8 Satisfying Foods to Break Your Fast on Yom Kippur

Fasting is an important part of observing Yom Kippur. But when the sun sets, it's time to enjoy some satisfying, delicious dishes. Whether you're hosting the break fast in your home or heading out somewhere else, these foods are sure to make even the pickiest of your friends and family happy. After 25 hours of fasting, the more variety the better. We're in favor of a smorgasbord of options.

You can prep all these foods two days ahead of time, so all you have to do is add some small finishing touches right before serving. And if you are the home of choice this year, don't forget to get that coffee maker filled and ready to brew. 

The bagel is a perfect Yom Kippur break-fast food, so it's the ideal place to start when planning your post-fasting meal. Opt for a delicious avocado toast-inspired sandwich with an egg for plenty of satisfying protein.

1. Before the holiday, pick up a couple of avocados that aren't quite ripe. They can ripen on the kitchen counter so they're perfect when you need them.
2. When you're ready to break your fast, mash the avocados with your choice of seasoning (we like everything bagel seasoning, but it's up to you).
3. Poach an egg for each person, and while the egg is poaching, cut and toast the bagels.
4. Top one bagel half with mashed avocado and a poached egg and add the other half on top. It's a little messy to eat, but we promise you'll love it.

How lucky are we that Yom Kippur falls right at the tail end of tomato season? Pick up some delicious tomatoes the day before the holiday, along with cream cheese, lox, and any other toppings you enjoy.

1. When you're ready to eat, toast the bagels and generously smear them with the cream cheese.
2. Slice up the tomatoes and add at least one big slice to each bagel.
3. Top them with lox.

We like to eat these open-faced, but you can also go sandwich-style if you prefer.

Speaking of tomatoes being in season, this is the perfect time for a caprese salad. It goes perfectly with a simple vegetarian broccoli quiche you can bake before the holiday. Heat the quiche up before you eat it if you'd rather have it warm.

To make the salad, layer sliced fresh mozzarella cheese, tomato slices, and basil in a pretty pattern. Drizzle with balsamic reduction (you can make this by heating balsamic, but we like to go the simple route and just buy it bottled).

A frittata is a super-easy, make-ahead meal that's perfect for breaking your Yom Kippur fast. Make this up ahead of time in a casserole dish and keep it in the fridge until you're ready for it.

Ingredients

• 12 eggs
• 4 tablespoons heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 cups cooked spinach
• 1 cup feta cheese crumbles

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 baking pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and heavy cream.
3. Add the salt and cooked spinach.
4. Stir in the feta cheese.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until the eggs are set.
6. Cool and store in the fridge until you're ready to eat it.

The classic tuna salad gets a crunchy upgrade in the form of sliced cucumbers in this super-satisfying option for breaking your fast. Use your family's favorite tuna salad recipe or try our favorite of white tuna mixed with half a cup of mayo, fresh dill, a dash of lemon juice, and half a cup of finely sliced celery.

Slice fresh cucumbers at an angle and top them with the tuna salad. Serve with a good quality pita bread, which you can buy before the holiday.

Grain bowls are filling and hearty without being too heavy, and that makes them pretty much perfect for breaking your Yom Kippur fast. You can riff on this simple recipe by adding anything you like, but this makes a great starting point.

1. For each bowl, warm up a cup of quinoa you cooked a couple days ago and stored in the fridge.
2. Top the quinoa with grated carrots, canned chickpeas, diced avocado, fresh arugula, sliced fresh figs, goat cheese, and pecans.
3. Add your favorite dressing or make up a simple one with one part olive oil to one part balsamic vinegar, plus a little honey and salt.

Grilled cheese is basically the perfect comfort food, and it's also about as delicious and satisfying as anything can be. Make a grown-up version that's open-faced so you can top it any way you like.

1. Lightly toast a slice of thick bread and butter one side.
2. Top with your favorite cheese. We're partial to a combo of aged cheddar and gouda, but you do you.
3. Put the toast on a cookie sheet and broil it in the oven for a couple of minutes to melt the cheese.
4. Top it with your favorite things. You can't go wrong with sundried tomatoes, sliced figs, olives, avocado, or anything else you love.

If you're super busy this season, remember there's no shame in hitting up the appetizer counter at your local store. There are tons of great Yom Kippur foods there that are perfect for breaking your fast. Load up on tuna or whitefish salad, egg salad, and whatever else might fit along with all the goodies you can use to top a bagel or roll.

How you end your fast is important, but what you eat before you start it may matter even more. After all, this pre-fasting meal needs to help you stay hydrated and reasonably full the following day. Snack on grapes (for hydration) and challah dipped in honey throughout the day. And for your main meal, here are some other things to keep in mind.

• Protein - Pick foods that have lots of protein so you can keep your energy up. Meat and chicken are typical, but you may also want the variety of a lentil soup or substitute with roasted fish.
• Carbohydrates - Add in lots of rice and noodles for energy, but don't go for anything super heavy or fried.
• Veggies - Eat plenty of salad or steamed vegetables for fiber and vitamins to keep you feeling full.

In addition, it's a good plan to start cutting down on caffeine early so you don't get headaches. Up your water intake too, since you won't be drinking water on the fasting day.

Yom Kippur foods should be light and filling without being super rich. Fasting is an important part of the holiday, and it's also a time for reflection. When you break your fast after nightfall, do it with a dish you know you and everyone in your family will love.