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GREEK SALMON

Susie Fishbein, who has published the Kosher by Design kosher cookbook series, understands that it can be difficult to create Passover meals once we've had our fill of the heavy meals of brisket and matzo ball soup. Fishbein, who recently released her new cookbook for the holiday, Passover by Design, worked with Dannon to create two unique easy-to-prepare recipes for the week of Passover with Dannon All Natural, the only national kosher for Passover yogurt. This Greek Salmon recipe provides an ethnic Mediterranean twist to a Passover meal, and uses Dannon All Natural yogurt in place of higher fat ingredients such as sour cream.

  • 1 ¼ cups Dannon® All Natural plain yogurt
  • 3 pounds salmon fillet, with skin, pin bones removed
  • 20 kalamata olives, pitted, coarsely chopped
  • 15 cherry tomatoes, finely chopped
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
  • 6 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, stems discarded, divided
  • 6 sprigs fresh oregano, for garnish   
Preheat oven to 375.
Line strainer with a double layer of paper coffee filters. Set strainer over sink. Place yogurt into strainer and allow water to strain.  
Cover a baking pan with parchment paper. Place salmon onto pan. Set aside.
In small bowl, mix olives, tomatoes, dried oregano and garlic. Remove ¾ cup of yogurt and transfer to small bow. Mix in tablespoon of chopped dill. Spread dilled yogurt in thin layer over salmon. Top with olive/tomato mixture, evenly covering all of salmon. Bake for 30 minutes.
Stir remaining tablespoon of dill with remaining yogurt. To serve, slice salmon and transfer to plates. Garnish each plate with a dollop of dill sauce and a fresh oregano sprig.

Serves 6

CAPPUCCINO CHEESECAKE

This is Fishbein’s Cappuccino Cheesecake, an exciting and delicious way to help spice up the holiday week. . Both dishes use Dannon All Natural yogurt in place of higher fat ingredients such as sour cream (full recipes below).

Crust:

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 (7-ounce) box kosher for Passover chocolate cookies, can be sugar free
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

  • 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder or instant coffee
  • 1 (6-ounce) container Dannon® All Natural coffee yogurt, divided
  • 3 (8-ounce) blocks reduced-fat (not fat-free) cream cheese at room temperature
  • 1 ½ cups Dannon® All Natural vanilla lowfat yogurt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon potato starch
  • ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325F. Spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place it on cookie sheet and set aside.
Place chocolate cookies into food processor and pulse until it forms crumbs. Place 1 1/ 2 cups of crumbs into medium bowl. Mix 2 tablespoons sugar and melted butter.  Stir to combine.  Use spatula to spread evenly into bottom of springform pan.
 In small bowl, mix espresso powder and 3 tablespoons coffee yogurt.  Stir until powder is dissolved. In mixer, beat cream cheese and vanilla yogurt on low speed until creamy. Gradually add remaining sugar. Gradually add eggs one at a time, vanilla, potato starch and espresso mixture. Beat until smooth. Pour into pan.
Bake for 60-70 minutes - center will appear nearly set when gently shaken. It may seem loose, but cheesecake will firm as it chills. Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.
Spread remaining coffee yogurt in a circle over center of cheesecake. Chill in refrigerator at least 4 hours or overnight.
Sprinkle top with cinnamon. Release the sides of the pan.

Serves 12

CRACKELTOP POTATO KUGEL

This richly flavored crust makes this kugel very special. From the new  Jewish Holiday Cooking A Food Lover’s Treasury of Classics and Improvisations by  Jayne Cohen, author of  The Gefilte Variations (Wiley). The book is organized by Jewish holidays, and with almost 300 recipes, there is something here for everyone, whether it is a beginner or an advanced cook.  In addition to the recipes, there is a lot of practical advice and creative suggestions on everything from setting a Seder table to accommodating vegan relatives.

  • 6 to 7 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 cups thinly sliced onion (about 3/ 4 lb)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
  • Salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 6 large  or 8 medium russet potatoes, peeled
  • 3 tablespoon matzoh meal
  • 4 large eggs, bean
  • Smoked sweet or hot paprika, optional
  • 4 to 5 ounces high-quality kosher for Passover potato chips, enough to make 1 1/ 2 to 2 cups when coarsely crushed by hand

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a 10-inch heavy skillet over medium heat.  Add the onions and sauté, until golden brown, about 15 minutes.  Turning occasionally.  Add the garlic and cook until tinged pale gold, about 3 minutes.

Transfer mixture to a large bowl and season with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 400F.

Grate the potatoes, using a medium grating disk in the food processor or use the coarse shredding disk then use the metal blade and pulse until the shreds are chopped. Place in a colander, rinse well to remove most of the starch, drain well, using your hands to squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

Add potatoes to fried onions.  Stir in the matzoh meal and 1 or 2 tablespoons of oil.  Season generously with plenty of salt and pepper.  Add the eggs and mix well.

Pour the remaining 3 tablespoons of oil into a large, shallow heavy 9x13-inch baking pan. An enameled cast-iron pan is preferred, or use metal, not glass

Rub the oil thoroughly around the bottom and sides of the pan and place in the oven until sizzling hot (this will create a crispy crust).

Transfer the potato mixture to the pan and smooth the top.  If using the paprika, mix it well with the crushed potato chips in a bowl and sprinkle over the kugel evenly.

Bake uncovered for about 50 minutes, until the top is golden and crisp and kugel is firm.  Let kugel rest until set, about 20 minutes. Note: Use fewer chips for a thinner crust.

Serves 8 to 10.

PISTACHIO MACAROONS

My friend Paula recently shared this favorite easy, fussless cookie recipe with me.  It is really in keeping with my easy, elegant, fearless, fussless philosophy of cooking.

  • 1 1/ 2 cups shelled unsalted pistachio nuts
  • 1/ 2 cup sugar
  • 2 large egg whites
Preheat oven to 325F. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Pulse the nuts in the food processor with the metal knife blade until they are finely chopped, or ground.  Be careful not to puree the nuts.

Place the nuts in a medium-size bowl and mix in the sugar and egg whites, using a hand mixer or a wooden spoon. Cover and refrigerate batter for 15 to 20 minutes.

Drop the batter from a teaspoon or tablespoon onto the cookie sheet, leaving about 1/ 2-inch between cookies.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until the bottoms and tops are lightly browned.

Makes about 22 cookies.

 

SEPHARDIC HAROSET FROM TURKEY

  • 8 ounces pitted dates
  • 8 ounces raisins, dark or golden
  • 2 cups grated peeled apples
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts
  • orange juice or wine to moisten.

Grind (chop in a processor or blender) all the fruits together. Moisten with juice or wine. Stir in nuts. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

 

CARROTS WITH GARLIC AND YOGURT

Carrots will never be the same after you've eaten this dish! Turkish zucchini can be used instead of the carrots, but a teaspoon of dried mint needs to be added to the dish.

  • 7 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 pound carrots, peeled and coarsely grated
  • 3 to 4 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup Drained Yogurt
  • 2 teaspoons Aleppo pepper or paprika
  • olives, optional

In a 3-quart pot, heat 5 tablespoons of the oil and sauté the onions, stirring over medium heat for 5 minutes. Do not let them brown or burn.
Add the carrots, stirring to mix well, and continue cooking for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
Crush the garlic and salt in a mortar and pestle. Place the cooled carrots in a large bowl and add the drained yogurt and the garlic mixture. Mix well and place in a serving dish.
Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the paprika and drizzle in a design over the top of the carrots, decorate with olives if desired.
Serve at room temperature or chilled. Serves 8.

 

LEMON CREAM

Great with Passover sponge cake, in Passover crepes, or just spread it on matzoh or eat it with fruit.

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • zest of one whole lemon
  • juice of one whole lemon
  • 4 ounces butter or margarine

To prepare the lemon cream, beat the whole eggs and extra yolk together, and gradually add the sugar and beat to blend.
Add the grated zest of the lemon and the lemon juice.
Add the butter and beat well. Place cream mixture in a heavy saucepan or double boiler and cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until the mixture thickens and coats a wooden spoon. Do not let the mixture boil.
When cream is thick, pour mixture into a bowl and place the bowl in another bowl filled with ice or ice water to cool quickly and prevent overcooking. Stir occasionally.
Refrigerate in a covered bowl or jar until ready for use.

 

FUDGE ROLL

This was one of the most sought after recipes of Mrs. Kaplan, a famous Newton, Mass. caterer. Don't serve this unless you are willing to share the recipe with your friends!

  • 6 large eggs, separated, and at room temperature
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 6 oz semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 pint heavy cream

Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a large bowl, with an electric mixer at medium speed, beat the egg yolks and sugar until thick and lemon colored - about 5 minutes.
In the top of a double boiler, over hot water, melt the chocolate with the water. Remove from heat and let cool.
When chocolate has cooled to room temperature, add it to the egg yolk mixture.
Thoroughly wash the beaters and bowl, and with the mixer at low speed, beat the egg whites until bubbles begin to form. Turn mixer to high and continue beating until stiff.
Carefully fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.
Grease an l0"x15" jelly roll pan and line it with waxed paper.
Grease and flour the waxed paper.
Spread the batter evenly around the pan and bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Do not overbake.
Remove the pan from the oven and cover the cake with a lightly dampened linen dishtowel.
Leave the cloth on the cake for 15 minutes ...it will help draw out the heat so the cake will roll.
Place another lightly damp cloth on a flat surface and cover it with a piece of waxed paper that is 17" long.
Sprinkle the cocoa evenly over the waxed paper.
Invert the cake onto the cocoa covered paper. Carefully peel off the waxed paper that the cake was baked with.
Place the cake on a long platter or a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil.
Whip the cream until soft peaks form.
Spread 3/4 of the cream over the cake to within l" of all edges.
Roll the cake up lengthwise, removing the waxed paper as you roll.
Ice the cake, if desired, with remaining cream.
Refrigerate until serving.
Serves 10 to 12.

PASSOVER MACARONI AND CHEESE

  • 3 large eggs
  • 3 1/2 cups matzo farfel (or 6 broken-up matzos)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 pt. sour cream
  • 1/ 2 cup butter (May use less if desired.)
  • Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 2-qt. casserole with butter. In a bowl, beat 2 of the eggs well and pour them over the farfel. In another bowl, beat the remaining egg and stir in the milk, salt and pepper. In the casserole, layer half the farfel, half the cheese, half the sour cream (in spoonfuls), and half the butter. Repeat the procedure and pour the milk mixture over the top. Lightly sprinkle the Parmesan over the top. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes, until brown.

Serves 6-8.

PASSOVER WHITE SAUCE

  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 oz. potato flour
  • 1 1/2 cups pareve or real chicken stock 
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten

In a skillet, heat the oil and then fry the garlic until it's clear, then remove it. In a bowl, mix the potato flour with the stock and then season to taste. With a whisk, blend in the yolks and add the mixture to the pan. Cook over low heat, whisking very gently until the mixture thickens. Stir constantly.

LEMON PUDDING FOR PESACH

  • 4 eggs
  • 5 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 Tablespoon potato starch
  • 6 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 cups water

In a 1 1/2 quart saucepan or the top of a double boiler, beat the eggs well. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and potato starch and gradually whisk them into the beaten eggs. Stir in the lemon juice and water. Then, over low heat or simmering water in the bottom of the double boiler, cook pudding mixture slowly, stirring constantly until the mixture is thickened and bubbles begin to appear. Remove from heat. Pour or spoon into a dessert cup or Pesach pie shell. Set the pudding aside to cool slightly before serving. Or refrigerate until ready to serve.

GEFILTE FISH DISH

No more washing dozens of plates that had a piece of gefilte fish and lettuce. Try this, no mess, no fuss and people who don't like gefilte fish will love it. Call it HORSERADISH PATE!

  • 14 oz. Jar of Gefilte Fish (drained)
  • 1 Tablespoon While Horseradish
  • 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 1-2 Teaspoons Salt

Place ingredients in the food process and blend until smooth (or mash together in a bowl with a fork). Place in a serving bowl surrounded by matzoh or veggies.
This spread can be molded if the mold is first lined with plastic wrap. Cover and refrigerate.
Serve with crackers or matzoh.
Serves 10.

PINEAPPLE KUGEL

  • 1-1/2 Cups Sugar
  • 4 Cups Farfel
  • 6 Eggs
  • 20 oz. Can of Crushed Pineapple with juice
  • 2 Sticks Margarine, melted

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Pour hot water over farfel in a bowl, squeeze dry, and drain.
Beat the eggs in a small bowl.
Add all the ingredients to the farfel and place in a greased 9"x13" pan.
Bake for about 45 to 60 minutes or until the top is slightly golden brown.
Serves 8.

CARROT PUDDING
 

This doubles or tripes or even quadruples beautifully. I usually do it x 4.

  • 3/4 cup grated carrots (3 cups if x4)
  • 3/4 cup sugar (3 cups if x4)
  • 4 eggs, separated (16 eggs if x4)
  • 1/ 2 cup finely ground almonds ( 2 cups if x4)
  • 1 Tablespoon grated rind of a lemon (whole lemon if x4)
  • 1 1/ 2 teaspoon sweet red wine (6 teaspoons if x4)

Preheat oven to 325 F.
Beat together sugar and egg yolks until thick and lemon colored, about 5 minutes.
Add carrots, almonds, lemon rind and wine.
Mix well.
Beat egg whites until stiff, and carefully fold into pudding mixture.
Grease a 6 cup (or larger) casserole and coat with matzah cake flour.
Pour pudding into casserole and bake at 325 F for 65 minutes or until firm and well browned.

 

 

 
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