Author: Vered Guttman

Stuffed eggplant with lamb, tomato, pomegranate molasses and tamarind
Main course, Persian, Shabbat, Sukkot, Turkish, Yom Ha'Atzmaut

Eggplant stuffed with lamb, pomegranate and tamarind

Originally a Turkish recipe, my version here has a strong Persian influence by using pomegranate molasses and tamarind.

Savory babka with grape leaves, olive and pecorino
Israeli, Pastries & Breads, Shabbat, Shavuot, Sukkot

Grape leaves, olive and kaskaval babka

 Take the popular Polish Jewish cake, add essential ingredients from Israel, olives and grape leaves, make the pastry savory, and […]

Israeli red snapper crudo with oregano, preserved lemon and yogurt
Appetizers, Israeli, Rosh Hashanah

Red snapper crudo with oregano, preserved lemon and yogurt

Take a classic Italian dish of raw fish, dress it with Middle Eastern staples like zaatar, preserved lemon and sumac […]

figs in white chocolate cream
Desserts, Israeli, Shavuot

Figs in white chocolate and balsamic vinegar

Tu B’Av, which started as a national matchmaking day in the times of the second temple, has turned into a […]

zaalouk Moroccan eggplant salad
Appetizers, Dips, pickles and relishes, Moroccan, Salads, Shabbat, Vegetables

Moroccan eggplant salad (zaalouk)

Zaalouk is a member of the large family of Middle Eastern eggplant salads. In here, the eggplant is roasted and […]

eggplant goat cheese lasagna
Israeli, Italian, Main course, Pastries & Breads, Shavuot, Vegetables

Eggplant and goat cheese lasagna

This recipe is not a traditional one in Italy, and I came up with it as another way to use […]

FOUL fava beans with tahini
Appetizers, Arab, Egyptian, Grains & Legumes, Salads

Fava bean salad with tahini

Foul mudammas (or ful medames, or foul) is an Egyptian stew of cooked small dried fava beans with lemon juice, […]

Mercimek köftesi Turkish lentil and bulgar patties
Appetizers, Grains & Legumes, Tisha B'Av, Turkish

Turkish lentil and bulgar patties (Mercimek köftesi)

Lentil dishes are common for time of mourning, like shiva and Tisha B’Av. Their round shape symbolizes the circle of […]

Mejadra lentil and bulgar
Arab, Grains & Legumes, Lebanese, Palestinian, Tisha B'Av

lentils and rice (mejadra)

The fast of Tisha B’Av commemorates multiple tragedies in the Jewish history. The destructions of the first and second temples, […]

Mejadra lentil and bulgar
Ashkenazi, Feature story, Iraqi, Israeli, Moroccan, Sephardi, Tisha B'Av

Food and Death: A Look at the Tasty and Tearful Tradition of Jewish Mourning

For American Jews, bagel platters may be the most common food served after a funeral or during the shivah (the […]