Tag: Jewish Holiday Food

Smoked Salmon Matzah Brei

Smoked Salmon Matzah Brei

Smoked Salmon Matzah Brei

Fried Matzah and Eggs
Smoked Salmon, Capers, Scallions
Horseradish Creme Fraiche, Chives

Matzah brei is a traditional Jewish dish served during Passover. It consists of matzah (unleavened bread) that is softened briefly in water, then sautéed in butter and cooked with beaten eggs.

It seems that every Jewish family has their own way of making Matzah Brei, some with a greater ratio of matzah to egg, some lightly browned cooked in a frittata style, some in a french toast style served sweet with maple syrup or cinnamon sugar.

I go for a savory scrambled version. For a special Passover brunch treat, I add smoked salmon, capers, scallions, and a dollop of horseradish crème fraîche.

Matzah brei is pronounced “MAHT-suh bry.”  Brei rhymes with try. Try it!

Smoked Salmon Matzah Brei Recipe

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Salted Flourless Chocolate Cake

Salted Flourless Chocolate Cake

Salted Flourless Chocolate Cake

An incredibly easy way to impress your guests on Passover (and other times of the year!) is to serve a home-baked flourless chocolate cake for dessert. With its luscious fudgy texture and intense cocoa taste where flaky Maldon sea salt enhances the experience, this effortless cake is bound to be a big hit every time.

Salt has a fascinating way of complementing chocolate in desserts. Salt acts as a flavor enhancer, bringing out the natural richness and depth of the chocolate while also balancing its sweetness making the overall taste experience more complex and satisfying.

Additionally, Maldon sea salt provides a pleasant contrast in texture. The slight crunchiness of the salt crystals complements the smoothness of the chocolate, adding an extra layer of sensory delight to each bite.

This cake is so darn delicious that it doesn’t even need frosting or fancy garnishes. A simple dusting of unsweetened cocoa powder and/or powdered sugar is all it takes to make it shine.

Salted Flourless Chocolate Cake Recipe

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Lavish Latkes

Lavish Latkes

💙 Lavish Latkes 💙

Two Ways:
Caviar, Crème Fraîche, Chives
Smoked Salmon, Crème Fraîche, Grated Radish

My deli-style Reuben Latkes were a big hit earlier in the week, but for the grand finale, we’re serving Lavish Latkes. Crème fraîche has a luxurious, velvety texture that balances the crispy fried savory latkes with a smooth and rich mouthfeel and a mild tangy flavor. Generous individual servings of caviar and smoked salmon add to the extravagance. Chives and grated radish add color, texture, and a tasteful finishing flourish.

Hanukkah Table

The last night of Hanukkah is special because all eight candles on the menorah are lit, creating a beautiful display of light. It is a time for reflection on the significance of the holiday, the importance of religious freedom, and the enduring spirit of hope and resilience. 💙

Lavish Latkes

Note: Caviar harvested from sturgeon is not kosher according to Jewish dietary law, fish must have scales and fins to be considered so. Sturgeon do not have scales. Whitefish, bowfin, and salmon roe, as well as vegan caviar, are excellent kosher alternatives to sturgeon caviar.

Lavish Latkes Recipe

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Reuben Latkes

Reuben Latkes

🥔 🧅 Reuben Latkes 🧅 🥔

Potato Latkes, Corned Beef
Swiss Cheese, Sauerkraut with Caraway, Russian Dressing

Happy Hanukkah! 🕎

As far as symbolic foods go, potatoes fried in oil are pretty much everyone’s favorite. A jug of olive oil, which held enough oil to last for one day, burned for eight when the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated. So… we eat foods fried in olive oil to commemorate that ancient miracle. 🌟

This year my latkes are savory and loaded! First, I season them from the inside out, by adding everything-bagel-seasoning, sea salt & fresh ground pepper, and plenty chopped chives to the potato batter. The bagel seasoning contains poppy seeds, black & white sesame seeds, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, and flaked sea salt. No shortage of flavor there.

Then I’m topping those beautiful fried potato latkes with classic Reuben Sandwich ingredients – Swiss Cheese, Corned Beef, Sauerkraut, and Russian Dressing. The caraway seeds in the sauerkraut mimic the distinct flavor in our favorite Jewish rye bread.

Of course, we all love ❤️ plain applesauce and sour cream as traditional accompaniments but for 2023, I’m treating my guests to a flavor extravaganza, and serving Reuben-Style Latkes!

Reuben Latkes Recipe

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Chinese Food on Christmas

Chinese Food on Christmas

Chinese Food on Christmas

🕎🎄🕎🎄🕎

The custom apparently started in Manhattan, around the turn of the last century. Immigrant Jewish and Chinese neighbors did not share in the celebration of Christmas with other New Yorkers. So it seems that Jews were grateful to find Chinese restaurants were open on a holiday when all other restaurants were closed…

OK, fast forward to today. Jewish people eating Chinese food on Christmas has become an American tradition. It’s become part of the holiday spirit. And nobody’s kvetching.

Christmas Menu

Soup Dumplings
Roast Duck Two Ways
Sichuan Dan Dan Noodles
Stir-Fry Vegetables
Three Sauces

Chinese Food on ChristmasChinese Food at Home

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