EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Master the Art of Israeli Fish Kebabs

Master the Art of Israeli Fish Kebabs

I’ve gotta tell ya- it was tough to chose a recipe to share from the generous selection we had access to from Susie Fishbein‘s latest, Kosher by Design Brings it Home; picture perfect food inspired by my travels. Standouts that caught my attention were Mexican Ranchero Soup with silky avocado and lime, Harissa Maple Roasted Parsnips, and Baklava loaded with a full pound of chopped halvah.

Alas….

I landed on these spicy fish kebabs because lately I’ve been hankering for my Nanny’s dilly salmon croquettes. Suddenly this recipe came across my desk and I began yearning for these Israeli style fish kebabs as well.

 It’s all about the old and new, isn’t it?

Don’t forget to enter the two contests to win either a signed copy of Fishbein’s latest cookbook and/or an even larger give-away where you’ll have a chance to win over $1000 in prizes. Scroll down to see the previous post and enter or simply click here and follow the instructions.

All photos and recipe used with permission and reprinted from Kosher by Design Brings it Home, picture-perfect food inspired by my travels by Susie Fishbein, ArtScroll Shaar Press, February 25, 2016. Photography by John Uher.

 

chef michael katz’s fish kebabs

Dairy or Parve;  yields 4 servings

One of the perks of leading a culinary tour to Israel is meeting many prominent chefs. One of my favorites, Chef Michael Katz, is so sweet, I can only describe him with the Yiddish word “aidle.” He is executive chef of the Adom Group, among the best restaurants in Israel. Our stop was Trattoria Haba, outside the shuk. Michael treated us to a demo, including this dish, which we devoured. To listen to Michael is to learn through food about science, history, art, love, and life in Israel.

Michael used ras el hanut, a local spice blend made of approximately 15 spices. Pick up some next time you are in the shuk. I subbed in spices easier to find here in the States.

The main “secret” is to chop all the fish by hand and not with a meat grinder or a food processor. This keeps the proteins from becoming a sticky mass. I say, leave it to the professionals with the razor-sharp knives, and have the fishmonger chop it for you to make prep work a snap.

 

½ pound tilapia fillet, cut into ½-inch dice

½ pound cod fillet, cut into ½-inch dice

¹∕³ cup unflavored breadcrumbs

1 tablespoon pine nuts

¼ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

¼ teaspoon chili pepper

¼ teaspoon schwarma spice or ras el hanut

¼ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 fresh cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon chopped fresh curly parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves

1 scallion, chopped, white and pale green parts only

¼ small white onion, peeled, finely chopped

extra-virgin olive oil

techina, yogurt, or tartar sauce, for serving

Place the diced fish into a medium bowl. Add the breadcrumbs, pine nuts, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, schwarma spice, baking soda, salt, pepper, garlic, parsley, cilantro, scallion, and onion. Mix gently. Oil your hands with olive oil. Knead the mass until it combines and holds together, but don’t over-knead or the fish will be chewy. If it won’t hold together well, sprinkle in a little more breadcrumb.

Dampen your hands. Divide mixture into 8 portions; shape each into a kebab form, like a small egg. Heat a thin layer of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook the kebabs until golden on all sides, 4-6 minutes total, turning until colored on all sides and cooked through.

Serve 2 kebabs per plate with techina, yogurt, or tartar sauce.

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SIDE DISH
Photo by Jerri Graham Photography

Hi. I’m Liz and I welcome you to Kosher Like Me.

When I’m not caressing fruits and veggies at my local farmers’ market you’ll likely find me chatting with like-minded eaters, probing the scene in NYC or seeking inspiration in my spice cabinet. Life outside of this blog is all about my family, tasty travel adventures and power walks deep in the CT woods or along the shore.

Please brew a fragrant cup of tea, grab a nosh and stay a while.