Sourdough Pretzel Bagels

Directions

1. In a large bowl, stir together the water and yeast and let sit until it gets foamy, about 5 minutes*. Add the sourdough starter, flour, and salt and either knead—by hand or use the dough hook on a stand mixer to form a stiff but slightly sticky dough. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and set it aside to rise for 1 hour (or let rise in fridge overnight). Gently deflate the dough, and let it rise for another 30 minutes.
2. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, and divide it into 12 pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth, round ball. Cover the balls with plastic wrap, and let them rest for 30 minutes. They'll puff up very slightly.
3. While the dough is resting, prepare the water bath by bringing the water and sugar to a very gentle boil in a wide-diameter saute pan. Preheat oven to 450°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
4. Use your index finger to poke a hole through the center of each ball, then twirl the dough on your finger to stretch the hole until it's about 2 inches in diameter (whole bagel about 3-1/2"). Place each bagel on the prepared baking sheet, and repeat with the remaining pieces of dough.
5. Transfer the bagels four at a time into the simmering water. Cook the bagels for 2 minutes, flip, and cook 1 minute more. Using a skimmer or strainer, or the end of a wooden spoon, remove the bagels from the water and place them back on the baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with coarse sea salt. Repeat with the remaining bagels.
6. Bake the bagels for about 25 minutes, or until they're as deep brown as you like. Remove the bagels from the oven, and cool completely on a rack. Best when eaten within 24 hours as the salt will dissolve over time.