EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Poppy Seed Schnitzel for Chanukah? Yes, Please!
Photo: Linda Pugliese: Little Book of Jewish Feasts by Leah Koenig

Poppy Seed Schnitzel for Chanukah? Yes, Please!

And just like that… we’re about to celebrate Chanukah! Get ready to swiftly shift from talking turkey to frying potato pancakes, sufganiyot (Israeli style donuts) and schnitzel.

Wait! Schnitzel for Chanukah? YES, please! This extra crunchy version will be a great crowd pleaser next to any of these dairy free vegetable latkes.

I’ve been turning to Leah Koenig’s Little Book of Jewish Feasts since it landed on my kitchen counter (you should see the piles) a few months ago. With Hanukkah at our doorstep, and the prospect of 8 nights of feasting, it’s the perfect time to check out this little gem as you search for sparks of creativity in your menus.

I love the handy scale of this book, the second in a series Koenig has authored on global Jewish recipes on particular themes. This beautifully photographed volume follows Little Book of Jewish Appetizers (see why we loved it here). We highlighted muhammara, a Moroccan roasted red pepper dip, which has become a staple on our table.

Check back here early next week when we’ll be running our give-away of Little Book of Jewish Feasts !

In this most recent volume, Koenig is focused on main dishes. She includes Ashkenazic classics (think roast chicken with leeks and root vegetables in a foolproof recipe) along with plenty more that go beyond the familiar, like her Chicken with Quince and Almonds.

Little Book of Jewish Feasts Leah Koenig
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Little Book of Jewish Feasts by Leah Koenig

Vegetarian mains are plentiful with tantalizing fish entrees included like Pesce All’ Ebraica (Sweet and Sour Sole or Flounder), a classic Italian Rosh HaShanah and Shabbat entree.

kosher Persian frittata Chanukah
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Little Book of Jewish Feasts by Leah Koenig

Eggplant Kuku, Persian Frittata layered with fresh herbs, creamy golden eggplant and feta, is another Chanukah appropriate dish, thanks to the generous amount of oil. It’ll be worth it.

This tightly edited volume includes just 25 entree recipes, but there’s a lot of flexibility about how and when to serve many of them.

kosher vegan vegetable tagine
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Little Book of Jewish Feasts by Leah Koenig

Seven-Vegetable Tagine, loaded with chunky vegetables, is a perfect main over couscous. But don’t forget to serve it as a colorful side next to your favorite chicken or fish entrees.

vegetarian kosher moussaka
Photo: Linda Pugliese; Little Book of Jewish Feasts by Leah Koenig

Now that temperatures have dropped and thoughts turn to warming casseroles bubbling in our ovens, I’m ready to try Koenig’s cleverly constructed vegetarian Mushroom Moussaka. Kosher keepers who never wanted to sacrifice the bechamel so essential to this Greek classic, will rejoice that Koenig has kept it in its rightful place, and replaced lamb with meaty cremini mushrooms.

It is these types of creative recipes that keep me coming back to Koenig’s books time after time. With straightforward, clearly written recipes and easy to find ingredients, I’ll be turning to this treasure of a volume for inspiration and recipes.

Be sure to check back for our Chanukah give-away of Little Book of Jewish Feasts next week. Watch for it on our facebook page here and on instagram @kosherlikeme.

All photographs and recipe reprinted from Little Book of Jewish Feasts by Leah Koenig with permission by Chronicle Books, 2018

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