The Book of New Israeil Food

Page 1

salads etc.

salads etc.

The Israeli Salad Take a few cucumbers, some firm ripe tomatoes, an onion and a couple of sweet red peppers. The proper Israeli way is to dice everything fine and neat (dak-dak, very fine, or

katan-katan, very small), but coarsely cut chunks will do just fine. Add some fresh herbs like chopped parsley, coriander, chives, spring onions, or even chopped mint if you are feeling adventurous. Squeeze lemon juice, sprinkle virgin olive oil, season with salt and ground black pepper, toss everything together and serve. There you have it, the Israeli Salad: healthy, wholesome, simple and delicious. A fine dish to be sure, but what is so characteristically Israeli about it? Similar salads are served all over the Eastern Mediterranean, from Greece to Lebanon.

somewhat neglected Israeli ritual consists of a light summer

In fact, most Israeli restaurants call this Arab Salad, which is

supper on the balcony, in the evening breeze. Invariably,

probably more accurate.

the centerpiece is a huge bowl of freshly made, finely diced

The answer must be that most of us simply cannot do

vegetable salad with an omelet, fresh white cheese (gvina

without it. Israelis insist on a salad with almost every meal.

levana), and soft white bread (preferably challah) to mop up

At breakfast they will go to great lengths to prepare their

the delicious juices left at the bottom of the bowl.

salad just right to have with scrambled or fried eggs, green

The secret to a great Israeli salad is no secret at all: choose

olives and cottage cheese. At lunch it is the natural side

ripe and flavorful vegetables, make sure they are room

dish, whatever the main course. Even if you are having your

temperature (refrigeration dulls their flavor), use a very

lunch on the go, stuffed in a pita, the salad goes in there

sharp knife to avoid crushing or mashing the vegetables,

too, along with French fries, in what is known locally as

season heartily and serve promptly.

chipsalat. Israelis will order a salad at a seaside restaurant

To perk up the flavor of your salad, sprinkle a dash of

with grilled fish, in a steak house with barbecued beef

ground cinnamon (yes!) in addition to salt and pepper, and

or chicken, and even as a snack at a fashionable cafĂŠ. A

add some diced fresh lemon. 20

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