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    Dana's Table » Recipes

    Sephardic, Mizrahi, and Israeli Recipes

    The recipes in this collection are from Sephardic, Mizrahi, and Israeli cuisine. The food tells the story of where these Jews are from and where their ancestors have lived and left due to expulsions and forced migration.

    The Sephardic Jews first came to Spain after the destruction of the first Temple in Jerusalem in 586 BC. They lived on the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) for about 2,000 years until they were expelled in 1492 and 1496, respectively. Many resettled in the Ottoman Empire including areas of Turkey, north Africa, Greece, Iran, and the Middle East. Some settled in France and Italy.

    The Mizrahi Jews have their origins in the Middle East. In the later half of the 20th century, Jews were either expelled from or escaped persecution in Middle Eastern countries and Iran. Many found refuge in Israel and the United States.

    As Jews migrated throughout time, they brought their dishes from their countries of origin with them. Sometimes they adapted their old dishes to new ingredients in the new land. Sometimes they made the dishes of their new neighbors, but adapted them to fit kosher laws and holiday traditions. And the culinary influence went both ways. Jews introduced new ingredients and dishes to their neighbors as well.

    Now in the 21st century, the majority of Jews live in Israel. The food in Israel includes Mizrahi, Sephardic, and Ashkenazi dishes. Because of moving borders, expulsions, and migration over time, much of Israeli food has a shared culinary history with the neighboring countries and others throughout the Middle East region. Israeli dishes often have roots in multiple countries and are a part of multiple cuisines.

    Israel is known for their vibrant food scene that includes both street food and finer restaurants. Israeli cuisine centers on fresh produce and dishes well-suited to the warm weather.

    The hallmarks of Sephardic, Mizrahi, and Israeli recipes are the wonderful spices and flavors of the region like cumin, cardamom, and rosewater as well as popular ingredients like chickpeas and eggplant.

    I love all these flavorful dishes, so it's hard to pick favorites, but be sure to check out Creamy Roasted Eggplant Dip, Arayes (meat stuffed pitas), and Bourekas.

    • Maamoul (Date Filled Cookies)
    • Persian Charoset Balls (Halleq/Haleg)
    • Malabi (Dairy-Free Pudding)
    • Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce
    • Moroccan Carrot Salad- with updated twist
    • Easy Lahmacun (Turkish Pizza)
    • Creamy Roasted Eggplant Dip
    • Slow Cooker Lamb Tagine (Moroccan Lamb Stew)
    • Pargiot (Grilled Israeli Chicken Thighs)
    • Arayes (Meat Stuffed Pitas)
    • Jerusalem Salad (Israeli Salad)
    • Spinach and Feta Bourekas (Puff Pastry Appetizers)
    • Crispy Baked Chicken Schnitzel
    • Za'atar Roasted Chicken with Lemon and Herbs

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    Welcome to
    Dana's Table

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    Dana's Table is the new home for recipes from Foodie Goes Healthy and Jewish Holiday Cooking. All the recipes you love are in one convenient place.

    I'm Dana, a recipe developer, avid cookbook collector, and food blogger since 2011. I come from a long line of amazing home cooks, and now I've been cooking up healthy-ish family meals and festive Jewish holidays for over 25 years. Grab a chair at the table so I can share my best recipes and strategies with you.

    More about Dana →

    Popular Recipes

    • Golden brown broccoli kugel in a white baking dish with yellow towel.
      Broccoli Kugel
    • Lavash pizza with tomato sauce, cheese, and basil cooked on sheet pan.
      Lavash Flatbread Pizzas
    • Slices of Korean short ribs on wood board with green onion garnish.
      Easy Korean Short Ribs (LA Galbi)
    • A slice of blintz souffle casserole on a plate with strawberry jam.
      Easy Blintz Soufflé Casserole
    • Spinach bourekas on a serving board.
      Spinach and Feta Bourekas (Puff Pastry Appetizers)
    • Slow cooked BBQ beef brisket sliced on a cutting board.
      Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Brisket

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    Jewish Holiday Cooking - A friendly, interactive group for sharing holiday recipes and celebratory ideas.

    Jewish Cooking - A group for global Jewish cuisine with members from around the world.

    Favorite Summer Recipes

    • Bowls of malabi pudding with raspberry and peach jam toppings and garnishes.
      Malabi (Dairy-Free Pudding)
    • Mini cheesecake bites topped with different flavors of jam.
      Cheesecake Bites (in mini muffin tins)
    • Strawberry salad with baby greens, pecans, feta cheese, and strawberries on a plate with a fork.
      Strawberry Spring Salad with Pecans and Feta
    • Italian Zucchini Latkes on a plate with dipping sauce.
      Italian Zucchini Latkes
    • Banh mi chicken sandwich with julienned vegetables on a plate.
      Banh Mi Sandwich from "The Great Pepper Cookbook" by Melissa's Produce
    • Deconstructed sushi salad with sweet potatoes, mango, carrots, cucumber, and edamame.
      Easy Deconstructed Sushi Salad Bowl
    See more Summer Recipes →

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