Feed sourdough starter 4-12 hours before starting this recipe. Since this recipe doesn't include any commercial active dry yeast, you will want your starter to be really nice and active.
Add the blueberries to a small saucepan over low heat. Once they start to get juicy, turn the heat up to medium and bring the mixture to a light simmer. Stir constantly, until the liquid has reduced by half. Allow the berries to cool until they are no longer hot. A little warmer than room temperature is fine, but you don’t want to kill the yeast in your sourdough starter when adding them to the dough
Add an active sourdough starter, water, honey, salt, cooked blueberries, and two cups of flour to the bowl of your stand mixer. Some people have no issue adding all of the flour right away. Others find it easier to add half now and half later.
Mix until it comes together, about 10 minutes on low speed. This is a stiff dough and can be difficult to incorporate.
Add remaining flour, half a cup at a time. Use a dough hook and knead until the dough ball is smooth and pliable
Add dried blueberries if desired and knead in.
Place in a large bowl and cover dough with a damp towel, plastic wrap, or beeswax wrap and let the dough rise at room temperature for 8 to 12 hours.
After fermentation, divide into 8 equal pieces.
Roll the bagel dough into balls, flatten them down a bit, and create the center hole in the middle of the dough with your finger. Stretch the hole a bit to widen.
Place the shaped bagels on a sheet pan or on a clean counter.
Cover with a tea towel and let the dough rest in a warm place for 1-4 hours or until puffy.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the baking soda and sugar.
Using a slotted spoon or spider, add bagels to the boiling water and boil for one minute, flip, then boil for another minute on the other side.
Shake off excess water and place boiled bagels on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
Slice and serve. I love to serve it with
homemade cream cheese.