Spring has sprung! For many, spring marks new beginnings and represents a period of rejuvenation. Springtime also brings many religious holidays and is a time of celebration for those who observe them. With celebration, comes celebratory food!
Happy cooking from the team at Oldways!
Mediterranean Celebratory Dishes
Springtime marks the celebration of Passover, Easter, Greek Orthodox Easter, and Ramadan. No matter the date, no matter the traditions and beliefs, no matter the country, each of these holy holidays comes with its own traditional celebratory dishes.
Fattoush is a classic bread salad from Lebanon, making use of leftover pita (toasted or fried) and mixing it with greens and vegetables. It belongs to the family of dishes called fatta, which means crushed or crumbs. This recipe is adapted from a recipe in The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook by Nancy Harmon Jenkins.
This dish is simple and elegant. Be sure to marinate the lamb for at least 45 minutes; The longer the lamb is marinated, the more tender and flavorful it will be. Serve over garlicky mashed potatoes, a bed of greens, or your favorite whole grains.
Recipe courtesy Jesse Cool and Deanna Bayless for "The Oldways Table."
Tzimmes is a Passover staple traditionally made with sweet potatoes, carrots, and dried fruits and served as a stew with brisket. Try this vegetarian version in which we’ve roasted some fruits and vegetables and added a bit of spice to the party in the form of ras el hanout.
Oldways recipe and photo
Trivia Question
Mahleb is an aromatic spice made from the seeds of a species of what type of fruit?
