5 Jewish Side Dishes

Making these 5 Jewish side dishes will add excitement, color and interest to any meal. The simple Jewish side dishes can be made any day of the week and also make a quick addition to any Jewish holiday meal. The quantities are easily adjusted to accommodate large groups or parties.

1. Israeli Carrot Salad – A Simple Jewish Side Dish for Any Occasion

Items Needed:

• 1 pound Carrots
• 1 cup Raisins
• ½ cup Mayonnaise

Procedures:

1. Wash and peel carrots.
2. Grate carrots with a vegetable grater or in a food processor.
3. Add raisins and mayonnaise. Mix well until carrots and raisins are thoroughly coated with mayonnaise.
4. Cover and refrigerate. Refrigerate for a minimum of two hours. Stir and serve cold.

2. Potato Latkes – A Traditional Chanukah Side Dish

Items Needed:

• 1 pound Potatoes
• 1 large Yellow Onion
• 1 Egg
• 2 Tablespoons Matzo Meal
• Olive Oil

Procedures:

1. Peel potatoes and onion. Place in a large bowl of cold water to prevent browning.
2. Grate potatoes and onion with a vegetable grater or in a food processor. Strain in a colander or pat with paper towels to remove excess liquid.
3. Add egg and matzo meal to potato and onion mixture. Mix together well, using your hands, until thoroughly mixed.
4. Preheat a frying pan with ½-inch of olive oil over medium heat. Oil is ready when a drop of cold water added to the oil begins to sizzle.
5. Place heaping spoonfuls of potato mixture into hot oil. Cook until bottom is golden brown.
6. Turn over latke and continue cooking until golden brown. Remove latke from oil and place on a paper towel lined plate.
7. Serve hot with applesauce or sour cream.

3. Chickpea Salad – A Simple Salad Side Dish

Items Needed:

• 15 ounces Cooked Chickpeas or Garbanzo Beans
• ¼ cup Toasted Sesame Seeds
• 4 ounces Baby Arugula
• 4 ounces Baby Spinach
• 8 ounces Fresh Radishes
• 4 to 8 ounces Cherry Tomatoes
• Vinaigrette Dressing

Procedure:

1. Slice radishes into thin slices; set aside.
2. Mix chickpeas and sesame seeds in a small bowl. Add vinaigrette dressing and toss, just to lightly coat.
3. Toss arugula and spinach together in a large bowl. Add radish slices and cherry tomatoes. Toss until evenly distributed.
4. Place chickpeas on top of vegetable mixture. Add additional vinaigrette just before serving.

4. Lox and Cheese – A Traditional Jewish Side Dish

Items Needed:

• 8 ounces Smoked Salmon
• 8 ounces Cream Cheese
• Lettuce, Bagels or Crackers

Procedure:

1. Remove skin from smoked salmon. Mash salmon with a fork until separated.
2. Add cream cheese to salmon. Mash and mix with a fork until salmon is thoroughly incorporated into the cream cheese.
3. Cover and refrigerate. Let lox rest for an hour or more before serving. Serve as a spread on crackers or bagels, or serve as a topping for lettuce salad.

5. Noodle Kugel – A Traditional Side Dish for Any Meal

Items Needed:

• 16 ounce Wide Egg Noodles
• Water
• ½ cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Raw Sugar
• 6 Large Eggs
• Salt, Pepper and Garlic Powder to Taste

Procedure:

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add egg noodles and cook just until tender. Stir often to prevent sticking. Drain noodles, place in a large bowl and set aside.
2. Add oil and sugar to a small saucepan. Cook and stir constantly over medium low heat. Continue cooking until sugar caramelizes.
3. Add sugar mixture to noodles. Mix thoroughly until all noodles are covered.
4. Beat eggs in a small bowl. Add salt, pepper and garlic powder to eggs if desired. Add egg mixture to noodles and mix well.
5. Pour mixture into a large baking dish or casserole. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 to 60 minutes for a shallow dish or 60 to 75 minutes for a deep dish. Bake until dark golden brown.
6. Cut kugel into squares and serve hot.