Seven is a lucky number in Jewish tradition, so a soup or stew featuring seven vegetables is a Rosh Hashanah favorite among Sephardic Jews. With Moroccan origins, this bountiful, colorful…
Seven-Vegetable Couscous
Libyan Saefra, King Solomon’s Cake
Many families in Libya used to squeeze oranges and bottle the juice to be used all year round. According to Claudia Roden, in her magnificent Book of Jewish Food, using…
Abambar (Libyan Almond Cookies)
Abambar are Tripolitanian almond cookies I found in the Netanya market, where they are sold year-round, but especially for Passover. The abambar resemble macaroons, but are less delicate in look…
Fennel Salad with Celery, Cucumber, Lemon and Pomegranate
The seeds of cultivated fennel, like eggplant, are said to have been brought to France by Jews and other merchants. Of course, wild fennel grows everywhere in the south of…
Sfenj (Moroccan Beignets)
I was born and raised in Fez, Morocco. It was in Morocco that I received all my Chanukah gifts. I have fond memories of my two generous grandfathers, Yaacov and…
Shakshouka
Construction at Zahav took place during the dead of winter 2008. Since there was no heat in the building, our contractor, Ofer Shlomo, brought in propane-fired space heaters to keep…
Shlissel Challah with Bsisa
Said to be superstitious, both the North African bsisa and the Ashkenazi shlissel challah traditions are practiced around Passover. Both represent prayers for abundance and good fortune. Hoping for a…
Moroccan-Style Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms
Stuffed artichoke bottoms (left in the photo above), prepared by the Moroccan side of my family, always made Shabbat and holiday meals (especially Passover) special while growing up. Coincidentally, Moshe…
Mashwieh
Recipe contributed by the late Tamar Katzura. This roasted pepper and tomato salad is just one of the vegetable dishes that accompanies a traditional Tunisian mealtime spread of couscous and…
Mufleta
Making mufleta involves a unique Moroccan grandmothers’ technique that has been practiced for centuries: the first pancake is fried on both sides, and subsequent pancakes are added on top of…
