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Meatballs & Matzah Balls by Marcia Friedman

exploring Jewish-Italian food & more

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Goulash (Hungarian Paprika Beef Stew)

Savory Noodle Kugel

Apple Spice Buricche (Turnovers)

Sweet & Savory Challah Rolls

Peperoni Ripieni (Stuffed Peppers with Eggplant)

Spicy-Smoky Black-Eyed Peas

Turkey Meatballs with Spicy-Sweet Pepper Sauce

New Favorite All-Season Lemon Bars

Salted Bourbon Caramel Hamantashen

Polpettone di Tonno with Horseradish Green Sauce

Spiked Peaches with Grilled Pound Cake

Rustic Sicilian-Style Strawberry Cassata

Calzones with Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper

Post-Holiday Green Elixir

Hanukkah Fritters (Frittelle di Hanukkah) with Figs and Sambuca Honey

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The Essential Jewish Cookbook

Features 100 straightforward recipes for classic Jewish dishes from across traditions, made simple and modern. From Challah French Toast to Classic Potato Latkes to Adafina and Doro Wot, these recipes highlight the delicious breadth and depth of global Jewish cuisine. Find tips and tricks for getting the most out of each recipe, from preparing certain steps in advance to swapping ingredients to make dishes kosher. From weeknight dinners to holiday feasts, create meals everyone will love.

    Now available on Amazon.com

From my Instagram feed

meatmatzahballs


Ah, fresh summer blueberries and watermelon. These
Ah, fresh summer blueberries and watermelon. These really need no adornment or recipe to be irresistible (consider how fast that tray of sliced watermelon always disappears at a picnic), one of many things to love about these delicious and nutritious gems. 

But if you do want some simple ideas beyond snacking, here are a few:
• toss either fruit in almost any salad you happen to be making 
• top ice cream and pound cake with blueberries
• alternate slices of watermelon and feta, drizzle with a little balsamic
• make blueberry pancakes or muffins
• blend frozen watermelon chunks into margaritas or daiquiris

What’s your favorite way of enjoying them?

Confession: quite a few blueberries and watermelon slices were consumed during the taking of this photo. 😋
…
#summerfruit #blueberries #watermelon #summerbounty #summerfresh

Chocolate Sour Cream Bread (1) and Baked Ziti with
Chocolate Sour Cream Bread (1) and Baked Ziti with Spinach (2)—more baking and cooking for Adas Israel’s Hesed program that provides comforting and flavorful home-cooked foods to those in need around the D.C. area. 

I “had” to do a test-run of the bread and also “had” to cut into it hot with its chocolate chips melty right from the oven—a quick bread no-no, but it was scrumptious. I can also verify that it remained excellent when properly cooled. Am making more (that I won’t cut into!) that will be packaged up for the program. Besides the joy of participating, the program gives cooks the benefit of trying new recipes—and this one along with the lemon pound cake from earlier in the year is a keeper. 

On the hearty main dish side of things, the ziti is true comfort food, and it was such a delight to make a crowd-pleasing Italian American classic (with nutritional boost from sautéed spinach) to share.
…
#chocolatebread #bakedziti #tikkunolam #hesed #lovingkindness #bakingwithlove #vegetarian

With Nutella Mousse Cheesecake, the beloved custar
With Nutella Mousse Cheesecake, the beloved custardy dessert takes a turn toward Italian flavor with Nutella and mascarpone, and the result is about as creamy, smooth, and luscious as you can get, with that hit of chocolatey-hazelnut dreaminess taking it right over the top. And for a bonus, it will seem like you worked on it all day, but it comes together easily and requires no baking. 

Want a gluten-free (and even easier) version? Omit the crust altogether and just spoon the pillowy mounds into pretty dessert glasses. You could give it some flair with a drizzle of chocolate sauce, but no one will miss it if you don’t. Just be sure to serve this one cold from the fridge because it softens quickly. It’s a recipe perfect for Shavuot and all through the year. Recipe link in profile. And see my story for total creaminess overload!
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#cheesecake #nutella #Shavuot #jewishfood #jewishitalian #jewishholidaydesserts #nobakecheesecake

Bread stuffed with cheese! Oh, how we love it and
Bread stuffed with cheese! Oh, how we love it and love being creative with it. Just two mouthwatering examples: Georgian Khachapuri with an addictive feta-oregano–spiked filling (1) and Italian Calzones with Roasted Eggplant and Red Pepper (2). Both beautiful, beloved, delicious, and eagerly adopted into Jewish cuisine. I don’t need an excuse to make these, but if you do, the dairy-centered Shavuot celebrations offer an excellent one.

Khachapuri, open-faced boats of cheesy filling with an egg on top, became a favorite of Jews in the country of Georgia (and later, in Israel)—and thus a Jewish essential. This photo features pastries made with both whole wheat and regular store-bought pizza dough, a shortcut that works well here. Most people find the egg ingenious and luxurious, but if you’re like me and don’t enjoy runny eggs, these are just as amazing without the egg. Find my recipe in The Essential Jewish Cookbook.

In Italy, calzones didn’t start out as a Jewish-Italian dish—in fact the earliest ones might have been made with sausage—but vegetarian versions worked nicely within Jewish-Italian cuisine.  My recipe includes eggplant and pepper, both warmly embraced by Italy’s Jews in their cooking. And while the cheesiness makes a good fit with Shavuot, the other holiday I love these for is Purim, where turnovers or pastries with hidden fillings take star turns. Recipe link in profile.
...
#breadandcheese #jewishfood #jewishholidaycooking #jewishholidayfood #Shavuot #calzones #khachapuri #jewishitalian

This Jewish-Italian salad gains irresistibleness w
This Jewish-Italian salad gains irresistibleness with a beautiful flavor/texture combo of asparagus, crisp and sweetly mellow fennel, briny artichoke hearts, dense and creamy flavored mozzarella, colorful and sweet flavor bombs of roasted red pepper, and a heavenly Sicilian-inspired lemon-oregano dressing. And for the win, a delicate sprinkle of crushed fennel seeds. I loved this so much it was lunch and dinner for two days straight. A truly lovely recipe for spring and summer salad season inspired by one in Edda Servi Machlin’s "The Classic Cuisine of the Italian Jews." Post & recipe link in my bio.
***
BTW, the nuggets of cheese make the dish a good fit for Shavuot coming up next weekend, a holiday celebrated with all manner of dairy foods. Think how much better all that cheesecake will taste if you preface it with this pretty and nutritious salad?
…
#jewishitalian #jewishfood #salad #glutenfree #picnicsalad #asparagus #artichokes #fennel #Sicilian #Shavuot #eatyourvegetables

Hummus, exactly the way I like it. Creamy, earthy,
Hummus, exactly the way I like it. Creamy, earthy, and just a little garlicky. Thank you @susanbarocas for your recent lovely post on hummus, reminding me to return to this old favorite. What’s not to love in a spread that is equally at home as a dip for bread/vegetables or as a sandwich smear? Plus it's protein- and fiber-rich as well as vegan and gluten-free, and nut-free if you omit the optional pine nut topping. Aways a great option for a party, or simply lunch.

Although I certainly buy hummus from the store, no commercially made hummus ever compares to homemade. And you can have this rolling out of your blender in almost no time if you use canned chickpeas. I think they produce great results and that thick liquid they come in? Adding it to your hummus makes it extra creamy and delicious. 

A few tips:
• Toast the garlic to tone down its pungent tendency to overwhelm the dish, unless you love that garlic punch. 

• Taste the hummus for seasoning, and adjust the cumin, salt, and lemon to your liking.

• To make it portable (great for picnics this summer), just wait until the last minute to add the olive oil and paprika.

• Note that some brands of tahini can skew a little bitter—if your hummus tastes bitter, add a few extra drops of lemon juice or a smidge of sugar, until the flavor smooths out. My favorite brand of tahini is Soom.

• To up your hummus service, make homemade pita to go with it. It’s easier than you might think, and watching that bread puff up in the oven is surprisingly satisfying and delightful.

BTW, as long as I’ve loved hummus, it’s merely a blip on the time continuum of humanity’s love affair with this dip/spread. The first mention of it likely comes from a thirteenth-century Cairo cookbook! (Nodding to that, I used the candle holder we got in Egypt in this photo.) 

Find my recipes for hummus and pita in the Meatballs and Matzah Balls Cookbook and The Essential Jewish Cookbook.
***
#hummus #chickpeas #toastedgarlichummus #Israelifood #dips #vegan #glutenfree #Jewishfood

Grownup-ish Rice Krispies treats with pretzels and
Grownup-ish Rice Krispies treats with pretzels and dark chocolate—a recipe I love from the New York Times and made for a picnic during a recent road trip. Warm weather season always gets me craving these charmers, which are light and portable but still sweet and buttery with a generous dose of childhood nostalgia. Here the pretzels and chocolate add just a touch of sophistication. But the tried and true recipe from the cereal box almost never fails to delight kids both young and old. Tip: add 1/2 to 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the melted marshmallows before mixing in the cereal. And if you want to up your game, try browning the butter. 
...
BTW, on the topic of picnics and delight, these treats seem on theme for celebrating the little holiday of Lag Ba'Omer next week. More widely commemorated in Israel, the holiday is marked with joyful gatherings for picnics and bonfires. Crisped cereal marshmallow treats and the smiles they bring would be right at home.
***
#ricekrispiestreats #summerdesserts #sweettreats #picnicfood

My mom, who is not Jewish, taught me to make chall
My mom, who is not Jewish, taught me to make challah when I was a kid (and this one, based on her recipe, is in the Meatballs and Matzah Balls cookbook). Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, with thanks for all you teach us through your grace and actions. Those lessons stick. xoxo

I like to think of bourbon as putting on its summe
I like to think of bourbon as putting on its summer outfit with the mint julep, the warm weather libation that gets its kickoff with the running of the Kentucky Derby (where it has been the traditional beverage for nearly a century). And I love how a little Italian Limoncello elevates this drink. Although you are welcome to make a fuss over your julep, you don’t have to. You need a good bourbon, fresh mint, a little elbow grease to muddle the herbs, and nice splash of Limoncello to balance the sweetness and bring it all together. You can and should adjust quantities based on how sweet, minty, and bourbon-y you like your drink. The most important thing is to enjoy it.
...
Here’s how I make my Italian Twist Mint Julep: Combine 1/4 cup packed fresh mint leaves, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cold water in a glass. Muddle the mint with a wooden spoon or similar until the sugar dissolves and your senses are in minty heaven. Fill with crushed ice and add about 2 ounces (or amount to taste) good quality bourbon. Stir well, and top with 1 to 2 teaspoons Limoncello, which you can float on top or stir in. Garnish with a nice mint leaf or two if you like. Sip al fresco; seersucker and hat optional. P.S. if you like, add a little club soda for pizazz—I won’t tell anyone. Cheers!
...
#bourbon #summerbourboncocktail #mintjulep #italianflair

Whether for Mother's Day or just embracing berry s
Whether for Mother's Day or just embracing berry season as we turn toward summer, I feel like you can't go wrong with strawberries this weekend and the coming weeks—especially because my mom loves them. Here are some of my favorites: Rustic Strawberry Cassata Cake (pic 1), Strawberry and Mint Granita (2), Strawberry Rose Forever Cocktail (3), Cheesecake with Strawberries (with happy sleeping dog in pic) (4), Stuffed Strawberries (5).
 
But if you don’t feel like following a recipe, strawberries and ice cream or tossing the berries on your salad always work. All recipes in my profile except find the Stuffed Strawberries in the Meatballs and Matzah Balls Cookbook.
…
#strawberries #springdesserts #mothersday #strawberrydesserts #mothersdaydesserts #berries #berryseason

This week we had to say goodbye to our beloved Lex
This week we had to say goodbye to our beloved Lexie, who had been struggling with cancer. Our hearts are broken, but we are so grateful for the nearly 14 years of snuggles, laughs, love, road trips, long walks, and occasional food photography photo bombs with her. One of her favorite things was challah. And one of the things we got many laughs about was that she preferred not my homemade challah but bakery challahs (pic 2). Tonight’s challah from your favorite bakery (pic 3) is dedicated to you, our sweet Lexie girl. 
***
I shared a few more of my favorite pics of her in my story today.
...
#challah #dogswelove #dogsarefamily

Deep-fried spinach risotto balls (spinach arancini
Deep-fried spinach risotto balls (spinach arancini)! And for Passover even! This Sicilian street food, which we savored nearly daily when we visited Sicily a couple of years ago, can be made with kosher for Passover panko (used in this photo). But that’s not what I love most about it. It’s the creamy rice, the cheese center that stretches into strings when you pull apart the arancini, and the flecks of green spinach, all in a snack-size package. And these are meant to be enjoyed year round—when it’s not Passover, make them with regular panko (or gluten-free panko if needed). Put this recipe in the back pocket for Hanukkah as well. Recipe link in profile. 
…
#Passover #spinacharancini #arancini #Sicilianfood #risottoballs #Jewishitalian #glutenfree

Matzah lasagna gathers all the traditional lasagna
Matzah lasagna gathers all the traditional lasagna flavors into a delightfully light package, making it a great dish to enjoy during Passover. For years, I brushed off the idea of matzah lasagna, because, well, what is lasagna without pasta? Turns out, it’s creamy and almost soufflé-like and the sauce and cheese flavors shine even more while the matzah simply provides some delicate scaffolding. This recipe from "The Essential Jewish Cookbook" adopts the classic Italian-American approach to great effect and was featured in a lovely article by @elizabethkarmel in Forbes earlier this year. Article and recipe link in my profile. 
…
#matzahchallenge #matzahlasagna #Passover #Passoverfood #jewishholidaycooking #Jewishitalian #matzah #Passoverrecipes #essentialjewishrecipes

Breakfast Rainbow Quinoa Bowl is a beautiful, nutr
Breakfast Rainbow Quinoa Bowl is a beautiful, nutritious, and filling breakfast anytime, but especially nice for those observing Passover this week and missing their morning cereal or toast. The recipe is totally flexible—use your favorite fruits, nuts, and sweeteners (or nuts or sweetener) and add milk or yogurt as desired. It’s also way better for you than matzah slathered with butter. Recipe link in profile.
***
#quinoa #Passover #Passoverbreakfast #glutenfree #quinoabreakfast #vegetarian

Happy Passover! 
..
Fresh grated horseradish (the

Happy Passover! 
..
Fresh grated horseradish (the bitter herbs) is front and center in this pic—that part of the Seder always fires up the senses and makes the sweet part seem even sweeter. Hoping your celebrations have been both vibrant and sweet!
...
#Passover #bitterherbs #sederplate

Passover-friendly and decadently delicious—my Ro
Passover-friendly and decadently delicious—my Roasted Asparagus and Tomato Sformato. This Italian baked egg dish is a cross between a soufflé, flan, and frittata in all the best ways. In this brand new recipe, the ricotta and egg filling comes out unbelievably soft and fluffy and lightly flavored with spring’s best asparagus. Dotting the top with asparagus tips and roasted tomatoes and their juices makes for an inviting and flavor-packed presentation. But really all it takes is one bite and you’ll be hooked on this gluten-free, Passover-friendly dish, which would be equally at home as a main or side dish or quite the star at brunch (for those celebrating Easter, this dish is just asking to be on your brunch spread). All this comes from the person who had to have the spoon taken away before she ate more than half the dish on the spot. Recipe link in profile. 
***
#Passover #sformato #Italianfood #Jewishitalian #Jewishholidaycooking #Passoverrecipes #glutenfree #eggs #brunch

If you’ve only had macaroons from a can, you’v
If you’ve only had macaroons from a can, you’ve been missing out. I learned this myself when I made macaroons at home just a couple of years ago. They were so surprisingly good that I think I ate nearly the whole batch myself. They come out light and with a faint crispness that gives way to a chewy center of simply wonderful coconut and vanilla flavor. Plus these dairy-free and gluten-free  drop cookies are SO easy to make. Once you beat the egg whites, which takes just a few minutes, you stir everything together and drop the dough on the baking sheet. That’s it. If you want to make them pretty, you can drizzle some melted chocolate over top. Recipe link in profile. 
***
#coconutmacaroons #Passover #Passoverdesserts #Passovercookies #glutenfree #jewishfood #Passoverbaking #Jewishholidaybaking #Jewishholidayrecipes

What do you do for a Passover fish course if you a
What do you do for a Passover fish course if you and/or most of your guests don’t like the traditional gefilte fish? Two recommendations. My Polpettone di Tonno with Horseradish Green Sauce, inspired by recipes for Italian tuna loaf, uses good-quality canned tuna to create fish cakes that are vastly fresher and more flavorful, especially with the colorful and slightly spicy herbal sauce. Recipe link in my profile. Another alternative is North African-Style Spicy Fish (recipe in The Essential Jewish Cookbook and recipe link in profile) in which you poach mild white fish in a vibrant red sauce. This dish enjoyed by Jewish communities across North Africa is super easy and quick and will brighten the table and your palates. If you do want to go with the gefilte fish, you might try making it yourself for the best flavor and texture, and you can find my recipe in The Essential Jewish Cookbook. 
***
#Passover #Jewishholidaycooking #Jewishrecipes #gefiltefish #Passoverfood #essentialjewishfoods #Jewishfood #jewfood #JewishItalian

It wouldn’t be Passover for me without the matza
It wouldn’t be Passover for me without the matzah ball soup, one of my favorite holiday dishes. The aromas of chicken broth and dill and the iconic dumplings are so evocative of this special holiday—also Jewish ingenuity. The matzah ball came to life in the hands of Ashkenazi Jewish cooks in Europe hundreds of years ago who wanted a way to enjoy their beloved dumplings during the holiday of matzah. They hit the jackpot with this workaround, I’d say. I love the soup at its classic best—with homemade stock and fresh herbs, especially dill—and you can find a link to my recipe from "The Essential Jewish Cookbook" in my profile.
***
By the way, if you have "The Essential Jewish Cookbook," some other recipes that work beautifully for Passover include:

• Apple and Walnut Haroset
• Date and Apricot Haroset Balls
• North African-Style Spicy Fish
• Brisket with Red Wine and Tomatoes
• Poached Salmon with Lemon-Dill Sauce
• Roasted Pepper Salad
• Matzah Lasagna
• Sephardi Spinach and Cheese Matzah Pie
• Tabbouleh (made with quinoa)
• Coconut Macaroons
• Flourless Chocolate Cake 

And of course there are more recipes in my "Meatballs and Matzah Balls Cookbook," including Passover Gnocchi, Matzah-rella Pizza, Rich Flourless Brownies, and my beloved signature recipe, Meatball Matzah Balls.
***
#Passover #Jewishholidaycooking #Jewishrecipes #matzahballsoup #matzoballsoup #Passoverfood #essentialjewishfoods

Working on my challah braids—tried a different s
Working on my challah braids—tried a different strategy for the four-strand braid (from @shasarna "Modern Jewish Baker”), and I like how it turned out. Also tried brushing the loaf twice with an egg-white only wash, which gave it a nicely browned sheen. But the best the part remains how wonderful homemade challah tastes, and thankfully it’s delicious no matter your braiding skills or technique. This recipe is from The Essential Jewish Cookbook. Just two more challahs to go until Passover. Shabbat Shalom.
***
#challah #shabbatshalom #jewishfood #jewfood #jewishbaking #homemadebread


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Meatballs and Matzah Balls

No matter where your cultural journey has taken you, the kitchen is always your best way home.

  • more than 100 recipes
  • more than 60 full-color photos
  • nine essays exploring intersections of Jewish and Italian life
  • classic and new recipes for soups, stews, breads, appetizers, pastas, grains, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, Passover, and, of course, desserts!
  • recipes cover classics from both cuisines as well as recipes that bridge the two in origin, ingredients, or spirit
  • all recipes can be made kosher

“Italian by birth and Jewish by choice, Marcia has amassed a delectable feast filled with nostalgic reflections from both traditions.”—Judy Bart Kancigor, author of Cooking Jewish.

    Finalist—2014 Indie Book Awards

      Buy print and ebook versions now on Amazon.com

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