Joan Nathans Matzo Chremsel Recipes

JOAN NATHAN'S MATZO CHREMSEL

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the matzo, currants, almonds, apricots, egg yolks, matzo meal, salt, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, cinnamon, lemon zest and juice. Mix lightly and set aside.
• Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, mix egg whites just until stiff peaks form; do not overbeat. Fold into the matzo mixture. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• Set aside a plate lined with paper towels. Fill a wok or sauté pan with 2 inches vegetable oil. Place over medium-high heat and bring to 375 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Working in batches, carefully spoon the batter, one heaping tablespoon at a time, into the hot oil, without crowding the pan. Fry until golden and crisp, 30 seconds to 1 minute a side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain.
• Serve warm, if possible, sprinkled with the granulated sugar or confectioners' sugar. If desired, chremsel may be reheated in a 350-degree oven just before serving.

CARIBBEAN KUGEL

Steps:

• Peel plantains, and cut each into 4 or 5 slices lengthwise. Heat about 1/4-inch of the vegetable oil in a pan, and fry as many slices as can fit in pan at one time. Fry slices for about 2 minutes on each side, or until golden. Remove from pan, drain on paper towels, and blot any remaining oil from slices. Repeat with remaining slices.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Chop onions and green pepper into 1-inch pieces. Heat olive oil in a large pan, and sauté vegetables until tender. Add garlic, and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook over medium-high heat until meat loses its red color, breaking it up and mashing with a potato masher so mixture is as fine as possible.
• Reduce heat to low and add olives, raisins, tomato sauce, wine and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Beat eggs in a small bowl.
• Assemble kugel in a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish by arranging a layer of plantain slices, meat mixture, and remaining plantain slices. Slices should touch each other but not overlap. Pour beaten eggs on top, and spread over plantains. Bake about 30 minutes or until top is golden brown.

PASSOVER CHREMSLACH

Steps:

• 1. Mix together the matzahs, currants, almonds, apricots, egg yolks, matzah meal, sugar, lemon rind, and lemon juice.
• 2. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold into the matzah mixture, adding matzah meal to make the mixture hold together.
• 3. Using an electric skillet or deep fryer, heat about 2 inches of oil to 375 degrees. Drop the mixture by tablespoons and brown a few minutes on each side until they are crisp. Cook only about three at a time. Drain well on paper. Serve at room temperature or crisped up in the oven. The fritters are especially delicious with stewed prunes with orange juice as an accompaniment, if desired.
• Note: You can make these in the morning, drain on paper, leave out all day, and crisp in the oven just before serving.

JOAN NATHAN'S MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, schmaltz, stock, matzo meal, nutmeg, ginger and parsley. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Gently mix with a whisk or spoon. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours or overnight.
• To shape and cook the matzo balls, fill a wide, deep pan with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. With wet hands, take some of the mix and mold it into the size and shape of a Ping-Pong ball. Gently drop it into the boiling water, repeating until all the mix is used.
• Cover the pan, reduce heat to a lively simmer and cook matzo balls about 30 to 40 minutes for al dente, longer for light. If desired, the cooked matzo balls can be transferred to chicken or vegetable soup and served immediately. Alternatively, they may be placed on a baking sheet and frozen, then transferred to a freezer bag and kept frozen until a few hours before serving; reheat in chicken or vegetable soup or broth.

FRIED MATZO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine salt, sugar, celery seed, garlic, turmeric, cayenne and black pepper. Mix well.
• Place a 14-inch or larger skillet over medium-high heat, and add oil. Heat oil to 350 degrees. Set aside a baking sheet or plate lined with paper towels.
• Using tongs, place a whole matzo into the oil, pressing down gently until well submerged. Fry for 20 to 30 seconds, then transfer matzo from the oil to paper towels to drain. The matzo will crisp and change to light golden brown after it is removed from the oil; adjust cooking time as needed.
• Sprinkle the top of each warm matzo with about a teaspoon of spice mix. Serve immediately, or cover with a kitchen towel and set aside in a warm place for up to several hours.

PERSIAN HAROSETH (HALLAQ)

Steps:

• In a large food processor, combine nuts, raisins, dates and spices. Pulse until nuts are coarsely chopped.
• Add apple, pear and bananas, and pulse until coarsely chop. Add 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1/2 cup pomegranate juice, and 1/2 cup wine. Pulse again, adding more vinegar, juice or wine to taste, as needed to make a coarse paste. Do not purée; mixture should retain some crunch.