The entwining of cultures is truly beautiful to behold. It teaches us that through food we spread our heritage, our experience and most importantly our love for one another and beyond. When I met Neil, I also met his friend Lela, who along with her siblings were part of the Sephardic Educational Center (SEC) in…
1 pound ground beef1 small yellow onion, grated and drained of liquid2 garlic cloves, grated4 tablespoons potato starch1 egg1 teaspoon cumin1 teaspoon coriander2 teaspoon salt1/2 teaspoon pepper Place all the ingredients in a large bowl, then mix to combine well.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.Form mixture into small meatballs, then set aside. Stew1 pinch…
This Albondigas recipe is truly easy to throw together. Adding potato starch to the ground beef makes them really moist, light and flavorful. Oh, how I loved Ramadan when I was a little girl! In Casablanca I attended a Catholic girls school. I had a beautiful blonde teacher and the nuns who ran the school…
10 eggs6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil, divided into 3 portions2 leeks, white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced10 oz mushrooms, finely sliced2 large garlic cloves, minced1 cup chopped Roma or cherry tomatoes, chopped and drained of liquid3/4 cup chopped Italian parsley3/4 cup chopped cilantro1/4 cup chopped basil1 teaspoon freshly grated turmeric or…
The flight to Sydney, Australia departs LAX at 10pm. You cross the Pacific Ocean and the international dateline. So while the flight is only 15 hours, you lose a whole day. You land in bright, sunny Sydney at 6am two days later. To get to my grandparents house in Rose Bay, you pass through the…
1 pound ground beef1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs1 egg1 teaspoon cumin1 teaspoon corianderSalt and pepper Combine all the ingredients and form into meatballs Stew1 pinch of saffron1 cup water1 large onion, chopped2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil5 small potatoes, peeled and dicedSalt & pepper1 cup cilantro, for garnish Soak saffron in waterCaramelize onions in olive oil….
For the dough-1 teaspoon yeast1 teaspoon sugarPinch of salt2 cups warm water3 cups all purpose flourCanola or vegetable oil Mix ½ cup of water with 1 teaspoon of instant yeast, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. Let sit till it is foamy. Then mix with 3 cups of flour, 1 egg, 1 ½ cups of warm…
In Morocco, I grew up with North African cake-like donuts called rosquitas and sfinj. However, at various times in history, Morocco was a Spanish colony and then a French colony, so our family traditions also included bimuelos and beignets de Hanukkah. When I married Neil, his mother Becky introduced me to burmuelos, the Ladino name for Sephardic donuts….
Yield 26 donuts5 cups of all purpose flour2 tablespoons of yeast1 large egg1/2 cup of sugar1 stick of margarine or butterpinch of salt1 tablespoon of vanilla extract2 cups of warm water You’ll need:Canola or avocado oil for fryingRed raspberry preserves for fillingPowdered sugar for siftingPiping bag and spout In the bowl of a stand mixer, place…
3 eggs½ cup sugar½ cup oil½ cup orange juicePinch of saltRind of one orange1/2 Tblsp baking powder Mix all ingredients and then start adding flour until you form a nice dough, not too firm not too sticky. About 4-5 cups flour Let rise 2-3 hours. Cut dough into six equal parts and form a long…
Ingredients3 medium sized russet potatoes, or 2 large grated, peeled or skin on1 tablespoon vinegar1 onion grated1/4th cup matzo meal2 eggs1 teaspoon baking powderSalt and pepper to tasteNeutral oil for frying, vegetable or canolaServe with Crème Fraîche or sour cream, salmon roe and chopped chives Prep your station. In a bowl, add water and ice with 1…
‘Tis the season to chill with friends and family to commemorate the miracle of the little crucible of oil that lasted for eight nights in the Holy Temple. A Jewish holiday that only requires lighting some candles, eating fried foods, singing some songs and playing dreidel? We’ll take it! Who doesn’t love Hanukkah? We celebrate…
Ingredients2 lb center cut, skin on salmon1 cup kosher salt1 cup sugar1 small beet, gratedZest of 1 lemonZest of 1 orange1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper1 bunch fresh dill, roughly chopped¼ cup vodka or gin Use a large baking sheet that has a thick lip around the edges, to collect any juices that may seep…
We share with you a simple and simply fantastic recipe for delicate, deliciously flavorful gravlax. Perfect to top your latkes or for any special occasion. When my mother’s sister Clara moved to Los Angeles from Paris, my uncle Menasse had the opportunity to become a partner in a very successful fish wholesale business. His new…
2 teaspoons yeast1 teaspoon sugar1 1/4 cup warm water3 cups all purpose flour1 teaspoon saltvegetable or peanut oil for frying3-6 baby carrotssugar, for dusting In a small bowl, add the yeast and sugar, then add the warm water, cover with a tea towel and allow to proof for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, mix the…
In a large skillet, warm extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces skin side down and sauté for about five minutes until golden, then flip the chicken and season with 2 teaspoons of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Transfer the cooked chicken to a dish, then set asideWarm another…
1 cup fine semolina flour1 cup all-purpose flour2 teaspoons baking powder1/8 teaspoon of salt½ cup orange juice1 teaspoon vanilla essence2 sticks softened butter or vegan butter1 ¼ cup sugar3 large eggs, at room temperature For the syrup3/4 cup orange juiceZest of 2 oranges, finely grated3/4 cup sugar2 tablespoons orange blossom water For decoration1 cup Greek…
It was a magical night by the Aegean Sea in Bodrum. The waves rippled softly, reflecting the light from our hotel. We were mesmerized by the shimmering blue and the sparkling white and silver of the water. The water was so magical that I almost expected to see a mermaid emerge. Of course, there was…
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided1 4lb chicken, cut into 10 pieces, washed and patted dry1 large yellow onion, finely sliced1 small fennel, finely sliced1 red bell pepper, chopped into strips2 teaspoons sweet paprika 1 24.7oz bottle Toscanini crushed tomatoes 1 preserved lemon, chopped into small pieces or 1 lemon, juiced 1 cup pitted green castelvetrano olives…
3 teaspoons saffron3 cups boiling water¼ cup extra virgin olive oil6 garlic cloves, finely chopped1-2 Mexican dried chiles, such as Guajillo1 tablespoon sweet paprika1 teaspoon smoked paprika2 teaspoons salt1 teaspoon pepper3 15 ounce cans chickpeas, drained and rinsed1 14 ounce can chopped tomatoes2 tablespoons tomato paste1 cup roughly chopped cilantro In a medium bowl, using…
When Danielle Renov’s cookbook “Peas Love & Carrots” was published in May 2020, it was a very big deal in the kosher food universe. You might have heard of her. She’s that Instagram blogger with 100,000 really, really devoted followers. The book is a labor of love. It has literally hundreds of recipes, stunning photographs…
