Homemade Bialys Recipe (topped with Caramelized Onions) - Tickling Palates (2024)

Love baking fresh bread from scratch, then I’m sure you will love these homemade bialys, where the dough meets tradition in a delightful fusion of flavour and heritage. Bialys are made from yeast dough, similar to bread dough, and are typically smaller and flatter than bagels.

The defining feature of a bialy is its centre indentation, which is filled with a mixture of diced onions and sometimes poppy seeds. These are often enjoyed as a breakfast or brunch item. These homemade bialys can be served plain or with toppings like cream cheese, butter, or smoked salmon. The pronunciation of bialys goes like bee-AH-lee.

The history of this savoury bread recipe is as rich and flavorful as the bread itself. Originating from Bialystok, a city in Poland, bialys has a heritage that dates back to the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe in the early 20th century.

Unlike bagels, which are boiled before baking, bialys are made with a simple dough that's similar to that of bread. The defining characteristic of homemade bialys is their centre indentation filled with a mixture of onions and sometimes poppy seeds. This unique feature distinguishes them from other bread varieties and gives them their distinctive flavour profile.

Bialys were traditionally made by Jewish bakers in Bialystok and quickly became a staple in Jewish cuisine, particularly among immigrant communities in the United States. They were a beloved breakfast item, often enjoyed with cream cheese or butter.

Over time, bialys gained popularity beyond Jewish communities and became a beloved delicacy enjoyed by people of all backgrounds. Today, bialys can be found in bakeries and kitchens around the world, each with its interpretation of the classic recipe.

Despite their humble origins, bialys have become a symbol of cultural fusion and culinary creativity, embodying the spirit of tradition while embracing innovation. With each bite, bialys offer a taste of history and a glimpse into the vibrant tapestry of Eastern European cuisine.

Top Tip

Bialys achieve their signature chewiness through the use of flour that contains high levels of gluten. If you're able to find bread flour, that's the ideal choice for making bialys.

Alternatively, if bread flour isn't available, you can use all-purpose flour and enhance its gluten content by adding 1 tablespoon of vital wheat gluten for every 3 cups of flour.

However, if neither bread flour nor vital wheat gluten is accessible, don't worry! You can still make delicious bialys using plain flour. Simply dust and roll them with whole wheat flour to achieve that wonderful chewy crust.

Recipe Notes

Using whole wheat flour for dusting gave the rolls a wonderful crust for me despite not using bread flour.

You can use poppy seeds along with onions and also crumbled cottage cheese for the filling.

You can store it in an air-tight bin for up to 2 days.

If the Bialys get cold just microwave it for a few seconds and serve it warm.

Oven timings will change accordingly.

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