Bialy (bread)

A bialy, or bialystoker kuchen, is a small, chewy roll that is a traditional bread originating from Białystok, Poland. It is similar to a bagel, but unlike a bagel, a bialy is not boiled before baking. Instead, it has a depression in the center rather than a hole, and this depression is typically filled with cooked and minced onions and poppy seeds.

The bialy is made from simple ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. The dough is proofed, then formed into small rounds with a depression in the center. The onion and poppy seed filling is added, and the bialys are baked in a hot oven.

While bagels have become a widespread bakery item throughout North America and beyond, bialys are generally found in specialized bakeries, particularly those with a Jewish heritage or those specializing in Eastern European baked goods. Some consider them a more authentic or traditional alternative to the bagel. The texture is chewier and less dense than a bagel, and the onion filling provides a savory flavor.

The name "bialy" is simply a shortened version of "bialystoker," meaning "from Białystok," referring to the city where the bread originated. The bialy's history is intertwined with the Jewish community of Białystok, and it has been brought to other countries by Jewish immigrants.