, a grape tomato for a nose, and broccoli for hair. Bake until the cheese is melted, 8–10 minutes. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve immediately. The pizzas can be refrigerated for 1–2 days or reheated in the oven before serving.