What It’s About

Shabbat is a cherished time. Learn how to make it special without spending all your time in the kitchen with these easy recipes: Challah bread, Roast Chicken, Potato Kugel, and Almond Cake. Simplify your meal preparation and indulge in delightful, homemade treats every week.

Why It Matters

Shabbat is a cornerstone of Jewish tradition, marked by family, rest, and delicious meals. Keeping meals both easy and special creates opportunities for more meaningful family time and enriching experiences. These recipes are perfect for busy summers when time is precious yet you want to honor the day.

The Perfect Challah Recipe

Challah is a staple of the Shabbat dinner table. This no-fail, egg-free recipe uses dry yeast and comes directly from Rebbetzin Kanievsky’s legendary cookbook.

Ingredients

• 2 kilos flour
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 3 Tbsp. dry yeast
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ cup honey/date honey
• 1 cup oil
• 4-5 cups very warm water
• 1 egg (beaten, for the wash)

Preparation

In a mixing bowl, combine salt, flour, yeast, sugar, honey, oil, and water. Mix well until the dough is smooth. Follow proper steps to perform hafrashat challah with your local rabbi. Let the dough rise in a covered bowl for 90 minutes, punch it down, and let rise for another half hour. Shape the dough and let it rise again before baking at 170°C/350°F until golden brown.

Mommy’s Roast Chicken

Enjoy this easy yet delicious roast chicken recipe passed down through generations, soaked with flavorful juices and caramelized onions.

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken or quarters with skin
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• A dash of black pepper

Preparation

Preheat oven to 175°C/350°F. Lay onions in a roasting pan, place the chicken on top, and season. Cover and cook for 90 minutes, then uncover, baste, and continue to cook uncovered for 30 more minutes until tender.

Classic Potato Kugel

A hearty, traditional favorite, this potato kugel is beloved by family members and friends alike, offering an irresistible taste.

Ingredients

• 8-10 potatoes, peeled
• 1 large onion
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. pepper
• ½ cup oil

Preparation

Preheat oven to 200°C/400°F. Grate potatoes and onion, then mix with eggs, salt, and pepper. Pour into a heated pan of oil and bake at 190°C/375°F for 40-50 minutes.

Classic Almond Cake

Finish your Shabbat feast with this delightful almond cake that’s easy to make and hard to forget.

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 1¾ cups sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup oil
• ¾ cup orange juice
• 1 package vanilla pudding mix
• 1½ tsp almond extract
• ½ cup water
• A dash of salt

Glaze

• 1½ cups icing sugar
• 1 Tbsp. orange juice
• 1 tsp. almond extract
• 1 Tbsp. water

Preparation

Preheat oven to 170°C/350°F. Mix all cake ingredients thoroughly, pour into a greased pan, and bake for 50-60 minutes. Let cool, then add glaze for a sweet finish.

Conclusion

With Henny’s stress-free and delicious recipes, making Shabbat special becomes much easier. These meals offer both nourishment and a sense of tradition, all prepared with love and minimal hassle.

This story was first published on jpost.com.