COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Simply Israel A Collection of Recipes from the People of Israel T. Gila Levine COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Copyright © 2007 by T. Gila Levine All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the author. Drawings and photos by T. Gila Levine. Photo on page 126 by Amy Cowen. Statistics and information from introduction taken from Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs website www.mfa.gov.il. First and second printing 2007 Scripture quotations taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ISBN 978-965-555-290-4 Manufactured in Israel COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Contents 1 ............. Introduction 5 ............ Breads 19 ........... Soups 33 .......... Salads 59 .......... Side Dishes 85 .......... Eggs and Cheese 97........... Poultry and Fish 121.......... Beef and Lamb 135 ......... Cakes and Pies 149 ......... Desserts and Preserves 175 ......... Index COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Introduction Israel has such a wonderful variety of foods from different cultural backgrounds. I wanted to be able to share it with those who would like to bring home to their own countries those foods they experienced here in the Land. However, if you ask any Israeli what is “typical Israeli food” they will answer that there is no such thing. The cuisine of Israel has been influenced by the immigration of Jewish people from over 80 nations, from the Middle East, North Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, Central and Eastern Europe to India. Of its 7 million people, 76.2 percent are Jews, 19.5 percent are Arabs (mostly Muslim with a small percentage of Christians) and the remaining 4.3 percent comprise Druze, Circassians and others not classified by religion. Many foods that are typically considered “Israeli” originate from the wider cuisine of the Middle East—including the popular falafel (deep-fried chickpea balls in pita) and the famous “Israeli salad” of cucumbers and tomatoes cut in distinctively small pieces. In addition, Jewish traditions of Eastern Europe play an integral role in Israeli cooking with dishes as diverse as borsht (a soup made from beets) and blintzes (filled pancakes/crepes). Israeli food customs also conform to the Mediterranean region, with lunch rather than dinner being the main meal of the day. In Israeli Jewish homes, Erev Shabbat (Friday night) dinner, and to a lesser extent Shabbat (Saturday) lunch, are the main festive meals of the week. Since Israel is the “land of the Bible,” I have included verses from Proverbs written by King Solomon. I hope you enjoy your adventures cooking with these recipes from the people of Israel. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Breads 3 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 56 Salads Tabouleh Leave the tomatoes out if you think you will have leftovers. This will keep the salad fresh for several days. Add chopped tomato just before serving. 3/4 cup (100 g) thick bulgur wheat juice if desired. I usually start with two lem- 8 green onions, chopped ons and add more to taste. 3 tomatoes, chopped 3–4 cups fresh parsley, chopped Let salad sit in refrigerator for at least a 2 cups fresh mint leaves, chopped half hour before serving. Serves 8. Juice of 2–3 lemons 3/4 cup (175 ml) olive oil See photo on page 34 and cover. 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Soak bulgur in hot water for 25–30 min- utes. Drain and squeeze dry with your hands. Mix onions, parsley, mint and to- matoes. Add the bulgur wheat and stir to mix. There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the Beat together the lemon juice and olive wise, but a foolish man oil until emulsified. Add salt and pepper. Pour over the salad, adding more lemon squanders it. Proverbs 21:20 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 176 Desserts & Preserves Notes COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL A Virtuous Woman Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands. She is like the merchant ships, she brings her food from afar. She also rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household, and a portion for her maidservants. She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard. She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms. She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff, and her hand holds the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet. She makes tapestry for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates. Proverbs 31:10-31 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Index 179 Index Amy’s Shabbat Cholent 101 Borscht 25 Angelo’s Fried Eggplant 42 Chamin 134 Apple Cake 141 Couscous with Seven Vegetables 76 Apple Date Nut Cake 142 Druze Rice 79 Apple Passover Pancakes 17 Esther’s Boiled Katsitsot 136 Apples Esther’s Fried Katsitsot 136 Apple Cake 141 Grandma Edith’s Borscht 25 Apple Date Nut Cake 142 Guyash 24 Curried Pumpkin Soup 26 Humus with Meat 127 Flodni 162 Kebab 138 Fruit Bars 163 Klops 138 Fresh Fruit Cake 147 Kubbé 23 Haroset with Date Honey 46 Kubbé 132–133 Roberta’s Haroset 46 Lechem Ba’ajin 7 Apricots Ma’loubeh 108–109 Apricot Chicken 102 Oriental Meatballs 137 Crown of Lamb with Figs 130 S’feeha 8 Oriental Meatballs 137 Seniya with Tehina 135 Roberta’s Haroset 46 Siga Wat 128 Apricot Chicken 102 Stuffed Grape Leaves and Zucchini 74-75 Arabic Holiday Cookies 157 Beef and Bean Stew 134 Artichokes and Fava Beans 61 Beef and Carrots 129 Avocado Salad 35 Beet Salad 35 Baba Ghanouj 44 Beet Soup with Kubbé 22 Bagele 156 Beets Baked Beef 131 Beet Salad 35 Baked Bread with Eggs 14 Beet Salad 2 36 Baked Cauliflower 62 Beet Soup with Kubbé 22 Baked Chicken 102 Borscht 25 Baked Perch 116 Grandma Edith’s Borscht 25 Baked Salmon 116 Sweet and Sour Beet Salad 36 Beans Berbere 129 Chamin 134 Biscochos 161 Gevetch 72 Biscuit Cake 143 Leah’s Hungarian Chicken 107 Boiled Meatballs 136 Potato Salad with Tuna 51 Borekas 10 Stella’s Bean and Macaroni Soup 29 Borscht 25 Beef 125–134 Bread 5–17 Baked Beef 131 Apple Passover Pancakes 17 Beef and Carrots 129 Borekas 10 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL 180 Index Challah Metuka 11 Tzimmes 69 Cinnamon Swirl Loaf 13 Vegetable Alecha 71 Jachnoon 14 Cauliflower Lechem Ba’ajin 7 Carrot Ring 62 Maloach 15 Cauliflower and Tehina 40 Matzo Rolls 16 Pickled Vegetables 54 Pita 16 Cauliflower and Tehina 40 Quick Muffins for Passover 17 Celery Rebekah’s Shabbat Challah 12-13 Celery and Fennel Salad 39 S’feeha 8 Chicken with Celery 105 Bulgur Fish Soup 26 Bulgur with Nuts 73 Celery and Fennel Salad 39 Kubbé 132-133 Challah Metuka 11 Tabouleh 56 Chamin 134 Bulgur with Nuts 73 Cheese Cabbage Cheese Blintzes 87 Borscht 25 Fatio 89 Kibbutz Cabbage Salad 37 Pashtidat Batzal 91 Pasta with Cabbage 82 Pashtidat Cherry Tomato 92 Pickled Vegetables 54 Mrs. Ruben’s Noodle Kugel 167 Purple Cabbage Salad 37 Tiramisu 170-171 Roni’s Chicken 111 Tiramisu, Individual 171 White Cabbage Salad 38 Cheese Blintzes 87 Cakes 139–151 Cheese Crepes 87 Apple Cake 141 Cherry Tomato Pie 92 Apple Date Nut Cake 142 Cherry Tomato Salad 55 Biscuit Cake 143 Chick Peas Fresh Fruit Cake 147 Chick Peas with Sesame Paste 41 Guava Coffee Cake 147 Falafel 64 Honey Cake 142 Chicken 99–112 Leah’s Chocolate Cake 146 Amy’s Shabbat Cholent 101 Orna’s Chocolate Cake 146 Apricot Chicken 102 Rivka’s Cheese Cake 145 Baked Chicken 102 Solet Cake 150 Chicken Pie 103 Tova’s Cheese Cake 144 Chicken or Turkey Schnitzel 104 Walnut Cake 149 Chicken with Celery 105 Carrot Ring 62 Chicken with Salt 105 Carrots Cola Chicken 107 Beef and Carrots 129 Leah’s Hungarian Chicken 107 Carrot Ring 62 Ma’loubeh 108-109 Gezer Chai 39 Orange Chicken 110 Moroccan Carrots 38 Rachel’s Chicken 110 Pickled Vegetables 54 Roni’s Chicken 111 Salad Olivier 52 Shishlik 111 Sofie’s Salad Olivier 53 Stuffed Chicken and Rice 113 Turkey Pilaf 115 Stuffed Chicken with Vegetables 114 COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL Index 181 Chicken or Turkey Schnitzel 104 Apple Date Nut Cake 142 Chicken Pie 103 Fruit Bars 163 Chicken with Celery 105 Haroset with Date Honey 46 Chicken with Salt 105 Ma’arud 166 Chocolate Oznay Haman 164 Biscuit Cake 143 Druze Rice 79 Chocolate Balls 158 Eggplant Chocolate Spread 158 Angelo’s Fried Eggplant 42 Leah’s Chocolate Cake 146 Eggplant al ha esh 43 Orna’s Chocolate Cake 146 Eggplant in Tomato Sauce 43, 66 Oznay Haman 164 Eggplant Salad 44 Chocolate Balls 158 Eggplant Salad, Grilled 43 Chocolate Spread 158 Eggplant Salad with Sesame Paste 44 Chopped Liver 106 Eggplant Schnitzel 65 Cigars