Category: Recipes

Mom’s Potato Knishes

As a recipe developer, it’s not often that I make other peoples recipes, and when I do, it’s often ones that have been in my family for years. I usually find myself cooking my mom’s dishes around the High Holidays – there’s just something about the Days of Awe that makes me want to connect to my roots, and how more so than with food.

Mom’s potato knishes are a staple at every holiday meal, and it has always been my favorite, because, well… potatoes. It’s probably the only time you’ll see me using margarine – EVER – because coconut oil just doesn’t fly here and to keep the knishes pareve, I’ve got no other choice. Plus, puff pastry is basically 80% margarine anyway, so what’s a little more, amiright?

What I love about this recipe is that the filling makes enough to fill 3 whole rolls and they freeze great! And since they’re frozen unbaked, they taste like you just made them when you bake them up before serving. = a perfect recipe for long holidays like Succos coming up! If you have a custom to eat stuffed foods for the Harvest Holiday, I’ve got you covered there too!

Mom’s Potato Knishes

8 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
3 medium onions, sliced into half moons
3 tbsp olive oil
2 eggs
1/2 stick trans-fat-free margarine
salt and pepper, to taste
3 sheets puff pastry, thawed
1 egg + 1 tbsp water, for egg wash
1-2 tbsp sesame seeds

Method:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Add the potatoes to a pot and cover with salted water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain well.

While the potatoes are cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the sliced onions and saute until deeply browned and caramelized.

Using a potato masher, mash the potatoes until no lumps remain. Add margarine, onions, salt and pepper. Once the mixture is cool, add in the eggs and stir until creamy.

Unfold the puff pastry onto a sheet of parchment paper and roll it out to form a large rectangle. Spread the potato mixture over it and starting from the longer side, roll up the pastry like a jelly roll with the seam on the bottom. Lift the parchment paper and place the roll on a baking sheet. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Cut slits into the pastry and bake until puffed and golden brown.

Repeat with remaining puff pastry and potatoes.

NOTE: This recipe can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate before baking. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds before baking. Alternatively, you can freeze the roll before baking, brush with egg wash and sesame seeds and bake frozen.

VARIATION: You can also try this with sauteed cabbage to make cabbage knishes or sauteed mushroom and onions.

Related Recipes:

cabbage bourekas
deli roll
spanakopita bourekas
salmon en croute with creamed leeks

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Hummus Simanim

As the New Year approaches, I always like to evaluate where I stand and think about what changes I want to make for myself in the coming year, both personally and professionally. For years, my goal was to take the necessary steps towards writing my own cookbook, and now that I have met that goal (far beyond my expectations, with our first printing of 15,000 books completely sold out in just 3 months!), I keep asking myself, “What’s next?”.


I’m not the type of person that settles on status quo – I’m always dreaming up the next big thing and finding ways to challenge myself. It’s like they say – “If you’re not moving forward, you’re falling behind” – and I definitely believe in that.


Truth be told, once the book went to print, I was so emotionally and physically exhausted that I couldn’t imagine coming up with new recipes and ideas ever again! But as my workload lightened up this summer, I got back in the kitchen because I wanted to, not because I had to, and I found my groove again! I went back to my roots, the foods and the flavors that I love the most (yes, that means Israeli food!) and this amazing new recipe came to me! It’s simanim on steroids and it is everything you’ve ever dreamed of for your Rosh Hashanah table and more!

Simanim, or symbolic foods, are traditionally eaten on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize our hopes for a sweet New Year. Some simanim include leeks, pomegranate, gourds (any type of squash), dates, black eyed peas or green beans, beets, carrots and fish head (some use ram’s head). These specific foods are eaten because their hebrew translation relates to specific blessings that convey our wishes for the coming year.


When I put the platter together, I couldn’t stop taking photos because, I mean, HOW GORGEOUS IS IT, amiright??? I all but maxed out my SD card and went. to. town. (No- I like seriously went to town, for some fresh pita!). I invited my neighbors over and we stood over my kitchen counter in the mountains, scooping hummus and salad onto blistered bread, the tastes of Israel growing stronger with each bite. It was a simple dish, but it captured everything I love about what I do – channeling my creativity, sharing with friends, cooking with color and putting a twist on tradition.

This dish reminded me how important it is to cook from a place of love – it is, after all, the secret ingredient that makes everything taste better – and that it’s food, family and tradition that brings us all together.

Wishing you all a healthy, happy and sweet New Year with much success in all areas of your lives. May we continue to reach milestones and share good news with each other this year!
Ksiva Vachasima Tova L’shana Tova Umisukah!

Hummus

2 cloves garlic
¼ cup + 1 Tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
2 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp cumin
1 cup good-quality tahini paste, stir if separated
3/4 cup ice water
2 cans chickpeas, rinsed and drained

Add garlic, lemon juice, salt, cumin, and tahini to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the “S” blade. Puree the mixture; while the machine is running, pour ice water through the feed tube. Blend until mixture is very smooth. Add chickpeas; blend until creamy. Adjust seasoning, adding more salt, cumin, or lemon, if desired. To adjust consistency, add a bit of water at a time until desired thickness is achieved.

To assemble the platter: spread the hummus over a large lazy Susan or a shallow bowl. Place mounds of pomegranate blistered green beans, preserved lemon carrot slaw, beet salad, baharat roasted squash, sauteed leeks and pomegranate seeds in the center of the hummus. Add a few pitted dates. Drizzle olive oil over the hummus and serve.

Pomegranate Blistered Green Beans

1 lb green beans, trimmed
1 1/2 tbsp grapeseed oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
salt and pepper, to taste
1 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Method:

Heat the oil in a wok or skillet. Add the green beans and saute over high heat for 4-5 minutes, or until tender-crisp and blistered. Lower the heat, stir in the garlic and saute until softened. Add the pomegranate molasses, salt, pepper and sesame seeds and toss until coated.

Preserved Lemon Carrot Slaw
reprinted from Millennial Kosher

1 clove garlic, minced
¼ cup light olive oil
3 Tbsp minced preserved lemons
salt and pepper, to taste
3 medium carrots, peeled and grated
¼ cup packed parsley, roughly chopped

Method:

Add garlic, olive oil, preserved lemons, salt and pepper to a bowl; stir to combine. Pour mixture over grated carrots; stir in the parsley.


Beet Salad

1 lb. roasted or prepared beets, cut into wedges
1 tbsp olive oil
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper, to taste
handful of parsley, roughly chopped

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir to coat. 

Baharat Roasted Squash

small butternut squash, peeled and diced
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp baharat
1 tbsp honey
kosher salt, to taste

Method:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place the butternut squash on a parchment lined baking sheet and add olive oil, baharat, honey and salt, stir to coat. Roast for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Baharat recipe: combine 1 tbsp black pepper, 1 tbsp paprika, 2 1/4 tsp cumin, 1 1/2 tsp coriander, 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 1 1/2 tsp cloves, 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/4 tsp cardamom.


Sauteed Leeks

2 leeks
2 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste

Cut off the upper portion of the leeks, keeping the white and pale green portion at the bottom. Chop the leeks. Heat the olive oil in a skillet and add the leeks. Saute until caramelized and season to taste, with salt and pepper. 

Related Recipes:

simanim fritto misto
simanim pasta salad
simanim holiday salad
hummus bassar
chestnut hummus

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Lemon Grilled Leeks with Crispy Panko

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: leeks are an underrated vegetable. Thankfully, they are one of the symbolic foods that is customary to eat on Rosh Hashanah, so once a year people actually take the time to pay attention to them!

Leeks are buttery soft when braised, crispitty crunchy when fried and smoky when grilled. In a word: they are versatile. And I’m so happy to share this method + recipe with you!


First, let us consider that since Rosh Hashanah is so early this year, we can still make use of our grills, and if you don’t have one, there’s still time to savor some al fresco dining. PC Richard & Son has everything you need for outdoor grilling – like these Traeger grills that I’m personally hoping to upgrade to, and some more affordable Weber models. I’ve been grilling so much this summer and I can honestly tell you that there’s nothing quite like it. You keep the mess outdoors, the food is full of flavor and meals come together in minutes. It’s a win-win.

I’ll tell you what else is a win-win: the combo of lemony leeks with a hint of sweet honey and garlicky crispy crumbs makes this humble vegetable the star of the holiday table. It also makes the perfect side to some braised brisket, a leg of lamb or grilled rib eye steak. So lets get grillin!

Lemon Grilled Leeks

5 leeks
3 tbsp grapeseed oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp lemon zest
1 tbsp lemon juice
salt and pepper, to taste
honey, to taste
crispy panko crumbs, recipe follows

Method:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

While the water is boiling,  prepare the leeks. Cut off the upper portion of the leeks, keeping the white and pale green portion at the bottom. Cut off the opposite end, as close to the root as possible. Peel off the tough outer layers. Cut the leek in half vertically. Wash the leek thoroughly, carefully peeling back the layers to clean the dirt on the inside.

Fill a bowl with ice water; set aside. Place the leeks into the pot of boiling water and blanch for 4 minutes. Remove the leeks with tongs and place into the ice bath. Once cooled, drain and pat dry thoroughly.

Preheat your grill to medium heat.

In a small bowl, combine the oil, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Brush the mixture over the leeks, coating on all sides. Place the leeks on the grill and grill for 3 minutes on each side.

Place the leeks on a platter and drizzle lightly with honey. Top with crispy panko crumbs.

NOTE: If you don’t have a grill you can also roast the leeks in the oven. To do so, skip the blanching, brush the leeks with the oil mixture and roast in a 425 degree oven for approximately 30 minutes, or until tender and caramelized.

VARIATION: For added spice, drizzle the leeks with hot honey. To prepare, add honey to a pot with sliced fresh chilies. Simmer for 1 hour, strain and cool.

Crispy Panko Crumbs

3 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme
1/2 cup panko crumbs
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 tsp lemon zest

Method:

Heat olive oil in a frying pan set over medium heat. Add garlic, cook until softened. Add thyme and panko crumbs; sauté until crisped and golden. Remove from heat. Add lemon zest, salt and pepper.

This post is sponsored by P.C. Richard & Son. All opinions are my own.

Related Recipes:

salmon en croute with creamed leeks
roasted smashed potatoes with leeks
cream of leek soup

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Hawaij Honey Cake with Labneh Frosting

If you are lucky enough to own a copy of Millennial Kosher, chances are you are one of hundreds who has made my hawaij garlic confit a staple on their Shabbos table. I for one can not get through the weekend without the intoxicating smell of hawaij wafting through my home. And my challah can’t live without dipping into the fragrant oily dip.

I’m proud to have introduced so many people to one of my favorite spice blends – a Yemenite curry that is famous for it’s use in chicken soup. What many don’t know, however, is that there is also a sweet version of hawaij, traditionally used for coffee. Since many honey cakes incorporate coffee into the batter, I figured that spicing up the cake with some hawaij for coffee was the perfect way to introduce the sweet side of the Yemenite spice.

Besides for the fragrant spice blend, I also incorporated one of my favorite Israeli ingredients – silan or date honey. It’s interesting to note that when the Torah speaks of Israel being the “Land that flows with milk and honey”, it is actually referring to date honey. There is nothing quite like dates from the shuk in Israel, and silan has become a much-loved ingredient in my house. It works both in sweet and savory applications (try it over pargiot!) and it’s delicious when paired with tahini.

Now lets talk about the other unique component of this amazing recipe – the frosting! If you’d never tried making labneh before, it’s so much easier than it seems! Labneh is the Israeli cream cheese – light and creamy with a healthy dose of tang. I’m personally not a fan of classic American cream cheese, so it’s all about the labneh for me!

Labneh is extremely versatile – it can be rolled into balls and marinated in olive oil with different spices, drizzled with some olive oil and za’atar for dipping pita, or made into a sweet frosting with some added hawaij to perfectly compliment this breakfast loaf!

I am totally obsessed over how this recipe came together! The cake is crazy moist, nothing like that dry honey cake we all dread. The hawaij adds just enough spice, but nothing over the top, and the creamy frosting adds a nice tang to balance out the sweetness of the cake.

My favorite part about this cake though, was decorating it!! I had a vision for incorporating my favorite seasonal fruit – figs – and I just love how it came out! Feel free to play around with fresh pomegranate, honeycomb, cinnamon sticks and other fun toppings to make the cake your own.

I always say I’m not a baker, but this recipe helped me realize that even though I don’t like the science of baking, there is still so much room for creativity and if I can get around the technicalities, I can create a masterpiece.

Here’s to a New Year of trying new things, delicious eats and sweetness all around!

Hawaij Honey Cake

1 cup flour
1 tbsp cocoa powder
2 tsp hawaij for coffee, recipe follows
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 egg
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c oil
1/2 c silan (may sub with regular honey)
1/2 cup warm water mixed with 1 tsp coffee
fresh figs, gooseberries, and dates, optional, for decorating

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, cocoa powder, hawaij, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk until incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix the egg, sugar, oil, honey and coffee until creamy. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until a batter forms. The batter will be liquidy.

Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool completely.

Cover the cake with a layer of parchment paper and foil and rest overnight. Frost and decorate, if desired, before serving.

Hawaij for Coffee

1 tbsp cardamom
1 1/2 tsp ginger powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp cloves

Method:

Add ingredients to a small bowl and stir to combine.

Labneh Frosting

2 6oz. containers Norman’s plain Greek yogurt
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 stick butter, softened
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp hawaj for coffee
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla

Method:

Line a fine mesh strainer with 2 layers of cheesecloth and set over a bowl. Mix the yogurt with salt and place into the cheesecloth. Fold the cheesecloth over the yogurt and cover with a plate and a heavy can or jar. Place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar until creamed. Remove the bowl from the fridge and scoop out the thickened yogurt into the mixing bowl, beat very lightly to incorporate – do not overmix. Add in the hawaij, powdered sugar and vanilla and stir with a spoon until a creamy frosting forms.

Refrigerate the frosting until you are ready to serve. Frost and serve.

This post was sponsored by Norman’s. All opinions are my own. 

Related Recipes:

parsnip honey cake with cream cheese frosting
honey cake with caramelized apples
bourbon honey cake balls

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Pina Colada Ice Cream

I have a love/hate relationship with bananas. I love me some banana cake with frosting, but I’m not a fan of strawberry + banana anything. Banana “nice cream” is a great invention, but sometimes I want some ice cream that’s good for my body that doesn’t taste like, well, bananas.

Enter the humble pineapple. I’ve turned it into a rotisserie stand in my cookbook, Millennial Kosher, and now it’s solving my nice cream problems with it’s unique ability to blend up into a creamy and dreamy dessert.

Like bananas, the pineapple must be frozen before making “nice cream”, and the addition of coconut and rum makes you feel like you’re on a tropical island somewhere. Which is kinda nice considering I haven’t been to one in about 12 years.

So while my Instagram is flooded with photos of Mykonos, I’ll happily enjoy some of this guilt-free ice cream on my porch in Upstate New York, savoring the smell of grass and the breeze sweeping through the mountains. Enjoy the last licks of summer, it’s almost over! (insert sad emoji face here).

Pina Colada Ice Cream
YIELD: 6 servings

1 ripe pineapple, peeled and cut into chunks
1 can full fat coconut milk
2 tbsp rum, optional
2 tbsp maple syrup, or, to taste
pinch of salt

Method:

Place the pineapple in a ziploc bag and freeze overnight. Refrigerate the coconut milk overnight.

Carefully remove the coconut milk from the fridge and scoop out the coconut cream from the top of the can, leaving the liquid on the bottom (drink or discard). Place the coconut cream into a food processor along with the frozen pineapple chunks, rum, maple syrup and salt, Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

Serve immediately or freeze until ready to serve.

Related Recipes:

passion fruit coolada
persimmon coconut ice cream
nutella banana nice cream
orange creamsicle pops

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