Main dishes

from "The Foods of Israel Today" by Joan Nathan
as seen in The Orange County Register, 9-14-01

Salt to taste
1 tablespoon baharat, or to taste; see cook's notes
1 tablespoon ground ginger, or to taste
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup orange liqueur
1 cup chicken broth
4 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 cups orange juice
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons grated orange zest
2 tablespoons finely chopped crystallized ginger
2 oranges, peeled and sectioned

Cook's notes: Joan Nathan says baharat is a spice mixture that varies from cook to cook, but often includes paprika, (ground) chili, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, black pepper, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, cloves and salt. "If you can't find the mixture at a Middle Eastern market, choose from you favorite of these spices instead, making sure you include pepper," Nathan writes.

If you prefer thicker sauce, after chicken has cooked, remove chicken from sauce and increase heat to high; boil until reduced to 3/4 to 1 cup. Return chicken to sauce and complete step 5.

from "A Feast from the Mideast" by Faye Levy
as seen in the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
story by Judy Bart Kancigor

Makes 4 servings.

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 1/2 pounds chicken pieces, rinsed and patted dry
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/2 to 2 cups walnuts
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (optional)
1 1/2 to 2 cups pomegranate juice or 1/3 to 1/2 cup pomegranate paste
1/2 cup water or chicken broth (if using pomegranate juice), or 1 1/2 cups water or broth (if using paste)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 to 2 tablespoons tomato paste or 3 to 4 tablespoons tomato sauce (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cardamom, or 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, or to taste
1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice, or to taste
1 to 2 teaspoons sugar, or to taste
1/3 to 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds (optional)
1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley (optional)
A few toasted walnuts (optional)

from "A Fistful of Lentils" by Jennifer Abadi
as seen in the Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles
story by Judy Bart Kancigor

Sauce:

2 cups pitted prunes, soaked in 1 cup cold water for 15 minutes
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Chicken:

5 to 5-1/2 pounds chicken pieces (white and dark meat), skinned
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup finely chopped yellow onions
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Three 3-inch-long cinnamon sticks
2 cups cold water

from Divine Kosher Cuisine by Risé Routenberg and Barbara Wasser
Meat
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

For the sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon dried dill
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
Salt and pepper to taste

Whisk sauce ingredients.

For the chicken
5 medium potatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
5 medium tomatoes, peeled and coarsely chopped
3 1/2 pounds chicken, cut into eighths or 6 chicken breasts, boned and skinned
1 teaspoon paprika

1. Preheat oven to 350*F. Grease 9 x 13-inch baking pan.
2. Place potatoes and tomatoes in pan, cover with chicken and brush
   with half the sauce. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake uncovered 20 minutes.
3. Baste with remaining sauce and bake until tender.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings
from “Jewish Cooking for All Seasons” by Laura Frankel

2 chickens, about 4 pounds each, cut by your butcher into 6 pieces each, on the bone
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Olive oil

For the Glaze

Olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 medium shallot, finely chopped
1/2 cup pomegranate molasses
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup dark chicken stock

Suggested Garnishes

Fresh pomegranate seeds
Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

from “Food to Live By' by Myra Goodman with Linda Holland and Pamela McKinstry
seen in The Orange County Register
September 6, 2007

Yield: 8 to 10 servings

1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms
5 pounds boneless beef short ribs, or 7 pounds bone-in beef short ribs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons olive oil; divided use
2 carrots, coarsely chopped
2 ribs celery, coarsely chopped
2 small yellow onions, coarsely chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 bottle (750 milliliters) merlot
4 cups Slow Simmering Beef Stock (recipe follows) or store-bought low-sodium beef broth
12 ounces cipollini or pearl onions (12 to 16 onions)
1/4 cup good-quality balsamic vinegar

Procedure: