Saturday, August 4, 2018

Tips For Creating Inspired Kosher Meals

By Donald Meyer


If you were raised in a Jewish household, kashrut is second nature to you. You don't have to think twice about what is permitted to eat and what isn't. If kashrut is new to you, the rules may seem confining and confusing. Instead of getting frustrated over what you can't cook, you should focus on all the food it is permissible to eat and get creative about preparing dishes. There are plenty of nutritious and delicious kosher meals that are easy and economical to make.

If you haven't already, you need to become a familiar face at the local farmer's market. Fresh produce is something entirely within the limits of your diet. Fruits, vegetables, and herbs are all completely fine as long as they are clean and insect free. With these foods alone, the dishes you can create are virtually endless. Not only are they within the kashrut, but they're good for you as well.

Margarine is a butter substitute Jewish cooks have long used to bake and cook pareve dishes. The problem is that margarine has unhealthy levels of transfat. In addition to that, most think it is lacking in taste. A better alternative is extra virgin olive oil, which has more flavor and is good for you.

Most big supermarkets have health food aisles, and you'll find them loaded with dairy free and gluten free products. If there's not a health food section in your favorite grocery store, try the local health food store. A benefit to you is that the food has all kinds of certifications. People who are serious about their health want to see genuine organic, vegan, and fair trade labels. You'll find kosher certifications here as well.

For those who live in an urban area, finding great specialty foods may not be that challenging. Living in a smaller community might require the Jewish chef to go online in search of delicacies. That is where you'll find items like Vietnamese fish sauce, Manchego cheese, and curry paste.

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.

You also need to familiarize yourself with all the certification symbols, such as those put out by Kof-K and the Orthodox Union. Once you starting looking for them, you'll surprised at how often you find them on major brands. Other kashrut certifications are less familiar, but they are authentic. Learning about the symbols will give you a much wider selection of foods to choose from.

You also need to learn to recognize the foods that are within the dietary laws whether or not they bear a hechsher. These are just as legitimate as those that do. You don't have to worry at all about foods like extra virgin olive oil, pure unflavored honey and coffee, raw nuts, kosher meats, and plain popcorn kernels. Learning kashrut doesn't have to be intimidating. You just have to be creative and open to the possibilities.




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