23 Iconic Breads Around the World

12/23 Previous Next

© iStock / Getty Images Plus / MARCELOKRELLING

Challah - Israel

Beautiful, fluffy braided challah bread is a specialty of Jewish origin, often served at Shabbat and on major Jewish holidays. Its main ingredients are eggs, fine white flour, yeast, sugar, water, vegetable oil and salt, and some recipes add sesame, poppy or anise seeds as a topping. Similar in texture to brioche bread, challah is extra soft with a rich, spongy texture and eggy, delicately sweet flavor. It's delicious on its own with butter or jams, served as a side to saucy dishes, soups and stews, or even used to make bread pudding and French toast.

Try our recipe for cheesy savory pretzel challah bread.