GastronomÃa |
Chicken is extremely popular in Israel, because it is relatively inexpensive and can be prepared in many ways. Chicken paprika is, of course, a Hungarian variation. With the amount of chicken Israelis consume, it is hard to imagine a family going without it for very long.
1 - 4 lb. chicken
3 tbs. flour
2 tbs. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 tbs. chicken fat or margarine
1-1/2 cups sliced onion
1 tbs. paprika
1 cup boiling water
Cut up chicken and season with flour, salt and pepper. Brown chicken in the fat (or margarine). Remove chicken and brown onions in remaining fat (or margarine). Return chicken to the pan, sprinkle with paprika and add water. Cover and cook over low heat for 1-1/2 hours or until chicken is tender.
1 lb. canned chick-peas (drained)
1 large onion, chopped
2 tbs. finely chopped parsley
1 egg
1 tsp. salt
1/2 to 1 cup breadcrumbs or fine bulgur (crushed wheat)
1 tsp. ground coriander or cumin
1 tsp. dried hot peppers
1 tsp. garlic powder
vegetable oil (for frying)
Combine chick-peas with onion. Add parsley, lightly beaten egg and spices. Mix in blender. Add breadcrumbs until mixture forms a small ball without sticking to your hands. Form chick-pea mixture into small balls about the size of a quarter (one inch in diameter). Flatten patties slightly and fry until golden brown on both sides. Drain falafel balls on paper towels. Serve individually with toothpicks as an hors d'oeuvre or as a sandwich filling with chopped tomato, cucumber, radish, lettuce, onion, hummus and/or tehina inside pita bread. Makes about 24 falafel balls.
Israeli cuisine is a very diverse cuisine consisting of local dishes as well as foods brought to Israel by immigrants from around the world. Some elements of Arab cuisine such as falafel and hummus have become synonymous with Israeli cuisine. The question of whether there is a distinctive Israeli cuisine has thus been a source of debate.
One of the few foods considered to be a unique culinary contribution is ptitim, which is sometimes referred to by chefs as "Israeli couscous." Ptitim were invented in the early days of the state when rice was scarce. Israel's prime minister, David Ben-Gurion asked the Osem company to devise a wheat-based substitute.