Category: Jewish Food

Challah

On By CandiceIn Baked goods, Bread, Jewish Food, Uncategorized1 Comment

BF3F2A01-7312-4F6E-86C5-1E87882A3C1B-21960-00000ACD39F945A2_tmpI like to mix everything by hand in a large mixing bowl with a whisk. These challahs come out beautifully.

INGREDIENTS

7 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Package Instant Yeast
1 Egg, Lightly Beaten
½ Cup Canola Oil
1 Tbsp Salt
½ cup plus 1 Tbsp Sugar
2 Cups Warm Water

Egg Wash
1 Egg, Lightly Beaten

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METHOD

1. In a large mixing bowl whisk together 1 Tbsp of sugar with the yeast and warm water. Leave it to rest for 10 mins, it should become foamy.
2. Add the remaining sugar and salt, whisk until dissolved.
3. Now add 3 cups of flour and whisk until incorporated.
4. Add the lightly beaten egg and oil, mix well.
5. At this stage you can slowly start adding the remaining 4 cups of flour. When the dough starts to become too thick, remove the whisk and start using your hands.
6. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and start kneading until the dough is no longer sticky.
7. Once no longer sticky, knead the dough for at least 10 minutes. You know it’s ready when you push your finger into the dough and it springs back on it’s own.
8. Place the dough into a large oiled bowl and cover with cling wrap.
9. Wrap with a blanket around the bowl and place in a warm spot for 1-2 hours, punch down the dough every so often and let it finally rise until it’s doubled in size.
10. Once doubled in size, punch down the dough and braid into challahs.
11. Place the challah on the baking sheet and lightly cover with cling wrap.
12. Let the braided challah rise for about 30 minutes.IMG_6451
13. At this point, preheat your oven to 180°C/375°F
13. Carefully brush with egg wash, you can leave them plain, sprinkle with sesame seeds or cinnamon sugar. Whichever you prefer.
14. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turn off the oven and leave the challah in for another 10 minutes.
15. Remove from the oven and serve warm.
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Date and Pecan Passover Cookies

On By CandiceIn Baked goods, Dairy Free, Dessert, Gluten Free, Jewish Food, Passover, Sweet Treats, UncategorizedLeave a comment

IMG_7278INGREDIENTS

1 Cup Chopped Dates
1 Cup Roughly Chopped Pecans
1 Cup Powdered (Icing) Sugar
1 Egg White

METHOD

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF/180ºC
2. In a medium sized mixing bowl add the chopped dates, chopped pecans and powdered sugar.
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3. Mix well until all combined.
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4. Add the egg white and mix well.
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5. Place tablespoon sized scoops on a baking sheet spread an inch apart.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until cookies are lightly golden.

Passover Ginger Cake

On By momshcooksIn Baked goods, Cakes, Jewish Food, Passover, Uncategorized1 Comment


INGREDIENTS 

6 Eggs
1 ½ Cups Sugar
1 Cup Water
1 ½ Cups Oil
1 Cup Syrup
1 ½ cups Passover Cake meal
1 ½ Cups Potato Flour
1 Tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1 Tsp Cinnamon
2 Tsp Ginger

METHOD

Oven 160 º C (320º F)
1. Mix all ingredients together in a large mixing bowl for 5 minutes.
2. Spray a large foil container with spray & cook or grease with oil.
3. Pour mixture in and leave to rest for ½ hour.
4. Bake for 1 hour.
5. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
6. Makes a very large cake.

Miso Black Cod

On By CandiceIn Dairy Free, Entree/Main Course, Fish, Gluten Free, Jewish Food, UncategorizedLeave a comment

img_3082Serves 4
INGREDIENTS

¼ Cup Sake
¼ Cup Mirin
4 Tablespoons Saikyo Miso (or White Miso)
2 Tablespoons Sugar
4 Pieces Black Cod Fillets about 1/2 Pound/250 Grams Each (Also known as Sablefish – You can also substitute Salmon, Seabass or similar)
Oil for cooking

METHOD (Marinade)

  1. Make marinade (per below) and marinate fish 1-2 days in advance. If you are short on time, let it marinate for at least a few hours.
  2. Combine the mirin and sake in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil.
  3. Boil for 20 seconds to allow the alcohol to evaporate.
  4. Turn the heat to low and whisk in the miso paste and sugar.
  5. Whisk over medium heat without letting the mixture boil until the sugar has dissolved.
  6. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
  7. Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towel. Slather the fish with the marinade and place in a glass/porcelain dish. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and leave to marinate for 1-2 days.

To Cook the Fish

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F/200 °C
  2. Heat an oven-proof skillet over high heat on the stove.
  3. Lightly wipe off any excess miso clinging to the fillets, but don’t rinse it off. Discard excess marinade from fish.
  4. Place a small amount of oil in the pan, once hot add the fish skin-side-up to the pan and cook until the bottom of the fish browns and caramelizes in spots, about 3 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until the other side is browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
  5. Transfer to the oven (Skin-side down) and bake for 5 to 10 minutes, until fish is opaque and flakes easily.
  6. Serve with vegetables and rice.

Challah

On By momshcooksIn Baked goods, Bread, Dairy Free, Jewish Food, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I have been making challah for years in my stand up large mixer. I went to a challah bake and we all made challah by hand and there is no comparison. A much lighter delicious challah. Try it, you will not be sorry.

INGREDIENTS
2 Sachets Instant Yeast
1 Cup Oil
1 Cup Sugar
4 Eggs
4 ½ Cups Water – Have made with both cold and luke warm water.
2 kg All Purpose (Cake) Flour
2 Tbls Salt

METHOD
Oven 190ºC (375 ºF)
1 Using a large plastic bowl add the water and the yeast and using a wire whisk, whisk for 5 minutes.
2 Add the sugar and continue to whisk for 2 minutes
3 Add the oil and continue to whisk for 3 minutes
4 Add the eggs and continue to whisk for 3 minutes
5 Start adding the flour cup by cup whisking each cup in. Add the salt with the 2nd cup.
6 When you feel you cannot whisk anymore because the mixture is too stiff, remove the whisk and mix in the rest of the flour by hand.
7 Once all the flour is incorporated and you have a soft but not sticky dough, coat with a little oil.
8 Cover with plastic wrap and a blanket and allow to rise till doubled in size.
9 I often make the dough late at night and let it rise till morning out of the fridge.
10 Punch down the dough, separate a small piece of dough the size of a golf ball and say the blessing. Wrap the piece of dough in foil and burn it in the oven
11 Divide the dough into 4 or 5 pieces and plait.
12 Place on a baking tray and cover with plastic and a blanket and allow to rise until double in size.
13 Beat an egg and paint over challah and sprinkle with seeds.
14 Bake for 25 minutes until golden.
15 I often halve the recipe and make 2 large or 3 medium challah but then I do not say the blessing.

Brisket Tzimmes

On By CandiceIn Entree/Main Course, Jewish FoodLeave a comment

What can be better than the smell of roast brisket and cinnamon wafting from the oven….Real comfort food. I make a large casserole of Tzimmes every Rosh Hashanah. I like to roast the brisket the day before serving. Remove from the gravy, wrap in foil and place in the fridge overnight. Slice the next day which make the slicing much easier and the meat does not fall apart.

INGREDIENTS 
2-3 kgs (5-6 lbs) point brisket or middle cut brisket in one piece
1 large whole onion
2 whole cloves garlic
2 whole carrots
6 black pepper corns
3 bay leaves
15 ml ( 1 tbls) salt
5 ml ( 1 tsp) freshly ground black pepper
1 large tomato, cut into quarters
1 beef soup cube. ( I only keep chicken cubes, so that is what i use)

METHOD
1. Place brisket in a large heavy saucepan, cover with boiling water.
2. Add the onion, carrots, whole garlic cloves, peppercorns, bay leaves, salt & ground pepper.
3. Bring to the boil, reduce heat , cover and simmer gently for 3 hours.
4. Remove the brisket to a casserole dish and strain the stock.

TZIMMES INGREDIENTS
8 cups strained Stock from the cooked brisket
1 kg (2 lbs) frozen baby carrots
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 large potatoes, peeled and cubed.
250 ml (1 cup) golden syrup
5 ml (1 tsp ) ground cinnamon
3 ml (1/2 tsp) ground ginger
5 ml (1 tsp) salt

METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 180C (350F)
2. Place 4 cups of the stock into a pot, add carrots, potatoes & sweet potatoes into stock with salt.
3. Bring to the boil and add rest of ingredients including the extra 4 cups stock.
4. Simmer for 15 minutes then pour over the brisket.
5. Cover and place in the oven and roast for 2-3 hours till brisket is tender.
6. Baste the brisket every 1/2 hour.
7. Remove the brisket, slice against the grain and return to the casserole.
8. To warm, cover the brisket and place into a 100C (220F) till ready to serve.

The brisket will melt in your mouth!

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Gefilte Fish

On By momshcooksIn Appetizer/Starters, Jewish FoodLeave a comment

IMG_4387My family love home made gefilte fish. I use 2 kgs minced/ground fish and make half into gefilte and the rest into fried fish balls. When my son was much younger he would not eat carrots so I mince/grind my own fresh fish and add fried onions to the mixture, which makes it sweeter. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine do.

INGREDIENTS

2 kgs (4 1/2 lbs) filleted fish. (I use hake/stockfish but any white fish will do)
Ask the fishmonger for the head, skin & bones (these are used for the stock)
3 large onions, sliced and fried in 4 tbls oil
1 tbls flour or matzoh meal
2 tbls matzo meal
3 eggs
2 tsp salt
2 tsp seafood/fish seasoning
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup ice cold water

METHOD

1. Cut the fish fillets into chuncks.
2. Place a handful of fish into a food processor at a time and grind the fish for a few seconds till the fish is chopped. Repeat until all fish is ground.Remove the fish and place it in a large mixing bowl.
3. Add the fried onions and oil and blend till chopped finely, add this mixture to the fish in the mixing bowl.
4. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix very well. At this stage I taste the fish to check for seasoning…Yes I do like raw minced fish and this step might not be for everyone!
5. Prepare the stock. I still prepare the full amount even though I fry half.
6. Place 8 – 10 cups of water in a large pot
7. Add the rinsed skin, head and bones.
8. Slice 3 onions and add these to the stock, I add the skin of the onion which gives the stock a good colour.
9. Add 1 tsp salt, dash of pepper and 1 tsp sugar.
10. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1 hour.
11. Strain the stock and add 3 peeled and sliced carrots.
12. Use a bowl of water to wet your hand (this prevents the fish mixture from sticking) and shape the fish mixture into balls and carefully place into the hot stock
13. Cook over gentle heat for 1 1/2 hours.
14. Leave to cool in the pot.
15. Remove the fish balls and place them into a platter dish with sides – pyrex dishes work best. 16. Place a sliced cooked carrot on top of each ball.
17. Pour the liquid around the fish balls. It should set into a jelly from the skin, bones and head. 18. Place in the refrigerator.
For the fish cakes:
1. Heat oil in a frying pan.
2. Shape the fish mixture into patties or balls and frytill golden. IMG_0467 IMG_0472

Chopped Liver

On By CandiceIn Appetizer/Starters, Jewish Food, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Ingredients
500g (1 lb) chicken livers
3 onions – sliced
60 ml oil
6 eggs
1/2 tsp salt or to taste
pinch pepper
1 thelma chicken cube
1/2 – 1 cup water

Method
Place eggs in a small saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and set the timer for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cover in cold water. Remove the shells when cool. Heat oil in a large frying pan and add onions and saute until glassy. Add the cleaned livers and cook briskly until the onions are nicely browned. Add salt & pepper, water and stock cube. I like to taste at the end and add more salt if needed. Cover with a lid and reduce heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from the head and allow to cool. Mince the liver mixture and the eggs into a large bowl. I always put a lice of white bread through the mincer at the end. Beat until well blended. Season to taste. Arrange on a platter and garnish with finely grated egg and decorate the sides with thinly sliced pickled cucumber.

Chopped Herring

On By momshcooksIn Appetizer/Starters, Jewish Food15 Comments

IMG_4434Chopped herring is very popular and always requested at a function in South Africa. Our local synagogue has a kiddush brocha meal every Shabbat and I make the chopped herring for this. I reckon I make about 15kg a month! You can never have enough. It is usually served with Kichel (recipe here). Chopped herring is served on almost all Jewish Holidays and celebrations. This quantity makes about 2 liters.

INGREDIENTS
700 grams soaked fresh herring fillets
6 onions – peeled
6 granny smith apples – peeled & cored
6 extra large eggs – hard boiled and peeled
8 marie biscuits – any sweet cookie can be used. to make parev i use lady fingers.
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup lemon juice
dash of cinnamon

METHOD

Slice onions and fry in a little oil until soften be careful not to carmalize them, about 12 minutes. Use a food grinder/mincer on medium (my Kenwood electric mincer has three different discs and I use the middle one). Mince the herring, apples, biscuits/lady fingers, onions and eggs into a large bowl. Once everything has been minced add the sugar, vinegar, lemon juice and cinnamon. Mix well and taste, it should taste sweet and sour. Adjust with additional seasoning as necessary, I sometimes need to add a little more vinegar. Don’t forget that the flavours will develop once the mixture stands for a while. Once the flavour is to your liking cover and place in refrigerator for a few days before serving. This recipe can frozen with great success.

Kichel

On By momshcooksIn Appetizer/Starters, Baked goods, Jewish Food6 Comments

IMG_4383Kichel are a sweet baked cracker cookie that is served with chopped herring. There are two types of kichel, I make the biscuit/cookie kichel which have baking powder in them. The other kind are very flat with no raising agent. My family always fight over the more golden pieces so over the years I’ve started to leave a batch in the oven a little longer to get them extra golden, this keeps my darling hubby and kids more than happy.

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INGREDIENTS
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
pinch salt
2 cups + 3 tbls cake flour
3 tsp baking powder
Extra sugar for sprinkling

METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 220°C / 450°F
2. Beat eggs, sugar, oil and salt very well together.
3. Sift flour and baking powder together.
4. Add flour mixture gradually, while beating all the time until a dough is formed.
5. Roll out thinly in batches.
6. Sprinkle with sugar and lightly press down with a rolling pin so that the sugar sticks to the dough when moved.
7. Cut into diamond shapes.
8. Place on a wire cooling rack, that has small squares, which has been sprayed with non stick spray to avoid sticking.

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9. Bake in oven for a few minutes until pale golden, keep an eye on them as the kichel will burn very quickly. Oven may be opened to judge if kichel are ready.
10. Remove from oven and turn tray over and gently nudge off cake cooling rack.

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