23 Iconic Breads Around the World

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New York Style Bagels - USA

The iconic New York bagel is a delicious bread, native to the Jewish community of New York City. It's larger than commercially produced bagels and has grown over the years, now weighing in at 6 ounces or heavier. The outside crust is shiny and firm, while the inside is chewy and has that distinct "bagel" flavor we know and love. Part of what makes New York Bagels so tasty is the city's water supply, which has lower concentrations of calcium and magnesium and is used in the making of the dough, along with bread flour, sugar, yeast and salt.

But the secret to its amazing chewy texture lies in the preparation. Before being baked, the bagels are boiled in a water and malt barley solution, which causes the exterior starch to gel and form a barrier around the inside dough. This leaves them with a chewy crust and dense crumb. New York bagels come in many varieties, with all kinds of crunchy toppings and savory fillings. Don't miss the iconic bagel and lox with brined salmon, cream cheese, onion and capers.