Cooking with Lévana ? Part 2 ? Recipes!

As we promised, here are 2 recipes Lévana has graciously allowed us to share with our readers.

1 medium onion, quatered

4 large cloves garlic

1 small bunch flat-leaf parsley, including stems

1 bunch mint, leaves only

1 tablespoon cumin

1 tablespoon paprika

Good pinch cayenne, or more, to taste

Freshly ground pepper to taste

2 pounds extra lean ground beef, or extra lean ground lamb, or a combination.

Prepare the grill or preheat the broiler. Finely grind the onion, garlic, parsley and a mint in a food processor (pulse: do not let mixture get watery). Transfer to a bowl and add the cumin, paprika, cayenne, pepper and beef.

Form logs about 1″ in diameter and about 4″ long. Thread on wet wooden skewers. or on metal skewers. Broil 2-3 minutes on each side. Serve hot. Serve 2 to 3 skewers per guest.

I have always rather neglected this wonderful treat, as the traditional preparation requires frying, my nemesis: I don?t think I have more than a handful of fried dishes in my whole repertoire. But I tweaked the recipe to do my bidding as a baked, not fried, treat, and the result is scrumptious! I have streamlined it further by shaping it as bars. Sephardi flavors at their best! Gluten-free: Use GF flour and GF semolina.

Preparing Makrod

Dough

3 eggs

1 cup oil

3 cups flour

2 cups farina or semolina

1 tablespoon baking powder

A little water as needed

Filling:

1 pound pitted chopped dates

1 1/2 cups very hot water

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon ginger

1 teaspoon cloves

Peel of 2 lemons

2 tablespoons orange flower water

Topping:

1 1/2 cups honey

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all the dough ingredients thoroughly, and knead it on a board for just a minute or two, adding a little water if necessary to obtain a smooth dough. Set aside.

Process all the filling ingredients in a food processor, using the pulse button to avoid splattering, until smooth. Divide the dough in half. On a lightly floured board, roll each piece into a rectangle 1/2 inch thick, about 11 inches wide and 14 inches long. Transfer onto a well-greased cookie sheet with straight sides (don?t worry if it doesn?t cover the whole surface). Cover the dough evenly with the filling. Repeat with the remaining dough, and place gently over the filling (it?s OK if it breaks, just patch it). Bake about 40 minutes, or a little longer, until golden. Immediately pour the honey evenly over the whole pastry. Let it cool, then cut it in bars or squares.

–)xoOox(–

This coming Monday, April the 26th, Lévana’s “Dinner and a Show” at Lincoln Square Synagogue in Manhattan (200 Amsterdam Ave ? at 69th Street ? New York, NY 10023) will be: Seasonal Spring Bounty. As she describes it:

Winter is over and wonderful vibrant food colors and fragrances are upon us in every food display: cheer up and enjoy them while they last! Life would be more meaningful to all of us if we respected the seasons more, with the specific gift each season has to offer! This menu is 100% gluten-free, naturally and effortlessly!

I will be demonstrating:

Click here to register and view other upcoming classes

Remember to mention The Kosher Scene and you’ll get a discount.

Lévana with some of the class regulars, flanked by members of her staff

SYR and I will be there, hope you will too. You won’t regret it!

CS