Mimouna is when the doors of Moroccan Jewish homes are thrown wide open to friendship and everyone is welcome to partake in the festivities. Mimouna is a joyous celebration of love, hope, faith and springtime. It’s the happy ritual that marks the end of Passover. Mimouna is when the doors of Moroccan Jewish homes are…
Vegetables to stuff10 mini bell peppers4 tomatoes6 white squash Cut tops off bell peppers and tomatoes and set aside to reuse. Remove core and seeds. Cut squash in half and core, leaving a half inch at the bottom. Arrange cored vegetables in an ovenproof baking dish. Tomato Sauce 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil3 garlic…
Stuffing 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil1 medium onion, finely diced4 celery stalks, thinly sliced10 ounces mushrooms, sliced2 cups matzah farfel1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped1 teaspoon Himalayan salt1/2 teaspoon turmeric1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth or water2 eggs, beaten In a large frypan, warm oil over medium heat and add onions. Sauté for 3 to…
Whatever customs your family follows at the Seder, just know that you are creating moments of joy and pride and lasting memories From my earliest memories of the Passover Seder, the most dramatic and meaningful part was when my father would walk around the table carrying the ke’arat Ha’Haggadah. All of us would be singing Bib’hilu yatzanu…
2 small oranges, washed6 eggs, separated1 1/4 cup sugar1 1/4 cup ground almonds2 teaspoons orange blossom water or almond extract Preheat oven to 350 F. Line nonstick springform cake pan with removable bottom with parchment paper. Place unpeeled oranges in just enough water to cover them and boil for 1 1/2 hours or until they…
2 pounds sea bass or any firm white fish, cut into pieces with skin on 1⁄4 cup olive or avocado oil2 leeks, finely sliced2 large golden potatoes, washed and thinly sliced1 teaspoon kosher salt1⁄2 teaspoon pepper1 generous pinch of saffron, steeped in a 1⁄2 cup warm water1 teaspoon turmeric powder, or 1 inch fresh turmeric,…
1 bunch Italian parsley, washed and drained 1 bunch basil, washed and drained1 bunch cilantro, washed and drained1⁄2 cup mint leaves, washed and drained1⁄4 cup fresh dill, washed and drained 1 cup extra virgin olive oil3 garlic cloves1⁄2 cup lemon juice1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon pepper1 jalapeño or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional1) Trim the…
Stuffed Artichokes for Sukkot — The Sephardic Spice Girls Way This year we will celebrate Sukkot with our wonderful friends and family here in Los Angeles. We will bring the flavors of the Shuk into the kitchen. My son Ariel called me from Jerusalem this week. He told me that he and his wife Rachel…
7 eggs, separated1 cup sugar, divided in half1 3/4 cups ground hazelnuts8 ounces dark chocolate, chopped1 cup water2 tablespoons instant coffee granules1/2 cup avocado or safflower oil1 teaspoon vanilla1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Chocolate Glaze4 ounces dark chocolate, chopped1 tablespoon sugar1 teaspoon oil1/4 cup water Garnish1/2 cup roasted hazelnutsFresh berries, washed and dried Preheat the oven…
Whenever I’m invited for a meal and I ask the hostess what she’d like me to bring, the answer is usually “Chocolate Torte, please!” Being the flower girl at the wedding of my mother’s younger sister Rebecca to Anthony was probably the most exciting night of my five-year-old life. I wore a long white dress…
In the Song of Songs, an allegory of the love between God and Israel, King Solomon extols the fruit of the land — apples, figs, pomegranates, dates, grapes, walnuts, cinnamon and wine. And while there are many recipes for charoset, they all include some of the ripe, luscious fruits of Solomon’s verses. Symbolic of the…
1 bunch basil, washed and dried6 radishes, thinly sliced2 Persian cucumbers, sliced on a diagonal 3 plum or Roma tomatoes, quartered lengthwise8 assorted mini bell peppers, seeded and thinly sliced 3 stalks green onions, chopped finely 1 lemon, juiced1/4 cup olive oil Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Arrange vegetables on a large platter or in a bowl. Dress with lemon…
Symbolic of the Paschal sacrifice, lamb features on many Seder menus. Marinating the lamb shanks with garlic and spices and cooking with dried fruits in a long slow simmer ensures a mouthwatering dish. Ingredients:4-6 lamb shanks1 large onion, sliced thinly2 tablespoons olive oil2 large carrots, sliced into thick rounds2 stalks celery, sliced thinly1 cup pitted…
When Brooklyn-born brothers Gary and Errol Winkler came to Southern California in 1973, they dreamed of bringing refreshing Coney Island-style Italian ices to the sunny West Coast. They opened several brick-and-mortar stores called Brothers Italian Ices Cafe. While the ices sold well, they found themselves devoting more and more of their time creating Italian ices…
2 large eggplants1/3 cup avocado oil or vegetable oil1/2 teaspoon garlic powderKosher salt and pepper1/2 cup crushed walnuts1 teaspoon za’atar Tahini Sauce1/3 cup tahini1/2 lemon, juiced3 tablespoons cold water1/2 teaspoon garlic powderSalt and pepper Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut the eggplant in half lengthways, leaving the green stalk for decoration. Use a sharp knife…
Chef Shimi told us how he regularly skipped school to be with his grandmother in her kitchen. He told us how they made kubbah (meat-stuffed dumplings) together. He told us how she gave him an education in spices and a love of feeding people. He told us that she never revealed the secret of his…
2 extra-large organic eggs(break eggs open and keep the largesthalf for measuring oil and water)2 eggshells olive oil1 eggshell water1 eggshell orange blossom water (or plainwater)Juice of one lemonA big pinch of kosher salt½ teaspoon baking powder400g all-purpose flour (approximately 3 cups) Almibar (Syrup)2 cups sugar1 cup waterI lemon, cut in quarters8 tablespoons honeyPeel of…
Date Filling2 cups pitted dates1/4 cup olive oil3 tablespoons water1/4 cup crushed walnuts In a frying pan, over very low heat, combine dates and olive oil. Stir for 5 minutes until the date mixture is soft. Add water and walnuts and stir until it becomes a smooth paste. Set aside to cool. Garnish3 eggs1 tablespoon…
Ba’ba tamar are the best treat you’ve probably never had—a thin four inch round cookie made with a crispy, unsweetened dough and a soft, chewy date filling. “Sharon! Your grandmother’s cookies!!” was the excited direct message from our friend Ruth when she saw our Instagram post about the upcoming Sephardic Spice Girls Iraqi Master Bake…
Recipe 1 cup cilantro leaves1 cup parsley leaves4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 3 cloves garlic 2 tsp cumin 1 tsp coriander 2 tsp aleppo pepper or 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper1 tsp kosher salt½ tsp sweet paprika½ cup extra virgin olive oilCombine all the ingredients, except for olive oil, in food processor until finely chopped. Slowly pour…
Saffron strands1/2 cup hot water3 cups Basmati rice4 tablespoons olive oil3 teaspoons kosher salt2 cups shredded carrotsAvocado or vegetable oil for frying1 onion, finely diced1/3 cup sliced almonds1/3 cup raw pistachios1/3 cup barberries1/3 cup golden raisins1/3 cup candied orange peel Place a pinch of saffron strands in a bowl and cover with hot water., then…
