Chanukah has never been a big part of the religious traditions of Kavkazi Jews (“Mountain Jews”), but the community’s cuisine features many fried foods that fit the theme of the holiday perfectly.
From “Mountain Jews,” Fried Dumplings
About the Author
Born in Dagestan, Valeriya Nakshun has a broad background working for arts organizations in Maryland and Washington, DC. She loves to cook family recipes and posts her creations on her Instagram: @lera_aviva. She is a company dancer for Silk Road Dance Company, Community Outreach Coordinator for Sephardic Heritage International (SHIN) DC and a writer for ReOrient Magazine.
Kavkazi Fried Kurze (Meat-Filled Dumplings)
One of the most iconic dishes of Kavkazi (Mountain Jews) cuisine is called kurze (pronounced koor-zeh). Kurze are little, braided, meat-filled dumplings, and are perhaps an influence that came to our region from East and Central Asia. When done right, these dumplings have a light and soft-doughy shell and a juicy, melt-in-your-mouth meat filling. The…
