A bagel is a type of bread product originating from Jewish communities in Poland. It's traditionally shaped by hand into the form of a ring from yeasted wheat dough, boiled briefly in water, and then baked. This process gives bagels their distinctive dense, chewy interior and slightly crisp exterior. Bagels are often topped with seeds, such as sesame or poppy, or other ingredients like salt or onion. They are commonly eaten with spreads such as cream cheese or butter, and can be filled with various ingredients to make sandwiches.