I’ve really got to start cooking from cookbooks again. It’s literally been years since I’ve made something from a cookbook. And it’s not because I don’t have any – trust me. I’ve got more cookbooks than I have room for in my small Brooklyn home. They’re all just sitting there on the shelf, like figurines on display, looking pretty!
I usually only take my cookbooks out on Shabbos, when I browse through them like an old photo album. I drool over the good recipes, sigh over the bad ones, and then return them to the bookshelf. Once in a while I promise myself to try a recipe, but I usually forget or don’t get around to it.
Recently, my Shabbos guest was looking though my cookbook collection and she asked me what my favorite recipes were from some of my cookbooks. It made me realize that cookbooks are not just for browsing – some of them have really good recipes that I should actually be cooking. She told me some of her favorites dishes from the cookbooks we had in common (like Smitten Kitchen, Jerusalem, Plenty, The Kosher Palette, Kosher by Design and others) and I promised myself I would give them a try.
It really hit home this week because for the first time in a while, I was stumped. I had planned on an apple and honey dessert for the blog, but sadly, it flopped (yes, that happens to me!) and I couldn’t think of anything else that I wanted to post. Until, I was speaking to my friend and she mentioned a recipe for angel hair pasta that she was making for dinner. She said it had mushrooms and leeks – and when I heard leeks, I was all over it. My mind started racing, thinking about all the ways I could turn it into a Simanim salad – filled with lots symbolic foods that we eat on Rosh Hashanah.
I went straight for some of my favorite Rosh Hashanah foods – beets and pomegranates – keeping things mess-free with golden beets. The pomegranates add great crunch, and the honey rounds it all out with a hint of sweetness.
So thanks to Dina (and whoever came up with the original recipe), for getting my creative juices flowing again.I can’t wait to dust off my cookbooks and open my eyes (and palate) to a new range of recipes! Shall we call it a New Year’s Resolution?
What are some of your favorite cookbook recipes? Share them in the comments below!
Angel Hair Pasta Salad
1 medium golden beet
1 box angel hair pasta
1 pkg baby bella mushrooms, cleaned and sliced
2 large leeks, white and pale green parts only, cleaned and sliced
2 tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup pomegranate seeds, for garnish
fresh parsley, for garnish
Dressing:
scant 1/2 cup extra light olive oil
1/4 cup chopped parsley
4 cloves garlic, crushed
2 heaping tbsp honey
1 tsp lemon juice
Method:
Scrub the beet clean and wrap in foil. Bake at 400 degrees until fork-tender, about 45 minutes. While the beet is cooking, prepare the dressing by adding all the ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.
Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and add the angel hair pasta. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and drain. Place the pasta in a large mixing bowl and toss with the dressing. Peel and dice the beet into small cubes and stir into the pasta.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add leeks and mushrooms. Saute until soft and caramelized and add to the pasta.
Place the pasta in a serving bowl and garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley sprigs.
NOTE: this salad may be served warm, cold or at room temperature.
VARIATION: For a healthier option, use spaghetti squash in place of the angel hair pasta and reduce the amount of oil in the dressing.
Related Recipes:
Israeli couscous salad with roasted beets, carrots and parsnips
holiday salad with apple and honey vinagrette
This looks so great! Perfect for Rosh Hashana!
Thanks Danielle!
Love your idea of combining the simanim. One of my favorite recipes is Burnt eggplant with garlic, lemon and pomegranate seeds from Ottolenghi’s “Jerusalem” Cookbook. The eggplant and the lemon go together so well. Have made it without the pomegranate seeds, but it looks so much prettier with them.
Thanks Mindy! I love that Ottolenghi recipe too and have served it quite a few times – always to rave reviews.
Fresh parsley for dressing? If I want to use parsley flakes what would be amount I should use
Hi Sarah, you can’t use dried parsley in this, but you can use frozen parsley cubes (4 of them).
I’m JUST the same way! I have this embarrassingly large cookbook collection but I almost never actually cook from them. I read them like you do, and get inspiration from them, but it’s rare that I actually make a recipe from them! This looks lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Rivki! Are you back to blogging yet?
Yes! Started back up again.
what can we substitute for the beet?
Nothing really. If you don’t like it, just leave it out.
If I prepare this fresh for a meal and have leftover, can it be used for another meal? Or is it only good fresh??
You can definitely use it for another meal. I made this on Thursday and served it for Shabbos, it was great cold!
Pasta recipes are mostly served in my own family restaurant in Brooklyn area. I appreciate you to share this Salad recipe and sure to add this in my Janelle’s Restaurant Menu.
beautiful vegetarian pasta, the best part is that is full of veggies!
A lovely, simple dish that works hot or cold, and can be an app or a main. Love the photo!