At my home, chicken is on the menu every Friday night. I can serve soup, salads, fish but a roasted chicken is always the star of the meal. Our friend Esther is blessed with a busy life (a lot of chesed and volunteering) and a home filled with family and lots of friends. She is…
1 cup sugar, for caramel 6 eggs 1/2 cup sugar 1 cup pumpkin puree 1 cup coconut milk 1 Tbsp vanilla 1 tsp pumpkin spice or cinnamon Preheat the oven to 350°F. Prepare a bain-marie by filling a large ovenproof dish with 2″ of cold water. Prepare the caramel for the bottom of the flan…
Flan was popular in medieval Spain and Sephardic cooks were known for their simple, elegant desserts, transforming eggs, sugar and milk into something silky and soothing. Flan, a soft, creamy custard with a clear caramel topping, has always been close to my heart. As a young boy growing up in the port city of Larache…
1 head of cauliflower, chopped into florets 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 4 large garlic cloves, finely minced 1 tablespoon sweet paprika 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Preheat oven to 425°F. Place florets in a large bowl and cover with boiling water, then set aside for 5 minutes. In…
1 1/2 pounds challah dough 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided 1 large onion, thinly sliced 2/3 cup Boursin cheese or cream cheese 4 Tbsp za’atar, divided 1 cup freshly grated Gouda cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a round pie dish. In a large skillet, warm 1/4…
We hope next time you bake challah, you try this wonderful savory babka recipe. Serve it warm with a pat of butter or a dollop of sweet jam. Between the ancient stone structures of the port city of Jaffa and the ultra-modern skyscrapers of Tel Aviv lie the charming, narrow streets of Neve Tzedek. It…
This recipe connects my family to generations of Moroccan Jews who ended their week the same way. Long before I light my candles, the smoky scent of my Moroccan fish signals that Shabbat is coming. Like my mother and my grandmothers before me, I serve my family and friends this flavorful, saucy fish dish every…
Serves: 6-8 Ingredients 22-3 pounds sea bass, halibut or salmon fillets 1/3 cup olive oil 1 large leek (or onion), thinly sliced 3 bell peppers (red, yellow, and green), sliced into long thin strips 4 large garlic cloves, grated or finely chopped 1 large handful fresh cilantro, roughly chopped 1-2 carrots, sliced into thin strips…
1 large butternut squash, cut into thin 2″ wedges 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped 8 oz. petite carrots, cut in half 2 medium turnips 2 onions, cut into wedges 1 leek, cut into thin rounds 8 large garlic cloves 8 Campari tomatoes, halved 6 sprigs fresh thyme 10 leaves fresh sage 2 Tbsp…
This hearty harvest veggie soup recipe includes my favorite cooking technique — roasting vegetables on a sheet pan. There’s an old Ladino saying, “Vinieron los huesos a su lugar,” which roughly translates to “Your bones have come back in their place.” It is a colloquial way of describing something that is restorative, to body and…
1/4 cup olive oil 2 onions, thinly sliced 2 garlic cloves, grated or finely chopped 114 ounce can of tomato sauce 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper 1/2 cup water 1 large lemon, juiced Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté until tender. Add the tomato sauce,…
1 whole chicken, washed and patted dry 2 cups basmati or jasmine rice 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 onions, finely chopped 4 tomatoes, chopped 6 garlic cloves, minced 2 tsp kosher salt 1 tsp black pepper 2 tsp sweet paprika 1 tsp ground cardamom 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ginger powder 4 Tbsp…
This classic slow-roasted chicken and rice dish is most emblematic of the Babylonian kitchen. Years ago, when Sharon and I were part of the Sephardic Educational Center’s Young Professionals, a large group of us would meet every Shabbat at Kahal Joseph Congregation. After the services, David and Sue, Sharon’s parents, would host all the singles…
Stuffed Onions Tomato Broth 1 3/4 cup boiling water 2 Tbsp tomato paste 1 Tbsp Silan 1 tsp salt 1/4 cup lemon juice In a large measuring cup, dissolve the tomato paste, sugar, and salt in the boiling water. Add the lemon juice and stir to combine well. Set aside. 3 large white onions, peeled…
On Sukkot, there is a tradition of eating stuffed foods from vegetables to pastries. These cooler, amber-infused days of autumn lend themselves perfectly to the outdoor festival of Chag ha’Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). This holiday, a reminder of the Jewish people’s 40 years of wandering in the desert, symbolizes the temporary nature of life. Just…
1 large onion, finely diced 8 large Russet potatoes, peeled and quartered 1 dozen eggs 1 bunch Italian parsley, finely chopped 1 Tbsp turmeric 2 Tbsp consommé (optional) Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste 1/2 cup vegetable oil, for frying Squeeze of lemon, for serving Boil potatoes and coarsely mash, leaving a few chunks….
7 egg whites 5 egg yolks 11/2 cups sugar, divided 1/4 tsp cream of tartar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 Tbsp orange or lemon zest 3/4 cup of orange juice or water 2 1/4 cups plain flour 3 Tbsp baking powder Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease the bottom and sides of…
SERVES 4 TO 6 1 HOUR 30 MINUTES 1⁄2 chicken (11⁄2 to 2 pounds), cut into pieces Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 Tbsp neutral oil 1 yellow onion, finely chopped 1⁄2 tsp paprika 1⁄8 tsp ground turmeric 3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1⁄4 cup tomato paste 5 medium Roma tomatoes (1…
Shorba, the tomato, chicken and rice soup recipe that we highlight here is a beloved classic from the Babylonian kitchen. Sometimes there are glimpses of Jewish life in Los Angeles that remind you of what it must have felt like to live in the shtetl. (Of course, in Morocco the Jewish quarter was a Mella…
Moroccan Rosh Hashanah Couscous with T’fayaServes 8 Couscous 1 17oz box couscous, medium-grain (Not instant, if possible. Rivoire & Carret is the best.) 1/3 cup olive oil 2 tsp salt 4 cups hot chicken or vegetable broth (more might be needed) Place couscous in a large container that has a tight lid. Drizzle with olive…
1/4 cup olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped 1 15oz can of tomato purée 1 15oz can of cherry tomatoes or chopped tomatoes 2 tsp salt 1 tbsp sweet paprika 1 tsp hot paprika 1 tsp cumin 2 dried chilis 1/2 cup sliced…
