Click on image to go to Author Website

Monday 6 August 2018

Tips For Creating Inspired Kosher Meals

By Donald Meyer


If you grew up in a Jewish household, you know there are plenty of rules about what you can and can't eat. For those just learning kashrut, the rules can seem confusing and confining. Instead of focusing on what you can't cook, a better idea is to focus on all the foods you may eat and the dishes you an experiment with. Planning kosher meals should be fun and exciting. You can prepare delicious, nutritious meals easily and economically.

The local farmer's market is a wonderful source of foods that you can feed your family without breaking kashrut. The fresh produce you find there, like herbs, fruits, and vegetables will all be on your approved list. You must make sure they are clean and pest free however. If these were the only foods you were allowed to cook, you would have plenty of recipes to choose from.

Margarine has long been a substitute for cooking and baking pareve dishes. The problem with margarine is that it's full of transfat, which is unhealthy. It doesn't taste very good either. A better choice is to make some changes to the traditional recipes that call for it, and substitute something healthier like olive oil.

Check out the health food aisle in your favorite supermarket, or visit a local health food store. You'll be surprised at the wide array of dairy and gluten free products to choose from. You will find all kinds of certifications because the people who shop here are looking for genuine vegan, organic, and fair trade. Kosher certification is something you will find here as well.

If you live in a metropolitan area, you will find plenty of specialty shops offering great kashrut approved food. It's harder for those living in rural communities. Fortunately, today it's possible to go online and find all the delicacies you want, like Manchego cheese, curry paste, and Vietnamese fish sauce.

If you're really adventurous, you should take a look at international cuisine. Much of it can be easily adapted to kashrut. Asian cooking, for example, tends to be free of dairy. Pork, which is an Asian staple, can be changed to approved meats.

If you're not already familiar with certification symbols like those put out by the Orthodox Union and Kof-K, you need to learn about them. Once you know what to look for, you'll notice that they appear on many major brands. Some of the kashrut certification symbols are less known, but just as authentic. The more you learn about the symbols the wider array of food choices you will have.

There are many foods that you can use in food preparation that don't necessarily have the qualifying certifications or a hechsher. These foods are just as acceptable in your recipes as those bearing the certifications. Included in this list are extra virgin olive oil, raw nuts, plain popcorn kernels, kosher meats, and pure unflavored honey and coffee. You should not be intimidated by kashrut. A better idea is to view it as a challenging opportunity to learn, grow and become a confident kosher chef.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment