For Sephardic Jews, it is customary to eat lentils during the nine days before Tisha B’Av as lentils are a mourner’s food. When we came from Casablanca to Los Angeles, my uncle Albert insisted that my parents rent an apartment in Beverly Hills. So, my parents rented a small apartment on the corner of Charleville…
This recipe is for one portion of fish. Multiply the amount needed for each portion. 1 12”x16” piece of parchment paper1 6oz seabass filet1 large gold potato, thinly sliced on a mandolin6 thin asparagus spears1 roma tomato, cut into wedges1 garlic clove, minced2 tsp of olive oil, dividedSalt and pepper, to taste6 Kalamata olives, pittedA…
Dressing: 1/2 cup mayonnaise1 Tbsp honey1 Tbsp sriracha or hot sauce1 tsp granulated garlic powder1 tsp salt2 limes, juiced In a small bowl, add mayonnaise, honey, sriracha, garlic powder and salt. Mix to combine well. Add lime juice and mix well. Set aside. Salad: 2 ears of fresh corn or 1 can of corn1 can of black…
With a recipe for fish “en papillote” This summer, my daughter Gabriella is spending her summer in Jerusalem on a Yeshiva University internship, writing for an Israeli online publication. In every phone call, she tells us about her interviews and of her exploits traveling around Israel visiting the Nova Festival site, Sderot, the Gaza envelope,…
Meatball Mixture:1 pound ground beef1 onion, finely chopped2 large garlic cloves, crushed2 Tbsp potato starch1 large egg2 tsp avocado or vegetable oil½ tsp salt½ tsp mace or cumin½ tsp pepper1 cup finely chopped Italian parsley In a large bowl, add ground beef, onion, garlic, potato starch, egg, oil, spices and Italian parsley and mix until…
My absolute favorite from the Moroccan kitchen—meatballs and olives. In the early 90’s, many of our friends were married in quick succession. We had all become a tight social circle through our involvement in the Sephardic Educational Center, which hosted weekly Classes for the Masses at the Kahal Joseph Congregation in Westwood. (Kahal is the…
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil4 large leeks6 cups chicken consommé, or vegetable broth2 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced into 1-inch pieces2 medium zucchini, diced1 tsp saffron threads1 tsp sea salt, to taste2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp dried thyme1 bay leafPepper, to taste1 cup white wine Slice the white and light green parts of the leeks crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices. Place the…
Most Friday nights, you will find soup as the first course at my home. It was the late eighties. My friend Sheila and I flew from Los Angeles to Athens. From there we took a ferry to the island of Evia. Some of the passengers on the ferry were tourists, but there were also some…
4 medium eggplants3 bell peppers, red, orange and yellow1 large yellow onion, chopped1/4 cup olive oil2 cloves garlic, finely minced3 tablespoons tomato paste½ cup pitted kalamata olives2 tablespoons red wine vinegar2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped2 teaspoons saltblack pepper to taste Heat the barbecue grill (or grill on the stovetop or in an oven…
In the early 1970s, the pale blue aerogrammes would arrive every month. The thin, almost translucent paper was folded origami style, into an envelope, with the front addressed to my mother in English. But after my mother would carefully open the aerogramme, the contents revealed a missive written in a tight Hebrew script. I remember…
Tomato Sauce4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil2 onions, thinly sliced2 garlic cloves, grated or finely chopped1 14 ounce can of chopped tomatoes1 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon pepper1/2 cup waterJuice of large lemon Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until tender.Add the garlic, chopped tomatoes, salt and pepper.Lower heat…
One of our favorite desserts to bake in the summer is an easy fresh fruit galette After struggling and complaining about May gray and June gloom, glorious summertime has finally arrived in Los Angeles. And I’m so happy about all the wonderful fresh seasonal fruits available. Nowadays, we have become used to having fruits available…
2 pounds yellow onion, thinly sliced4 garlic cloves, chopped4 cups vegetable stock1 1/2 cups white wineChallah, sliced1/2 cup mozzarella, grated1/4 cup Parmesan, grated Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.Add onions and garlic, then partially cover with a lid.Stir often, until onions are golden brown and soft.Add vegetable stock and white wine and…
Dressing: 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard 1 tsp sugar 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar For the salad: 1 small purple cabbage, shredded 1 fennel, finely sliced 1 green apple, finely sliced 1 Honeycrisp apple, finely sliced 1 cup slivered almonds 1/2…
3 pounds red or Yukon gold potatoes, unpeeled & washed ½ medium red onion, finely chopped 3-4 celery stalks, including leaves, finely chopped ½ cup finely diced dill pickle 1 handful fresh parsley 6 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil 4 Tbsp red wine vinegar 1 tsp sea salt Black pepper, to taste Fill a large…
This week, we wanted to inspire you with fresh takes on old-fashioned favorites My Moroccan parents embraced all the American holidays when we moved to Los Angeles in 1973. There were costumes for Halloween, a turkey feast for Thanksgiving and fireworks for the Fourth of July. For our first few years in Los Angeles, they…
1 15.5 oz can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil1 tsp garlic powder1/4 tsp salt1 tsp paprika1/2 tsp Aleppo or cayenne pepper (optional)Black pepper to taste Preheat oven to 450°F and place a rimmed baking sheet in the oven while it preheats (this ensures the chickpeas crisp as soon as they…
As a child of Iraqi Jews, The Farhud has forever been a part of my memory and the holiday of Shavuot will always be shadowed by this tragic event. As a child of Iraqi Jews, The Farhud has forever been a part of my memory and the holiday of Shavuot will always be shadowed by…
1 large jar grape leaves, drained and rinsed2-3 cans Great Northern beans, or 1 pound dry beans soaked overnight, boiled and salted Filling:2 pounds ground beef, lamb or turkey1/2 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed and drained2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon black pepper2 tablespoons oilJuice of 1 juicy lemon1/2 cup parsley, finely chopped2 tablespoons tomato paste Sauce:4…
Marinade:½ cup olive oil2 tsp salt2 Tbsp sweet paprika2 Tbsp turmeric1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger, grated8 garlic cloves, finely chopped1 cup chopped cilantro Tagine:1 whole chicken, cut in pieces¼ cup olive oil1 large onion, finely chopped½ cup whole pitted prunes½ cup whole dried apricots1 cinnamon stick1 Tbsp turmeric1 Tbsp cinnamon powder1 big pinch saffron2 fennel…
4 very large russet potatoes washed and grated ( skin on)1 red onion, grated (squeeze out juice)1/3 cup all-purpose flour2 large eggs, lightly beaten1/2 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon black peppervegetable oil for frying 3 baby carrots* In a large bowl, mix together the potatoes,onion, flour, egg, salt and pepper.* In a large deep skillet, warm…
