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Blintzes

Throughout the Western world people eat crepe suzettes. Blintzes are the Jewish eastern European version of the French treat. The Israeli bent on having a light meal in the evening, after a theater performance or movie, will choose from among a number of specialty restaurants serving this delicacy with a choice of several different fillings.

Filling

1 lb. dry cottage cheese
1 small package cream cheese
1 egg
cinnamon
2-3 tbs. sugar
raisins (optional)

Batter

1 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup water, soda water or milk
2 eggs

For filling: combine cheeses, sugar, and egg. Add cinnamon and raisins.
For batter: Combine flour, water and salt. Add eggs and beat until smooth. Spoon a little batter into a heated, greased 7-inch frying pan (crepe-size), just to coat bottom, tipping to spread it thin. Cook on one side only then turn onto a towel. Place about 1 1/2 tbs. filling on each pancake, roll up, tucking in ends. Bake for 10 minutes at medium heat.

Chicken Curry

After its independence, Israel discovered a new Jewish communitythe Cochin Jews of India. Tradition has it that these Jews were exiled to India after the destruction of the Second Temple. Though outwardly resembling Indians, the Cochin Jews maintain their distinctive tradition. One of their principal dishes is chicken curry which has now been incorporated into Israeli cuisine.

2 lbs. chicken
4 large tomatoes
2 apples
1-1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup water
3 tbs. olive oil
2 garlic cloves
2 tbs. sugar
5 large onions
1-1/2 tsp. salt, pepper
2 tbs. grated coconut (optional)
1 cup chopped parsley
1 tsp. ginger, ground
1 (or more) tbs. curry powder
3 cups clear broth or coconut milk

Cut chicken into serving pieces and fry in 1 tbs. oil until lightly browned. Add water and simmer for 20 minutes until chicken pieces are tender. Drain and put aside. Add onions, garlic, tomatoes, parsley and apples (all diced) to the frying pan and saut over medium heat. Add sugar, ginger and curry powder. Sprinkle with flour and pour in clear broth or coconut milk. Add coconut and chicken and saute for an additional 10 minutes over medium heat. Serve hot with rice.

Chicken Paprika

Chicken is extremely popular in Israel, because it is relatively inexpensive and can be prepared in many ways. Chicken paprika is, of course, a Hungarian variation. With the amount of chicken Israelis consume, it is hard to imagine a family going without it for very long.

1 - 4 lb. pullet
3 tbs. flour
2 tbs. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 tbs. chicken fat or margarine
1-1/2 cups sliced onion
1 tbs. paprika
1 cup boiling water

Cut up chicken and season with flour, salt and pepper. Brown chicken in the fat (or margarine). Remove chicken and brown onions in remaining fat (or margarine). Return chicken to the pan, sprinkle with paprika and add water. Cover and cook over low heat for 1-1/2 hours or until chicken is tender.

Kebobs

A classic Middle Eastern dish. There is hardly a restaurant in Israel which does not feature kebob (small hamburgers) at the head of its menu.

2 lbs. ground meat (beef or lamb)
1 tsp. ground cumin
chopped parsley
1/2 cup water
salt and pepper
1 large onion

Mix meat with cumin, salt, pepper, and water. Knead well for 5 minutes. Add chopped onion and chopped parsley. Form a big ball and keep in refrigerator for 12 hours.
Before cooking, wet your fingers and form 3 in. x 1 in. stick-like hamburgers. Grill for 5-8 minutes. Turn from side to side until brown. Serve with fresh vegetable salad.

Lamb Stew with Dill & Olives

Ingredients:

1/2 cup olive oil
about 1 1/2 kilos of lamb, cut as for stew
2 medium onions, chopped finely
1 tsp. turmeric
3/4 tsp. pepper
salt to taste
1 cup beef stock
3/4 cup lemon juice
675 gr. spinach, chopped
the leaves of 2 bunches of celery, chopped finely
the white parts of 8 spring onions, chopped finely
1/4 kilo green olives, pitted and halved
1/2 cup dried peas, soaked in water
2 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped finely

Heat 2 Tbsp. of the oil and in this brown the lamb and onions. Season with turmeric, pepper and salt to taste and then pour over the stock and lemon juice. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring several times.
In a heavy skillet cook the spinach, celery leaves, and spring onions over a very low flame, without adding water, just until the vegetables begin to soften. Add the remaining oil to the skillet and fry for 5 minutes. Add these ingredients to the meat and then add the olives, dried peas and dill. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the meat and beans are tender (about 45 minutes). Serve hot.
Serves 4-6.

Latkes

Originating in eastern Europe, latkes (potato pancakes) have been a staple of the Jewish diet for many years. Eaten especially during the festivals of Hanukah and Passover, these light and scrumptious treats continue to be a favorite on the Israeli menu.

3-4 medium potatoes
2-3 tbs. of flour (or Matzah meal on Passover)
1 egg
cooking oil
salt and pepper
1 small onion (optional)
apple sauce (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Grate potatoes. Mix in egg, flour, salt and pepper. Grated onion may be added for flavor. Form into patties and fry until brown on both sides (about 2 minutes for each side). Serve with apple sauce or sour cream.

Lokshen Kugel

Lokshen Kugel means "noodle pudding" in Yiddish. It originated in eastern Europe where the Jewish community spoke that language. This item falls into the category of "grandma's dishes."

8 oz. broad noodles
1 cup pot cheese
1/2 cup raisins
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup margarine or butter, melted

Cook noodles as directed on the package; drain well. Stir in remaining ingredients and half of the melted margarine. Place in a greased casserole and pour over the remaining melted margarine. Bake uncovered at 350 deg F (180 deg C) for 1 hour.

Malawach

Malawach is one of a number of dishes brought to Israel by the Jews from Yemen. The popularity of this versatile dish, which may be served with a variety of fillings and toppings, testifies to the love for Yemenite food which Israelis have acquired.

4 cups flour
1-1/4 cups water
1/2 tsp. salt
1 stick margarine
tomato sauce (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Mix flour, water, and salt until dough becomes soft. Add more flour if dough is sticky. Cut dough into two sections. Knead and roll each section into a 20x20 inch sheet. Spread margarine on the sheets. Fold each sheet like an envelope with ends meeting at center. Repeat folding process to get two layers of folds. Cover with a paper towel, let sit for 1/2 hour. Cut each sheet into 10 parts. Form each piece of dough to the shape of your frying pan and fry until golden brown on both sides. Serve with tomato sauce or sour cream.

Meat Cholent

Cholent, a heavy stew, became the answer to the age-old problem of how to have nourishing hot food on the Sabbath without violating injunctions in Jewish traditional law. Since it is permitted to prepare food in advance and keep it warm in an oven lit before the Sabbath began, cholent, which it is not impaired by long, slow cooking (indeed the process improves the flavor), was adopted as the principal Sabbath food in eastern Europe.
In Israel, cholent has become exceedingly popular with every segment of the population. There are even restaurants where one sees lines of customers standing with pot-in-hand waiting for their turn to get "take-home" cholent.
Cholent is served only on weekends. Anyone who partakes of this dish will understand why. It is a thick, heavy, and filling food which induces sleep.

2 cups dried lima beans
3 lbs. brisket
3 onions, diced
2 tsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. ginger
2 tbs. flour
8 small potatoes (peeled)
1 cup pearled barley
8 eggs (uncooked)
2 tsp. salt
2 tbs. fat or margarine

Soak the beans overnight in water. Drain. Use a heavy saucepan or Dutch oven and brown meat and onions in the fat (or margarine). Sprinkle with salt, pepper and ginger. Add beans, barley, small potatoes (peeled) and sprinkle with flour and paprika. Place uncooked eggs in shells on top. Add enough boiling water to cover one inch above the mixture. Cover tightly. Cholent may be baked for 24 hours at 250 deg F (125 deg C) or for quicker cooking, bake at 350 deg F (180 deg C) for 4-5 hours.
Serves 8-10.

Meat Rolls with Pine Nuts

Ingredients:

2 medium onions, peeled and grated
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 kilo lean lamb, minced very finely (can substitute beef)
salt and pepper to taste
4 Tbsp. pine nuts
1 1/2 Tbsp. each margarine and olive oil, melted together
chopped parsley and lemon slices for garnish

Preheat oven to 1800 Celsius.
In a mixing bowl combine the onions, egg and lamb. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well. Knead the mixture vigorously by hand or in a food processor, making sure that it is very soft and pasty.
Divide the mixture into six equal portions and flatten each on a board into a rectangular shape. About 1 cm. from the edges of the longer sides of each rectangle place a row of pine nuts and then roll each rectangle into a fat sausage shape, starting from the edge lined with pine nuts.
Arrange the six rolls in an ovenproof dish just large enough to hold all of them side by side. Brush the rolls with the melted margarine and oil mixture, sprinkle with about 3 Tbsp. of water and bake in a preheated oven for 45 minutes or longer, depending on the thickness of the rolls. Transfer the meat rolls to a preheated serving dish, garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices and serve hot, accompanied by rice or sauteed potatoes.
Serves 4-6.

Moroccan Fish

This can be spicy (peppery) depending on the quantity of hot pepper and hot paprika you put in the pot.

4-5 slices fillet of fish (Nile fish, Tuna, or Halibut)
A little oil (smear a little lemon juice and salt and let sit 1/2 hour)
2-3 cleaned red peppers and cut in slices
1/2 hot pepper (pungent pepper) not chopped (for children its possible to make without)
3 tomatoes peeled and sliced
3 cloves garlic peeled and cut in half
4 tablespoons coriander chopped

Sauce:

1/4 cup oil (and put into the oil) - 1 big teaspoon paprika
For sweet - 1/2 teaspoon paprika + 1/2 teaspoon salt + 1/2 teaspoon chicken soup powder + pinch black pepper
Mix spices well into oil

In a pot with 3-4 spoons of oil, arrange in layers - sweet red pepper with skin down, on top of this - hot peppers (clean out seeds in the middle) with skin down, sliced tomatoes, clove of garlic.

Put on low flame and allow the pepper and tomatoes to produce juice and become soft. After 1/2 hour put the fish fillet on top of the pan, washing off the salt and lemon juice mixture. Pour the sauce on top, then one half a cup of boiling water. Seal the cover almost entirely; leave a small opening to let out steam. After, continue to cook for 45 minutes then add chopped coriander, and after 10 more minutes the dish should be finished.

Moussaka

Moussaka is an authentic Greek dish. With time, it found its way to Israel via Turkey. It is a specialty of many Greek-style restaurants which abound in Israel's cities. Each ethnic community tends to improvise and cover the moussaka in its own favorite way, topping it with cheese, gravy, etc. This is the standard Israeli version.

1 lb. ground lamb
4 eggs, slightly beaten
3 chopped onions
2 tbs. flour
2 cups water or vegetable stock
1/2 cup tomato paste mixed with 1/4 cup water
2 cloves garlic, crushed or cut into small pieces
1 tbs. corn starch
2 tbs. oil
1 tsp. salt

Cut eggplants (unpeeled) into rings. Sprinkle with salt and let stand for one hour. Wash under water and dry. Saut onions in one tbs. oil until soft. Add garlic and meat and fry until lightly browned. Remove from heat and add tomato paste/water mixture. Set aside.
Sprinkle flour on eggplant slices and fry in one tbs. oil until brown. Layer fried eggplant slices in a casserole dish with meat mixture. Repeat layering until full. Bake for 40 minutes. Mix corn starch in stock/water, add eggs and pour on top of meat mixture. Return to oven and bake at 325 deg F (170 deg C) until gravy begins to be absorbed. Serve hot.

Moussaka with Meat, Potatoes & Eggplant

Main Ingredients:

5-6 eggplants (not peeled, cut lengthwise and fried)
1 kilo (2.2 lbs.) potatoes

The Filling:

1/2 kilo ground beef
1 chopped onion
1/2-teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon dill chopped
1 big ripe tomato
1 egg

Sauce:

1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cube chicken bullion
1/2 cup water
2 eggs
Pinch of salt, black pepper
Pinch sugar
1/2 tablespoon dill (chopped)

Peel and cut the potato in slices (not too thin) rinse and dry them. Pout boiling water on the tomato, peel except for the middle and chop thinly. In a pot, fry the onion, adding the meant, and continue to cook until the color changes. Spice with salt and black pepper, chopped dill and add the tomato and egg. Mix well. Drain grease well, and arrange in layers in this order.

First layer: the potatoes

Second layer: the meat

Third layer: the eggplant

Repeat this order of layering until the ingredients are used up.

In a bowl, melt the tomato paste and a cube of bullion in 1/2 cup warm water.

Shishlik

The simple method of preparing meat on an open grill goes back to ancient biblical times. To this day, Israelis tend to prefer their meat prepared in this manner. Shishlik is one of the most popular dishes requested at restaurants.

1 lb. tender meat (beef or lamb)
salt and pepper
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 tbs. oil

Marinate diced meat (1 in. x 1 in.) in garlic and oil mixture for 1/2 hour. Remove and put meat on skewers. Sprinkle on salt and pepper. Place over charcoal or in broiler.

St. Peter's Fish with Parsley Sauce

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh parsley, chopped coarsely
1 clove garlic, chopped
juice of 1 lemon
salt and pepper to taste
4 St. Peter's fish, bass or trout, filleted
3 Tbsp. flour
1/2 cup olive oil
3 Tbsp. onion, chopped

In a food processor, combine the parsley and garlic with 2 Tbsp. of water and whir until the mixture is completely smooth. Thin the mixture with an additional 2 Tbsp. of water and mix well. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside, covered.
On a flat plate combine the flour with about 1/2 tsp. each of salt and pepper and mix well. Into this dip the fillets, coating well and shaking off whatever excess adheres. In a large, heavy skillet heat the oil and in this fry the fish until well browned on both sides. Transfer the fish to a preheated serving platter and set aside to keep warm.
Discard about half of the oil and in the remaining oil saute the onions until golden brown. Add the remaining flour and over a low flame cook until the mixture is light brown, stirring constantly. Add the parsley mixture and cook, continuing to stir, for 2 - 3 minutes longer. Pour the sauce over the fish and serve immediately.
Serves 4-6.

Sources:
Embassy of Israel

Israeli Foods: Main Dishes