COOKING ISRAEL Chagim Cookbook www.IsraelForever.org 1 The information, text, graphics, and other items on this Web Site are copyrighted by The Israel Forever Foundation. Unauthorized use of these materials may be a violation of law. Except as stated in the next paragraph below, you may not reproduce, distribute, download, transmit, display, or “mirror” on another server any of the materials on this Web Site without the prior written permission of The Israel Forever Foundation. You may print, reproduce, or download the materials related to this program solely for personal, non-commercial use on a single computer, provided that: (1) you include the copyright or other proprietary notices that appear on the original materials and (2) you do not modify the materials. If you breach any of these terms or conditions, this permission will terminate automatically without notice or other action, and you must delete or destroy all materials obtained from The Israel Forever Foundation. Passionately Written and Compiled with personal recipes by Dr. Elana Yael Heideman, Executive Director [email protected] 2 For some, there is no closer connection to Israel than cooking up the incredible foods that embody its cultural and gastronomic flavors. Adapted over centuries of Jewish migrations to and from our only ancestral land, some of the best Israeli recipes have traveled from countries near and far, evidence of the ingathering of exiles and the multicultural society we have rebuilt on the land of our heritage and our history. Every recipe is a delicacy of its own kind, each with its own story, representing some of the most inventive combinations of cheeses, produce, spices, meats and more, making the Israeli menu a glorious collection of flavorful fun. The inclusion of first fruits and herbs native to the Land of Israel are an integral part of the Israeli cuisine. We are blessed with an abundance of vegetables, grains and herbs that provide our harvest throughout the year, allowing us to infuse the personality, history, culture and innovation of Israel in every delectable dish. The Talmud even gives precise instruction for planting and watering these herbs, an integral part of the local cuisine for the last 3000 years. These recipes are a collection of some favorites, each providing a taste of Israel you and your friends and family can enjoy as you come together to celebrate this new year. As we welcome these special days and traditions of our Jewish calendar, we should be reminded and should remind each other of the value of Israel – our ancient homeland - and her meaningfulness in our lives. We at The Israel Forever Foundation strive to provide ongoing Israel Engagement to help you celebrate and strengthen your personal connection to our one and only Jewish State. For centuries we have prayed for a return to Tzion, and now we live to see that dream come to life. Together, we can inspire Israel in the hearts, homes and lives of Jews around the world – and what better way than through our appetites and celebrations! Shanah Tovah U’Metukah from all of us at The Israel Forever Foundation! 3 Table of Contents Rosh HaShanah: Recipes for a Sweet New Year ................................................................................ 5 Simanim: Signs of a New Year ...............................................................................................6-7 Apple Cinnamon Challah .......................................................................................................... 8 Israeli White Bean Soup ............................................................................................................. 9 Mizrahi Fish Head Soup ........................................................................................................... 10 Simanim Salad ........................................................................................................................... 11 Moroccan Beet Citrus Salad ..................................................................................................... 12 Pomegranate Roasted Chicken ................................................................................................ 13 Ethiopian Chicken Stew ........................................................................................................... 14 Israeli Pumpkin Couscous ....................................................................................................... 15 Leek and Onion Roasted Potatoes .......................................................................................... 16 Nuts and Honey Baked Apples ............................................................................................... 17 Spiced Israeli Honey Date Cake .............................................................................................. 18 Yom Kippur: Break the Fast with Tastes of Israel ............................................................................ 19 Roasted Cauliflower with Tehina Silan Sauce ...................................................................... 20 Zaatar Mint Israeli Salad with Feta and Olives .................................................................... 21 Israeli Leek Pashtida ................................................................................................................. 22 Pomegranate Limonana ........................................................................................................... 23 Morrocan Reifa Cookies ........................................................................................................... 24 Sukkot: Celebrating the Harvest ......................................................................................................... 25 Roasted Pepper Soup ................................................................................................................ 26 Grilled Eggplant with Tomatoes and Tehina ........................................................................ 27 Rosemary Foccacia with Herbs ............................................................................................... 28 Lemon and Garlic Chicken ...................................................................................................... 29 Mimulaim: Stuffed Vegetable Medley ................................................................................... 30 Tehina Cookies .......................................................................................................................... 31 Honey Baked Dates and Figs ................................................................................................... 32 4 Rosh Hashana Called the Feast of Trumpets in the Bible, the meaning of Rosh HaShanah implies a divine appointment, a time to meet with God. The liturgy and readings from the Torah serve as reminders of our mortality and personal responsibility we each bear for our behavior, and the shofar is intended to be a “wake up call” to the human conscience. Every year as Rosh HaShanah arrives, Jews around the world come together for their annual commemoration of the birth of the world. We contemplate how this year’s celebration will be different than the year before, who will join us at our chag table for our festive meal, who we’ll see in shul that we haven’t seen since... well, the last time we gathered as a community. We use this chag to honor our relationship with friends, family, our Jewish identity, and of course with God. We wish each other Chag Sameach and recite the same prayers, but often hope for a little something different in the coming year. 5 A beautiful custom to honor the New Year is to celebrate the simanim (signs) seder. Originally a Sephardi tradition, in Israel many Ashkenazi families have adopted the Rosh HaShanah seder of making blessings and sweet wishes on special foods connected to the New Year. The popularity of this ritual is growing rapidly as it is a physical expression of welcoming the New Year with hope of peace for all of Israel and to help people relate to the celebration on a more personal level. Even better, it gives us a chance to appreciate the bounty of the Land of Israel, helping us to feel connected from our own corner of the world, while uniting us with our fellow Children of Israel around the world who share this hope for our future. We are pleased to share these blessings for Israel with you and invite you to make them a part of your holiday celebration. Each prayer can serve as a reminder of our collective mission to protect Israel forever - her people, her history, her land and her culture. 6 7 Apple Cinnamon Challah 2 ½ Tbsp instant yeast ¾ cup sugar 2 cups boiling water ¼ cup vegetable oil 2 tsp salt 6 cups flour 3 teaspoons cinnamon 4 Tbsp honey 1 apple, peeled and cut into small chunks 1 egg, beaten In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast, sugar and hot water. Let sit for 15 minutes until bubbly. Add flour, 1 cup at a time. After 3 cups, add oil, cinnamon, and honey. Mix with hands or in mixer until sticky dough forms. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10-12 minutes. Flatten dough out into a disk and fold in apple pieces. If using a mixer, you can add the apple pieces right in for another 2 minutes of kneading. Place dough into well-oiled bowl and cover with a plastic wrap or damp towel. Let rise in a warm dry area for 1 hour (dough with double in size). Punch down and let rise again for 1 hour. Pre heat oven to 350 F (180 C). Punch down dough and separate into 6 or 8 even-sized pieces – depending on if