Onion rolls are a roll of

Ashkenazi Jewish Ashkenazi Jews ( ; also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim) form a distinct subgroup of the Jewish diaspora, that Ethnogenesis, emerged in the Holy Roman Empire around the end of the first millennium Common era, CE. They traditionally spe ...

origin similar to a bun, that is made of a soft, slightly sweet dough similar to

challah Challah or hallah ( ; , ; 'c'''hallot'', 'c'''halloth'' or 'c'''hallos'', ), also known as berches in Central Europe, is a special bread in Jewish cuisine, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat ...

, containing dried onions throughout which create its signature flavor. It is often topped with dried onions, and occasionally poppy seeds.

Overview

Onion rolls are a small roll, originating in the Jewish communities of Eastern Europe several hundred years ago. The rolls contain flour, water, eggs, oil, salt, yeast, sugar, dried onions, and often poppy seeds. Today they are most typically used for sandwiches by those in the

Jewish community Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, religion, and community are highly inte ...

, although they are also used as a dinner roll and can be commonly found at Jewish delis and bakeries across North America and Israel.

History

Early history

Onion rolls originated in the

community of Eastern Europe several hundred years ago, and were brought to the Americas by

Jewish refugees This article lists expulsions, refugee crises and other forms of displacement that have affected Jews. Timeline The following is a list of Jewish expulsions and events that prompted significant streams of Jewish refugees. Assyrian captivity ...

fleeing Eastern Europe at the turn of the 20th century (late 1800s). These refugees brought their traditional

Jewish foods Jewish cuisine refers to the worldwide cooking traditions of the Jews, Jewish people. During its evolution over the course of many centuries, it has been shaped by Kashrut, Jewish dietary laws (''kashrut''), Jewish holidays, Jewish festivals and ...

with them to their new homes in America, especially in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, which became a center of Jewish culture and was where the onion roll became most notable.

20th century

Onion rolls could be found at Jewish bakeries, restaurants, delicatessens, and markets around the United States and other places with a significant Jewish population. However most notably, the kosher dairy restaurant

Ratner's Ratner's was a famous kosher restaurant, kosher Jewish dairy restaurant (''milkhik'') on the Lower East Side of New York City. Ownership Ratner's was founded in 1905 by Jacob Harmatz and his brother-in-law Alex Ratner, who supposedly flipped a ...

opened in

’s

Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Historically, it w ...

neighborhood in 1908, and began serving its famous onion rolls soon after. These onion rolls became famous both within the Jewish community and among other New Yorkers as well. The restaurant opened several more locations but eventually, they all closed in 2002. At the restaurant’s peak up to 3,000 onion rolls were baked and served every day.

2002–present

According to

Jewish American American Jews (; ) or Jewish Americans are American citizens who are Jewish, whether by culture, ethnicity, or religion. According to a 2020 poll conducted by Pew Research, approximately two thirds of American Jews identify as Ashkenazi, 3% id ...

cookbook author and baker Stanley Ginsburg, ''“It’s almost impossible to find a decent onion roll.”'', since the closing of Ratner’s in 2002 which prompted him to help write a cookbook, ''”Inside the Jewish Bakery”'', offering his version of an onion roll, and other classic Jewish breads and other baked goods. Onion rolls have since been featured in other Jewish baking cookbooks as well. The family that formerly owned Ratner's later published a book with a recipe for their original onion rolls after the restaurant's closing. Today onion rolls are most commonly found in supermarkets across the

Northeastern United States The Northeastern United States (also referred to as the Northeast, the East Coast, or the American Northeast) is List of regions of the United States, census regions United States Census Bureau. Located on the East Coast of the United States, ...

, as well as the

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

and Miami areas, due to their large Jewish populations. Onion rolls are sold by a variety of brands including ''Kasanoff’s, Miami Onion Roll Company, Ratner’s, Zomick’s'', and others in stores across the country. Bakeries in Detroit have created a “New Yorker Onion Roll”, which is made in the style of Ratner’s. Onion rolls are also still found in Jewish bakeries and dairy restaurants in the United States, as well as Israel.

In popular culture

Onions rolls are a popular bread in Jewish culture, particularly the

American Jewish American Jews (; ) or Jewish Americans are American citizens who are Jewish, whether by culture, ethnicity, or religion. According to a 2020 poll conducted by Pew Research, approximately two thirds of American Jews identify as Ashkenazi, 3% ide ...

culture of

, where they are commonly served at Jewish bakeries, delis, kosher markets and restaurants. They have also been featured in popular culture. Onions rolls were the most famous food served at the popular, but now-closed

restaurant in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

’s

, a

kosher (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, ), from the Ashke ...

restaurant only offering foods made with dairy. Ratner's was an iconic Jewish restaurant in the city for many decades, and its onion rolls were very popular among its clientele, some of whom still remember them and attempt to recreate them to this day. According to the restaurant's cookbook, the winner and undisputed champion at Ratner's was its famous onion rolls which were featured on every table with every meal served at the restaurant. More than 1500 onion rolls were baked daily, 3000 on Sundays. Onion rolls were featured in the 2000 movie, '' Boiler Room'' where the main character Seth, (Giovanni Ribisi) has a meal with his family. An exterior shot shows the front of the restaurant. The interior scene that immediately follows shows Ratner's famous onion rolls on the family's table.

Notes and references

{{Jewish baked goods Jewish breads Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine Onion-based foods