Sephardic Recipes With A Modern Twist

Sephardic Spice Girls

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Melting Moments ­— Slow Braised Beef Cheeks & Latkes

December 19, 2024Admin(0)
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Slow Braised Beef Cheeks & Latkes

An Old World Recipe—Keftes de Carne

December 12, 2024Admin(0)
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Keftes de carne

Tunisian Twist– Crispy Ka’ak

December 5, 2024Admin(0)
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Ka’ak is a primal memory for me. My grandmother Nana Aziza always, always had a supply of crispy, salty ka’ak in her home. And she always served it as an afternoon treat with a glass of her cardamom infused black tea. As a little girl, I loved sitting in her Rose Bay kitchen, watching her bake trays and trays of these ring crackers. She would be surrounded by tubs of dough and bowls filled with sesame seeds and black nigella seeds, with her plump well-worn hands expertly kneading, rolling, sprinkling, while her gold bangles made magical tinkling sounds. Ka’ak originated with the ancient Babylonians and Assyrians and was later adopted by the Arab world. Ka’ak literally means “cake” in classical Arabic and is the common word for cookie, especially crown-shaped cookies. But ka’ak is also used to refer to several types of baked goods that are popular in the Middle East, including the sesame crusted Jerusalem bagel, ka’ak bel simsim. Ka’ak literally means “cake” in classical Arabic and is the common word for cookie, especially crown-shaped cookies. My grandmother, who was born and raised in El Azair in Southern Iraq, made a delicious, classic ka’ak. It was flaky and crispy and perfectly satisfying, with its lingering notes of sesame and aromatic nigella seeds. While she left her ancestral home behind, she carried with her the warmth of Middle Eastern hospitality and the pleasure of a lovingly prepared homemade treat. —Sharon We North Africans take “aperitif” very seriously. This cocktail hour ritual is not so much about what you are drinking, which is usually a licorice-flavored arak or a fine whiskey. It’s all about the small bites. Lots of crispy ka’ak, lots of roasted and salted almonds, pistachios and cashews and a colorful variety of briny olives. Sometimes the repast will expand into “kemia” which literally translates to small dishes and is usually a selection of dips and salads. Growing up in a Moroccan household, we always referred to appetizers as kemia. Kemia was always a fun ritual, even if it was just cheese, crackers and olives. I have the best memories of sitting around the table with uncles and aunts, sipping drinks and feasting on all kinds of baked crackers and other home-made goodies. The last time we baked the traditional salty Syrian ka’ak rings was in February. We made them at our friend Esther’s house in honor of the wedding of her daughter, Miriam. (Ka’ak are always traditional for celebrations and Jewish holidays.) We baked 300 perfect miniature ka’ak and we transported them to Baltimore in a securely packed piece of carry-on luggage. After the Shabbat Chattan services on Saturday morning, everyone gathered for “aperitif.” The whiskey flowed and there were trays of sweet cookies and fresh fruit. But it was the ka’ak that disappeared within minutes. This week Sharon and I present you with the recipe for the Tunisian version of ka’ak. The crispy, yeasty dough is flavored with nutty sesame seeds and fennel seeds. The technique is much, much easier than the traditional method of forming small, perfectly uniform rings. This recipe calls for rolling the dough into a one-inch rope and then cutting the dough into little nuggets. So easy and quick. Before you know it, you’ll be popping one of these delicious rustic bites into your mouth. —Rachel Kakis Tunisien 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tbsp sea salt 1/2 cup avocado or vegetable oil 1 sachet of active dry yeast 1 cup water 2 tbsp sesame seeds 2 tbsp fennel seeds Preheat oven to 350°F Sift the flour into a large bowl, then make a well in the middle of the flour. Add the salt, oil, yeast, water, sesame seeds and fennel seeds and knead to form a dough. If the dough feels too dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time and continue kneading until the dough comes together and feels smooth, not sticky. Take a handful of the dough and roll into a thin log. Use kitchen shears to cut the dough into one-inch-wide nuggets. Continue with the rest of the dough. Place the ka’ak nuggets on a parchment lined tray and bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown. For extra crunchy ka’ak, allow to cool, then bake in an oven set to 200°F for an additional hour. Store in a tightly sealed container. Sharon Gomperts and Rachel Emquies Sheff have been friends since high school. The Sephardic Spice Girls project has grown from their collaboration on events for the Sephardic Educational Center in Jerusalem. Follow them on Instagram @sephardicspicegirls and on Facebook at Sephardic Spice SEC Food.

Cozy Fall Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

November 27, 2024Admin(0)
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Roasted butternut squash soup

A Sticky Date Pudding Cake Situation

November 20, 2024Admin(0)
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Date Pudding Cake

A Seasoned Thanksgiving— Sweet Tfaya and Savory Mushroom Bourguignon

November 13, 2024Admin(0)
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Tfiya and roasted squash

Freshly Minted: A Fall Delicata Quinoa Salad

November 6, 2024Admin(0)
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Sephardic Delicata salad

Spicy Flavor – Harissa Noodle Salad

October 31, 2024Admin(0)
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Harris a Noodle Salad

A Babka By Any Other Name

October 24, 2024Admin(0)
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Babka Recipe

Of Prayers and Grape Leaves

October 16, 2024Admin(0)
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Grapes Leaves

Breaking the Fast Is a Piece of Cake

October 10, 2024Admin(0)
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In Salads We Trust

October 2, 2024Admin(0)
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Sephardic Salad

The Sweetness of Being

September 26, 2024Admin(0)
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Caramelized Date Brisket with Brocolini, Sweet Potatoes and Squash, Sauteed Mushrooms. Photo by Sephardic Spice Girls

A Tale of Two Challahs

September 19, 2024Admin(0)
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Spice Girls Challahs

Ode to an Apple Cake

September 12, 2024Admin(0)
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STREUSEL APPLE CAKE

When Sweet Meets Sour—Delicious Tamarind Chicken

September 5, 2024Admin(0)
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Tamarind Chicken

Back to School with Cheese Sambusak

August 29, 2024Admin(0)
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Cheese Sambusak Recipe

The Simple Art of Summer Salads

August 22, 2024Admin(0)
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The Art Of Summer Salads

All You Need Is Love and Chocolate

August 15, 2024Admin(0)
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Chocolate Knafe

A Lovely Lentil Soup

August 8, 2024Admin(0)
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Lentil Soup

Summer Reminiscing— A Fresh Salad for Hot Days

August 1, 2024Admin(0)
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Summer Corn Salad