Dishes to dive into after breaking fast this Yom Kippur

Enlarge this image

Bagels, quiche, fish platters, honey cake and sweet kugel are just a few of the dishes people indulge in after completing their Yom Kippur fast. In order, from left: Matt Taylor-Gross/Jake Cohen; Jamie Geller; Russ & Daughters Cafe hide caption

Bagels, quiche, fish platters, honey cake and sweet kugel are just a few of the dishes people indulge in after completing their Yom Kippur fast.

Every year, millions of Jews mark Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day, fasting for 25 hours while reflecting on the past year and seeking God's forgiveness. Participants break the fast by indulging in assorted traditional and modern dishes.

NPR reached out to a handful of chefs, cooks and food fanatics from across the country to assemble a smorgasbord to break the fast after this year's Yom Kippur, which begins at sundown Tuesday and ends Wednesday evening.

Enlarge this image

Jamie Geller's Jerusalem bagels are a more traditional option for fans of assorted cheeses and meats. Jamie Geller hide caption

Jamie Geller's Jerusalem bagels are a more traditional option for fans of assorted cheeses and meats.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Jamie Geller recalls breaking fast potluck style after hours of prayer at the synagogue. Family and friends indulged on a fish platter, quiches, pastas, pastries and, of course, bagels.

"It's almost sacrilegious to break that fast without bagels," Geller told NPR.

Geller, a bestselling cookbook author and business executive, says bagels are a cornerstone of any break-fast celebration. "A lightly toasted, whole wheat, everything bagel dripping with butter is one of my guilty pleasures and favorite indulgences," she said. "I'd rather this than a cake for my birthday!"

The Salt The Secret To Making It Through A Yom Kippur Fast? Kreplach

Bagels are a warm comfort food that can be schmeared with assorted toppings — butter, flavored cream cheeses, egg salads — and topped with fish, veggies and more.

Geller recommends baking Jerusalem bagels for this year's Yom Kippur. Soft to the touch and smothered in sesame seeds, these better-than-your-average bagels take about an hour-and-a-half to make.

Enlarge this image

Jake Cohen grew up breaking the Yom Kippur fast with bagels. He put a spin on his beloved bagels by creating the everything bagel tomato galette. Matt Taylor-Gross/Jake Cohen hide caption

Jake Cohen grew up breaking the Yom Kippur fast with bagels. He put a spin on his beloved bagels by creating the everything bagel tomato galette.

Not only is Jake Cohen a bestselling cookbook author, he's also a culinary content creator with 1.4 million followers on TikTok and another 780,000 on Instagram.