Bagel

A bagel is a traditional Jewish round yeast bun with a characteristic chewy texture and a hole in the centre. Originating in eastern Europe, bagels are now popular worldwide, especially in the United States, where New York bagels are said to be some of the finest examples.

This doughnut-shaped bread is usually made with plain white wheat flour, although other flours may be used, such as rye or wholemeal. The dough may be plain, or it may also be enriched with other ingredients to add flavour and texture, including cinnamon, onions, raisins, seeds, herbs, garlic or cheese. Once prepared, the dough is not cooked just by baking as other doughs are; they are first poached in boiling water for a few seconds and then baked. Boiling the dough prevents it from rising any further during baking, helping to create its distinctive soft and chewy texture.

Bagels are usually split into two flat rings and eaten plain, toasted, or spread (or filled) with a sweet or savoury topping. Popular fillings include smoked salmon, cream cheese, bacon, peanut butter or jam. They soon go stale, so are best eaten as fresh as possible.