This rustic traditional soup is part of our winter menu and also perfect for Tu Bishvat, when it’s customary to eat barley. Pearl barley soup, Krupnik, is a Polish Ashkenazi specialty that warms both body and soul. It’s a lovely way to prepare pearl barley if you’ve had some sitting in your pantry wondering what to do with it. You can make it with or without meat - both options are included in the recipe.

Latkes, the beloved Ashkenazi specialty of crispy potato pancakes. Traditionally prepared for Hanukkah, they’re perfect as a side dish with meat or fish, though some enjoy them with applesauce, sour cream, or simply sprinkled with sugar.

Do you know babka? Some call it Krantz cake – it’s the famous twisted Ashkenazi brioche that’s all the rage in Israel and around the world. After its success in previous years, I’m bringing back this twisted version of Babka in a savory edition.

A new twist on traditional potato latkes enjoyed during Hanukkah, these sweet potato latkes are a perfect blend of sweet and savory, crispy on the outside and tender inside. They’re ideal for holiday meals, especially during Sukkot or Hanukkah.

As a cold appetizer or a heartier main course, the Nordic platter is an elegant dish featuring smoked fish, salad, and served with blinis or toast. Here’s my favorite version, which you can adapt based on your taste and what’s in your fridge.

I’m sharing today a recipe for delicious homemade bagels that are easy to make. Bagels have become very trendy in recent years, appearing everywhere from street food chains to restaurant menus. Yet bagels aren’t new at all - they were brought to the United States by Ashkenazi Jews who prepared them, particularly in Poland. They’re characterized by their ring shape and being boiled before baking, which gives them their unique texture, different from other breads.

As Shavuot approaches, I’m adding a new easy cheesecake here, the no-bake cheesecake. It features a cookie crust topped with a very fresh cream cheese layer, egg-free, and is a variation of the traditional Ashkenazi baked cheesecake. You’ll find this cake everywhere in Israel—here’s the recipe to make it at home.

Kneidlach in broth (matzo ball soup) is a classic of Jewish Ashkenazi cuisine. If you’re discovering them for the first time, these are matzo meal dumplings served in a beautiful golden chicken broth. Simple to make and delicious, it’s a wonderful recipe to introduce you to Ashkenazi cuisine and a magical remedy when you’re feeling under the weather.

Herring and potato salad is a classic French bistro dish that’s always a crowd-pleaser. It’s very simple to make, and like most classic recipes, success depends mainly on ingredient quality - beautiful potatoes and good herring.

This kosher Polish cheesecake (Käse kuchen), emblematic of Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine, is a true delight of sweetness and nostalgia. It’s one of those recipes you find in grandmothers’ recipe notebooks, in this case, Micheline’s. It stands tall with an airy texture, thanks to the beaten egg whites.

Here’s a quick cucumber salad you can serve as is or as a condiment with salmon, deli meats, or a green salad.

Stuffed cabbage is a charming, old-fashioned dish that belongs to the family of comforting home-cooked meals. I discovered it in Israel where it’s deeply rooted in home cooking, an Ashkenazi heritage recipe. It has many cousins as stuffed dishes of all kinds are part of Jewish culinary tradition.

Confit goose legs are a French specialty from the Southwest (Périgord), less common than duck confit. Goose has a more refined and delicate flavor than duck, and we love it here. I’m sharing two cooking methods, stovetop or oven, your choice! You can enjoy them as is, with crispy skin hiding tender confit meat inside. Or use them to create other dishes, see recipe ideas below.