Make individual rolls, or make larger loaves, with two or more eggs on top.Boil your eggs, discard water and set aside to cool and dryDough: use your favorite challah recipe.1.Beat an egg and use as glue for the strips of dough that will go on top of your eggs, set aside2.Punch down, divide dough and…
1 16 ounce bag garbanzo beans, soaked overnight1 whole head of garlic, unpeeled with top cut off2 pounds boneless cheek meat (any fatty meat will work)3-4 marrow bones (optional)12 small red potatoes, washed2 large sweet potatoes, peeled & halved 1 large onion, peeled and halved2 pitted dates1 Tbsp honeySalt and pepperOlive oilWater1 dozen eggs, rinsed…
If you grew up in a Moroccan household, you know that Shabbat lunch is dafina. Moroccan tradition dictates that the first daughter is named after her paternal grandmother. So when I was born in Casablanca, my name was no surprise. I was named Raquel after my father’s mother. In a sad twist of fate, my grandmother…
Date Filling2 cups date paste1/4 cup olive oil3 Tbsp water1/4 cup crushed walnutsCombine dates and olive oil, then add water and walnuts until mixture becomes a smooth paste. Set aside. Garnish3 eggs1 Tbsp honey1 Tbsp water1/2 cup sesame seedsIn a small bowl, beat together the eggs, honey and water. Set aside. Dough Recipe2 packets active…
More than any other food, I feel that baba ta’mar are a tangible reminder of my Babylonian roots In 1942, my dashingly handsome grandfather Aba Naji arrived in Al Azair, a village in the south of Iraq, not far from Basra. Located on the shores of the west bank of the sweeping Tigris River and…
Nut Blend1 cup of coarsely ground almonds and walnuts1/2 cup sugar1 Tbsp finely ground cardamom or cinnamon 3 large eggs, at room temperature1 cup sugar3/4 cup avocado or vegetable oil1 1/2 cups all purpose flour1 Tbsp baking powder3/4 cup water or milk Preheat oven to 350°F.Grease a 9-inch round cake tinBeat the eggs and sugar…
This delicious Bak’lawa Cake is a perfect marriage of Middle East meets American pound cake. My quintessential memory of my grandmother Nana Aziza is of sharing a cup of tea with her. Tea was a ritual for her and she always brewed a perfect cup. Of course, she called it “chai,” the Arabic word for…
Avocado oil 1 chicken, washed and patted dry 3 cups basmati, jasmine or brown rice 2 onions, finely diced 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped 3 large tomatoes, chopped 2 tablespoons tomato paste 10 pods cardamom, crushed 2 teaspoons chicken consommé powder 2 teaspoons sweet paprika 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon ginger powder…
T’bit is the Iraqi/Babylonian version of cholent, a wonderful slow cooked chicken and rice dish. There is nothing quite like watching a romance blossom. Last February, our friend Esther flew to Argentina with her daughter Miriam for the wedding of Miriam’s best friend, Raquel. Over the weeklong festivities, the groom’s close friend Oren spotted sweet Miriam…
1 package frozen puff pastry squares, defrostedFilling1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil1 medium onion, finely dicedSalt and pepper, to taste10 oz cherry tomatoes, halved1 egg, beaten Preheat oven to 350°F.In a medium skillet, warm oil over medium heat. Add onions, salt and pepper, then sauté until slightly golden, about 5 minutes.Place puff pastry squares on…
The acidic pop of the cherry tomatoes contrasts deliciously with the herby umami of the almond basil pesto. Last Thursday morning, at Trader Joe’s on La Cienega, I was being my usual ridiculous self. I had two carts — one for Shabbat food for my home and one for a grazing table for the Sephardic…
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided1 medium onion, finely chopped1 pound fresh baby spinach1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese1 cup grated Parmesan cheese2 eggs, beaten2 tablespoons heavy cream1/4 cup matzah meal (optional) Preheat oven to 350°F.In a large pan, warm 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. Add onions and saute until they are golden brown. Set asideAdd…
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil, divided1 large onion, finely diced1/2 teaspoon salt1 pound crimini mushrooms, sliced/diced1 teaspoon dried thyme1 teaspoon kosher salt1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper2 tablespoons Dijon mustard1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs1 cup chopped Italian parsley1 large sheet of puff pastry, defrosted1 egg, beaten for egg washSesame seeds for garnish Preheat oven to 425°F.In…
My childhood memories are filled with cookies. Even more than they love cakes, Moroccans love their cookies. Ask an American child “What is your favorite cookie?” It’s most likely that they will answer, a chocolate chip cookie. But for me, the question of my favorite cookie is more complex. My childhood memories are filled with…
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil2 medium onions, sliced8 garlic cloves, finely chopped2 tsp sweet paprika2 tsp turmeric2 medium tomatoes, chopped1 celery heart, 1 inch dice4 Yukon gold potatoes, 2 inch dice1 tsp kosher salt1 whole chicken cut into 10 pieces, plus 6 wings1 tsp Aleppo pepper2 tsp Old Bay Seasoning2 cups chicken stock or…
This week, Sharon and I share a a skillet chicken recipe that tastes like home. I am in possession of three passports. I was born in Petach Tikva, Israel. I grew up in Sydney, Australia. My family moved to Los Angeles when I was in high school. That’s a lot of moving around. And we…
1/2 cup finely chopped Italian parsley1 medium onion, grated2 tsp baharat spice1 tsp kosher salt1/2 tsp pepperFor the dough1 cup farina1 cup semolina1/4 lb ground beef1 cup warm water1 tsp kosher salt1/2 tsp pepper• In a large bowl, combine one pound ground beef, Italian parsley, grated onion, baharat, salt and pepper. Set aside.• In a…
The crown jewel of the Babylonian Jewish kitchen, kubbah are shells made from semolina stuffed with a mixture of ground beef, Italian parsley and onion. When Rachel and I started publicizing our latest Kubbah class, I was pleasantly surprised to hear from so many of my Ashkenazi friends that kubbah is one of their favorite…
4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided5 medium tomatoes, diced3 14oz cans diced tomatoes, strained1 tsp sugar9 large eggs1 tsp salt½ tsp black pepper4 thick slices of challah (cut into bite size pieces)1 8oz container feta cheese1 cup grated Parmesan cheese½ cup grated Romano cheese (optional)I cup chopped Italian parsleyI egg, whisked for egg wash…
A couple of Sundays ago, my family and I were blessed to celebrate the centennial birthday of my mother-in-law, Becky. A couple of Sundays ago, my family and I were blessed to celebrate the centennial birthday of my mother-in-law, Becky. Of course, turning 100 deserves a huge celebration. But over the last six months, she…
2 ½ cups unsalted mixed nuts2 Tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped½ tsp cayenne pepper½ tsp sumac2 tsp dark brown sugar1 tsp kosher salt1 Tbsp unsalted butter or vegan butter, melted Preheat oven to 350°F.Place the nuts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.Place the sheet in the oven and toast until the nuts are…
