My Second Shakshuka

I am a lazy person

Yeah, second time mentioning that.

When I cook stuff, I prefer it to be fast (especially when I am hungry). Today, I made Shakshuka for dinner. I know that there's the traditional way of making it properly, but I just couldn't wait. I had all the right ingredients so I was just like you know: "Bring it!".

Hereby starts the journey of Shortcut Shakshuka

I prepared the most basic of ingredients:

• 1 chopped onion (big ones)
• 1 tspn cumin (the seeds, cause I didn't have the powdered ones)
• Pinch of salt
• Some pepper
• Heinz tomato paste
• Chilli Sauce (I used Life Chilli Sauce)

I do also know that paprika should be essential to the Shakshuka, but unfortunately I don't have them with me.

1. So I light up the stove, throw all the ingredients into the pan and begin to stir fry.
2. When the onions turn slightly golden, I pour in the tomato paste, sprinkle some basil and add in the chilli sauce.
3. It begins bubbling, and so I turn off the flames, pour the mix into a baking bowl (Pyrex) and then preheat the oven to 160'C (320F).
4. I then make two wells and add in two eggs and then stash it (the bowl) into the oven for 20 minutes.

• Inspired by Joy of Kosher; Jamie Geller
• Shortcut Shakshuka

Homemade Matzoh Ball Recipe

Easy to make. There are only three parts to it:

a) The Matzah

b) The Matzo Meal

c) The Matzo Balls

a) You only need to make the Matzah if you do not have Matzo Meal. The only two ingredients in Matzah is water and flour. The trick though, is you have to make it fast.

Prepare a cup of all purpose/ plain white flour (about 60g) and a cup of water. Pour the water little by little (you don't need to use up all the water) and mix with a fork until a dough is formed. Knead the dough on a clean floured surface until smooth. Quickly preheat the oven to about 230'C and start rolling the dough until thin. You might need to turn the rolled dough over a few times and dust the underneath. Once done, quickly poke holes into the flat dough to prevent rising (front and back). Bake for 7-10 minutes and let cool.

b) To make the Matzo meal, you only need to grind the Matzah. Use a food processor (I used thermomix and pulsed a few times).

c) For the balls, crack open an egg and check for any blood particles carefully. If clean, add some kosher salt to the egg and pour in about a tablespoon of virgin olive oil. Pour in 60g of water mixed with two teaspoons of baking powder and mix with a fork. Now, pour in the Matzo meal slowly and mix in until there a consistency is reached. Cover with a plastic foil/ a plate and let set in the refrigerator for an hour or two.

Now, bring a pot of water to simmer (add a pinch of salt to the water). Wet your palms with a sprinkle of virgin olive oil and begin rolling the balls. Add them to the pot right after you roll them. Let boil and then serve with any soup of your choice.

Inspired by Jamie Geller (A wonderful lady, respect!) - to get more Kosher recipes from her, go to JoyofKosher.com



Matzo balls are the Jewish penicillin (like the panadol) or something like that. Good for sicknesses probably :) had that really warm vibe when eating it. I hope it's supposed to taste that way or I will be reallly sad.

Anyways, I recently met an Australian who I mistakenly (I am a horrible horrible person) assumed to be Jewish because of his surname (Vaisman). He is a very interesting person, I was curious so I asked a lot. Turns out he isn't Jewish because Judaism is passed down by the mother. I asked too about Kosher dishes because I like how Kosher food looks and tastes (there is this amazing concept behind the different techniques like knotting to make Challah and the use of Matzo meal that is essentially grounded from unleavened bread or Matzah). He isn't actually really into the concept of Kosher - but he knows the basics. Also, when I showed him the Matzo balls I made he was actually quite surprised at how well it turned out and I got a few compliments. I'm not actually very used to compliments because as an Asian you don't really get that very often UNLESS U DOCTOR OR U ENGINEER AND U EARN THE MONEY (please read with strong Asian accent) so I think I might have a little crush on him now shit, am I gay!?  that inspires me to continue doing what I love most.