Zesty Leek and Spinach Tagliatelle with a Garlic and Parmesan Crumb
Throughout the month of Tishrei, when we celebrate the High Holy Days, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, there are dozens of Yom Tov and Shabbat meals. The Torah tells us that it is a mitzvah to make these days of rejoicing and the Prophet Isaiah that we should make Shabbat “a delight”. Talmudic sources draw a connection between food and delight, and implore us to eat the finest meals within our means. Historically, when fish and meat were costly luxuries, these became the standards for a fine meal, reserved for these days of celebration. Many have subsequently assumed the custom of eating a heavily meaty diet on Shabbat and Yom Tov, though there is no absolute obligation to do so, and there are those who feel that in 2023, when meat and fish are abundantly available, and good cheese costs almost as much as a chicken, a delicious pasta dish topped with a fine quality cheese can be every bit as delightful and luxurious! This tasty tagliatelle showcases two of the Simanim at their best, making it a superb choice for a milky (or parev) Rosh Hashanah meal.
Mini Root Veg Strudels
These plaited pastry pockets are favourites of ours throughout the autumn and winter months, when root vegetables are in season. While these veggies are readily available year-round on supermarket shelves, the earthiness and warmth of these strudels feels like a hug, and the flavours and colours evoke the very best of autumn. These strudels are packed full of symbolism, too. The seasonal vegetables are traditional Sukkot fare, as are stuffed foods, both evocative of the bountiful harvest that we pray will coincide with the festival of booths. They also contain many of the Rosh Hashanah Simanim making them an equally wonderful choice for the new year! Feel free to substitute or add whichever root vegetables you prefer. Serve hot or cold, as a starter or main, with a simple green salad. Leftovers make great lunchbox fillers, perfect for a Sukkah crawl!
Marmalade Chicken Pancakes
There is a long-standing tradition of adding fruit to savoury dishes at Rosh Hashanah, with dishes such as Apricot Chicken and Tzimmes (carrots with dried fruits) being particularly popular choices in many Ashkenazi homes. Apples, pomegranates and dates are also common additions to Rosh Hashanah fare due to their status as Simanim. A delightfully interactive and rather less traditional approach to bringing stuffed foods to your table this year, we have created a spin on Chinese duck pancakes with a sweet, sticky and tangy marmalade chicken filling.
Spiced Honey Halloumi ‘Teiglach’
We have drawn inspiration for this sweet starter from a traditional Ashkenazi Jewish sweet treat served at Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Simchat Torah and Purim. True Teiglach are morsels of fried dough coated in a sticky-sweet syrup and piled together into mounds. Our recipe, however, swaps out the dough completely, pairing sweet, spiced honey syrup with mounds of salty, fried halloumi nuggets. Supremely easy to make, only 5 ingredients and incredibly moreish, these ‘teiglach’ are an ideal milky starter or crowd-pleasing snack for the High Holy Days.
Honey, Mushroom and Onion Sambousek
Sambousek are delicious little stuffed hand pies originating in the Levant, and traditionally made with either cheese or beef fillings. Easier to make than you might think, our Sambousek are great as a snack or as a crowd-pleasing starter. We’ve substituted the traditional fillings for a honey-sweetened onion and mushroom mixture which delivers a satisfying flavour punch and the perfect balance of sweet and savoury, pocketed inside a wafer-thin pastry crust. Delicious warm or cold with tehina or a fresh rocket salad dressed with oil and balsamic.
Sticky Date and Pomegranate Short Ribs with Root Vegetable Mash and Greens
As seasonal as it gets and a celebration of Simanim, the earthiness of the root vegetable mash, rich with parsnip, potatoes and sweet potatoes exquisitely complements these deliciously tender and sweet ribs, which are marinated in pomegranate molasses and date honey, both Simanim, omens for abundant blessings and redemption from our enemies. The greens are the finishing touch on a perfectly rounded Autumn warmer, just what’s needed as those shorter nights start drawing in. Leafy greens (swiss chard, spinach or beetroot leaves) are another of the Simanim – ‘silka’ in Aramaic or ‘selek’ in Hebrew, related to the Hebrew word ‘silek’ (to depart). We ask that Hashem remove our adversaries from us in the coming year. Ifcooking this dish for Rosh Hashanah, you may also choose to add squash to the mash and leeks to the greens to add two more Simanim to the dish.
Corn Ribs
A celebration of the harvest, corn on the cob is a humble and often overlooked vegetable option. These corn ribs make a great side or main for vegan or vegetarian guests and are easy to pack full of flavour with a combination of herbs and spices.
‘Leftover’ Chicken Salad
Sometimes the best lunchbox ideas come from a fridge raid. Utilising leftovers is not only budget-friendly, it also saves on time and effort – ideal if you’re a busy individual prepping lunches for yourself and others.
Classic Chicken Soup
Often referred to as Jewish penicillin, there are few dishes more iconic in the Jewish repertoire than this Ashkenazic Friday Night staple, served with kneidlach (matzah balls) or lokshen (noodles). There are an infinite number of minor tweaks to this recipe from the addition of tomatoes and dill to arguments about clarity, but what we can all agree upon is that if your mum ever made chicken soup for you when you were sick then you will insist forevermore that hers is, was and always will be the best, and nobody will ever convince you otherwise. We’re okay with that, because our mums all made the best soup, too!
