Tips For Preparing Kosher Meals That Are Delicious And Nutritious

By Donald Meyer


If you grew up in a Jewish household, you know there are plenty of rules about what you can and can't eat. For those just learning kashrut, the rules can seem confusing and confining. Instead of focusing on what you can't cook, a better idea is to focus on all the foods you may eat and the dishes you an experiment with. Planning kosher meals should be fun and exciting. You can prepare delicious, nutritious meals easily and economically.

If you're not a regular at the farmer's market, you don't know what you're missing. This is where you will find the freshest local produce. Almost everything you see here is permissible. The vegetables, fruits, and herbs are completely acceptable as long as they're insect free and clean. If you didn't have any other choices, but the food you find here, you could create hundreds of delicious dishes.

Margarine has long been a substitute for cooking and baking pareve dishes. The problem with margarine is that it's full of transfat, which is unhealthy. It doesn't taste very good either. A better choice is to make some changes to the traditional recipes that call for it, and substitute something healthier like olive oil.

Check out the health food aisle in your favorite supermarket, or visit a local health food store. You'll be surprised at the wide array of dairy and gluten free products to choose from. You will find all kinds of certifications because the people who shop here are looking for genuine vegan, organic, and fair trade. Kosher certification is something you will find here as well.

It is a lot easier to find specialty items in accordance with kashrut when you're in the city. Country Hebrews have a harder time diversifying their menus. Luckily anyone can go online and find approved delicacies like curry paste, Vietnamese fish sauce, and Manchego cheese, and have them delivered to their doors.

You should familiarize yourself with international cuisine. The possibilities here are endless. Asian dishes, for instance, are pretty much dairy free. You won't have much trouble changing out pork for an approved meat.

If you're not already familiar with certification symbols like those put out by the Orthodox Union and Kof-K, you need to learn about them. Once you know what to look for, you'll notice that they appear on many major brands. Some of the kashrut certification symbols are less known, but just as authentic. The more you learn about the symbols the wider array of food choices you will have.

Not all kosher foods will have a hechsher. You need to learn which ones are within kashrut. Some foods that may not have a certification symbol, but are perfectly fine include pure unflavored coffee and honey, plain popcorn kernels, extra virgin olive oil, raw nuts, and approved meats. Instead of letting the limitations intimidate you, let your imagination and creative side take over. Your meals will be delicious and 100% kosher.




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