Rosh Hashanah Food
A celebration of seasonal produce and the new year.
ByEmily Paster|
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Seven is a lucky number in many religions, including Judaism. The world was created in seven days; together, the patriarchs and matriarchs add up to seven; at a Jewish wedding, there are seven blessings; and so on.
It is no wonder, then, that on Rosh Hashanah — when we try to do everything we can to ensure good luck for the coming year — there is a tradition of eating seven vegetables. Among North African Jews, especially those of Moroccan origin, Couscous with Seven Vegetables is a traditional and cherished Rosh Hashanah dish. The couscous has a special significance: The many tiny grains represent a wish for a year with countless blessings.
With many of us rethinking our Rosh Hashanah celebrations this year, it seems fitting to change up the traditional holiday fare.
Rosh Hashanah occurs at a time of year when many vegetables are at their peak, such as squash and root vegetables, which are perfect for this dish. The vegetables in the recipe are only a suggestion — feel free to play around, just make sure you have a variety of textures and flavors.
Moroccan food is highly seasoned, but not spicy. So you will notice a wide range of spices inthis dish, from paprika to cinnamon. I highly recommend seeking out the North African spiceblend ras el hanout. When added at the end of cooking, ras el-hanout adds sweet, earthy andeven floral notes to your dish. That’s because it is a mix of many different ingredients includingpepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cumin, cardamom pods, rose petals and grainsof paradise. You can find ras el hanout at a good spice shop, a grocery store with a good spiceselection (like Whole Foods, which does carry their own) or online.
Note: You can make the stew (Directions 1-4) ahead of time.
A great way to incorporate seasonal produce for a weeknight dinner or for Rosh Hashanah.
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 2 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp cayenne
- 2 red peppers, chopped
- 2 zucchini, halved and cut into wedges
- 2–3 small turnips, peeled and cut into wedges
- 1 bunch carrots, peeled and chopped
- 1 butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 4 cups vegetable broth or water
- 15 oz can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
- 2 tsp ras el hanout
- 2 Tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
- handful slivered almonds (optional)
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 box instant couscous (about ⅓ cup)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large, deep saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat.Add the onions and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the garlic and tomatoes and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and spices, and stir to combine. Sauté the mixture for a few additional minutes until fragrant, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.
- Add the red peppers, zucchini, turnips, carrots and squash, as well as the broth or water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover. Simmer until vegetables are tender, about 10-15 minutes.
- Remove cover and add chickpeas. Simmer until chickpeas are heated through and stew is thickened, another 5-10 minutes. (May be done ahead up to this point.)
- Meanwhile, make couscous according to package directions. Remove from heat and cover. Let stand 5 minutes. Remove cover and fluff couscous with a fork to break up any clumps.
- Just before serving, add the ras el hanout to the stew. Taste and adjust seasonings.
- To serve, spread the couscous on a platter or shallow dish with a well in the middle. Spoon the vegetable stew over the couscous. Garnish with chopped parsley and slivered almonds, if using.
Notes
You can make the stew (Directions 1-4) ahead of time.
- Author: Emily Paster
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Entree
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Sephardi
7 comments
Leave a Comment
Anat HochbergSeptember 7, 2023 Sounds really good. Will definitely try it out
Reply
Judy Lenkin LernerSeptember 7, 2023 What is ral el has?
Reply
Shannon SarnaSeptember 7, 2023 Ras el hangout is a North African spice blend. You can find it online, at Whole Foods or at a middle eastern or Indian grocery store.
Richard JohnsonSeptember 7, 2023 What is “ras el hanout” ?
Reply
Shannon SarnaSeptember 7, 2023 Ras el hangout is a North African spice blend. You can find it online, at Whole Foods or at a middle eastern or Indian grocery store.
Vivian E TiegenSeptember 15, 2023 How much CousCous is one box of Cous Cous. I buy cous cous in bulk.
Reply
The NosherSeptember 18, 2023 Hi Vivian, most boxes of instant couscous contain around ⅓ cup dry couscous. Enjoy!
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