5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KOSHER FOOD

It is rightly said that the way to man’s heart is through his stomach. Good food can create wonders, it can change your mood from bad to good. Everyone has a personal choice and preferred cuisines. The globalized market around the world provides infinite options to choose from. Kosher is one available option. Israeli Style restaurants offer kosher food. The food has a separate fan base for itself. But how well do you know about the Kosher diet? 5 things you need to know about Kosher food are listed below.

THE BIBLICAL ORIGIN

Kosher in Hebrew means “appropriate” or “fit”, i.e. Kosher is considered the suitable food for a Jew to eat. It roots to the Hebrew Bible. Rabbis developed the system of defining food that is Kosher for a Jew to consume.

People who follow the tradition usually cook the food with a lot of care. You can avail the Habayit kosher event catering service. The chef at Habayit cooks the food keeping the Kosher rules in mind.

MEAT

Kosher animals – mammals and foul as well as the products derived from them including bone and broth. The meat must come from ruminant animals and it must be slaughtered by a trained butcher according to Jewish law.

DAIRY

The dairy product should not be mixed with meat according to Jewish law. They must come from a kosher animal. It has to be cooked in separate utensils i.e. Kosher utensils. Using these utensils will ensure that the food doesn’t even mix in the stomach.

 PAREVE

Fish with fins and scale, eggs, tofu, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables are considered as Pareve (neutral). Pareve doesn’t fall under the category of meat or dairy. Since Pareve food is neither dairy nor meat it can be served with other categories of food.

KOSHER FOOD CERTIFICATION

Jewish families prepare Kosher food at home before industrialized food production. Now to ensure that the food you consume is Kosher you can check for Kosher food certification. There are specialized  Kosher certification agencies that certify the food. The certification verifies ingredients, production process, and food – service process. Food certified will feature a label on the package indicating that the food is kosher.

For relishing the home style Kosher food contact Habayit – the top kosher delivery restaurant at Los Angeles.

Authentic Hummus Which Tastes Just Right!

Everyone loves hummus, right? This creamy delicious spread is one of the greatest foodstuffs ever invented and when it's done right, it's deeply satisfying. Even though hummus is very simple to make; it’s difficult to make a hummus that tastes just right. The food experts says – To know a good restaurant, you have to taste only the hummus. If it’s good, the restaurant is good. For centuries, it has been found on tables across northern Africa, the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It is used as opening dish where guests dip pita bread into the spread.

There are lots of delicious ways to eat chickpeas. But one of the favorites has always been having it blended into the creamy spread known as hummus. Hummus is a creamy spread or dip made from cooked, finely mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice, salt, garlic and olive oil. There are three factors that make the difference between a normal hummus and a great hummus. The first factor is a smooth texture. Second is the freshness and the taste. The third is an important factor, the pita bread.

What makes Habayit’s hummus so good? Well, it’s light, with a smooth texture. It’s the smoothest, softest, most tender and extremely flavorful treat served in a shallow bowl. It is freshly made from chickpeas and cooked till tender, then blended to perfection with tahini, garlic, lemon and a lot of flavors. A slick of olive oil to finish and this is the most fully dressed hummus you'll find in Los Angeles. Then there’s the pita that is freshly baked and fluffy but stiff enough to hold up against the weight of a generous helping of the spread. The dipping is a crucial part of the hummus-eating.

Our Hummus is freshly made several times a day with the highest quality ingredients. Served with pita and garnishes, it’s a substantial, soulful meal and will fill you up with creamy and delicious chick pea goodness. There is nothing that can make you satisfied than a fresh and delicious plate of hummus.  It’s good enough to be your whole meal, but you won’t want to miss out on our fantastic falafels or baba ganoush. This creamy spread completes our crispy falafel, and both are packed generously in a pita for a delicious sandwich.

If velvety and smooth hummus is what you crave, Habayit Israeli style restaurant in Los Angeles is the place for you. Our version of hummus is so rich and creamy that you’ll think it’s made with butter. We invite you to join us at Habayit for a unique, authentic Israeli food experience. Enjoy the benefits of healthy and undeniably delicious hummus in a wonderfully welcoming and relaxed environment at Habayit kosher catering restaurant in Los Angeles.

Which Santa Monica Restaurant Has The Best Israeli Kebabs?

Ask two Israelis where you can find the best kebabs in Israel and you are sure to get at least three opinions. Classic Israeli? Middle Eastern style with parsley and cumin? Go heavy on the garlic for a Romanian flavor? That’s without even debating if the best kebabs are found in Tel Aviv or Jaffa in the first place! We haven’t even discussed what the perfect sides are for kebabs (couscous and some chopped vegetables, obviously…anything else is heresy). Everyone has their opinions, but some things are certain: a great kebab will have the right mix of great meat, char, and flavor.

            The question of where to find the perfect in Santa Monica is much simpler to answer… Habayit Restaurant! Located at 11921 West Pico, Habayit offers up a variety of delicious American-Israeli cuisine. Blending both traditional Ashkenazi and Sephardic dishes, they cater to an eclectic palate. Classic falafel and hummus? Check. Babaghanush? Check. Grandma’s matzah ball soup? She would be offended if she knew how nice Habayit’s tastes.

Back to the kebabs. For the uninformed, Israeli kebabs are marinated, juicyminced meat patties which are roasted on an open grill.The kebabs are placed on the grill and the fat oozes from the meat as it cooked, causing it to blend well with the sauce and vegetables.At Habayit restaurant, cooking is an art, and they pamper the kebabs with the utmost care. Making use of quality herbs and spices (the recipe is a secret!), delicious kebabs await you. Habayit always makes sure there is a regal vibe with their kebabs that leaves a strong impression on our customer’s taste buds. Incredibly juicy Kosher meat is used for the preparation of the kebabs. It is through this delightful food that they win over their customer’s hearts.

If after a day at the beach or during a short workday lunch you hunger for something fresh, fast and different, pop by Habayit for delicious Israeli kebabs.To enjoy it like a local, you’ll need to smear some Israeli salad onto pita bread, add a little kebab meat, roll it up and munch!So bring your appetite and experience the heavenly kebabs from Habayit Kosher delivery restaurant in Los Angeles.

Habayit Restaurant, located on 11921 West Pico Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 900064 offers authentic American Israeli food. Dine in, takeout, and catering are all available. For the latest special offers call (310) 479 - 7173

Tehina – The Core Of Israeli Cuisines!

If you love hummus, then you will surely love Tehina (also called as Tahini) -- a creamy, nutty paste made from ground sesame seeds. Tehina is an ancient Middle Eastern paste or butter that made from toasted ground sesame seeds which is perhaps comparable to the peanut butter, but without sugar. It's extremely versatile and can be used in cooking sweet and savory dishes. Simple and perfect, it’s a staple in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine, and you’ll find it in most of the Habayit’s dishes.

One of the most common uses of Tehina is mixing it with pureed chickpeas to make the Middle Eastern dip hummus, one of Israel’s most celebrated foods and Habayit’s local favorites. Tehina gives that tempting, smooth texture to the chickpea based dip Hummus. But Tehina isn't just an ingredient in a dip. This creamy paste is much more than a background flavor. It stands on its own as a salad dressing, marinade and even as a cooking sauce for meat. It can be consumed with vegetables, on bread or crackers, or used as a dip for a variety of other food items depending on your preference.

Tehina is an essential constituent of Israeli cooking and being one of the best Israeli style restaurants in Santa Monica, Habayit uses Tehina in most of the cuisines. In Habayit kosher restaurant, Tehina is often served in the form of a blended Tehina sauce, which includes mixing Tehina with lemon juice, water, salt, and garlic. It’s rich, creamy, perfectly smooth, nutty and tangy flavor helps to balance spice or add a savory edge to the cuisines. Its subtle garlic flavor enhances the toasted sesame flavor and creates a flavor profile that pairs well with all sorts of Mediterranean dishes.

Tehina is a versatile paste, and can be used as a topping, side dish, sauce, spread, or appetizer for a variety of dishes. It is tasty, low-fat, and can be mixed with other ingredients to create unique, zesty dressings. Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine often includes Tehina on the side as a dipping sauce for meat dishes such as grilled chicken. It can also be drizzled over sandwiches such as shawarma or barbecued meat. It is also a major component in baba ghanoush, and can also be turned into a variety of sauces that can be enjoyed with falafels, roasted eggplant and other vegetables.

More than simply a substitute to peanut butter, Tehina is a crucial element in many cuisines we are probably eating without even knowing it. We have always known Tehina as an ingredient of hummus. But a variety of recipes exist using Tehina as a main component. It can be used by itself as a sauce or mix it with other ingredients to make other sauces and dishes.  A good Tehina sauce is like a light whipped cream which can be served alongside a kosher meat meal as a dairy-free alternative to cream sauce. You can make your dishes irresistibly creamy by adding Tehina.

Tehina is one of those super foods that are both incredibly versatile and nutritious is rich in minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium. With sesame flavor and a texture like peanut butter, this versatile paste gives a creamy twist to dressings, dips and desserts. Are you looking for a creamier nutty spread but staying away from dairy products? Then Tehina will be absolutely perfect for you! Visit Habayit Jewish style restaurant in Santa Monica to know the taste of real Middle Eastern Tehina!

Shawarma – The Ultimate On-The-Go Meal!

Shawarma is a classic Middle Eastern fast food and ultimate on-the-go meal. A good shawarma is the best thing you will ever eat. Perfecting shawarma is an art that Habayit kosher restaurant in SantaMonica have mastered.  This is a finger-licking delicious quick treat with thinly sliced meat, wrapped in pita bread with veggies and sauce. It is served with a huge selection of salads from around the globe. The tastes and textures of Shawarma are extraordinary and can become quite addicting.

Shawarma is a street food found not only in Israel but all over the Middle East. The most popular fast foods of Israel are by far falafel and shawarma. Both are served in either pita or lafa and with a variety of salads and dips, resulting in the perfect bite of food. Shawarma, a uniquely Israeli street dish is served with variety of salads and sauces and can be eaten on a plate, wrap or sandwich.

Shawarma, the delicious Israeli fast food is made by piling up the spiced meat on a rotating vertical spit. This allows the flavors to drip from top to bottom and makes the meat moist and tasty. It is slow roasted as it rotates for hours on end. The dripping fat bastes the meat below it. The crispy slices of meat are stuffed into pita bread with fresh vegetables, pickles, and tahini sauce. This healthful, filling, tasty whole meal, in a single sandwich is surely going to knock your socks off.

The Incredible Shawarma at Habayit kosherrestaurant is made by impaling layers of meat on an oversize spit with a flat base and roasting the meat in an upright rotisserie. Marinated in spices including cardamom and cinnamon, exterior layer of meat which is dripping with spices and flavor is sliced off the rotating shawarma. The heat creates a crunchy, juicy bite of meat which is then laid in a piece of warm, fresh pita or a laffa (a thick, flat bread wrap that is larger than a regular pita) along with various spreads, sauces and vegetables.

Once the roasted meat is sliced off, a layer of meat, not yet exposed to heat is revealed which is then rotated around the heat source till it’s perfectly roasted. If it’s not quite crisp, it can be thrown onto the flat-top for a minute or two. The result will be a mix of crispy and moist shreds of meat that are full of both flavor and texture. It is then ready for the next individual purchasing a quick bite of Middle Eastern goodness. The best shawarma will be sliced straight from the spit.

Our customers are a big fan of shawarma wrapped in pita, drizzled with tahini, with a touch of hummus, fried onions and Israeli salad. The combination of hot grilled juicy meat inside pita, together with the Israeli salad is energizing and finger-licking. Visit Habayit Jewishrestaurant in Santa Monica and enjoy the Mediterranean goodness with our delicious Israeli shawarma.

Have A Middle Eastern Feast With Magadra – A Signature Dish

Let us introduce you to another typical Israeli dish - Magadra which is popular throughout neighboring countries as well. Magadra, a simple and comforting dish made with rice and lentils, is popular all through out the Arab world. This authentically traditional Israeli lentil dish is also sometimes written as mujadarra, mujadara, magadra or mejadra. Call it whatever you like, this healthy comfort food has been pleasing palates and filling bellies since Biblical times.

This traditional, classic dish is a combination of rice, lentils, and onions, where the rice and lentils are steamed together with spices before adding freshly fried crunchy onions. The main flavor comes from caramelized onions, fried to the point of golden brown. This gives the rice a beautiful depth, both in color and taste. The awesome combination of freshly cooked rice, Middle Eastern spices, lentils and caramelized onions is as comforting as it can be. Who knew such simple ingredients could taste so dynamic?

Magadra is virtually no oil vegan Middle Eastern feast which is filled with rich flavors and history. It is a great supplement for a big Mediterranean meal, or a meal by its own as it’s full of proteins and delicious. It can be enjoyed on its own, or as a comforting side of falafel. It is a hearty vegan option. Magadra works for pretty much everyone – It is filling, tasty, versatile, healthy and cheap–that it’s a wonder we do not eat them every day. They’re high in calcium, potassium, zinc, niacin and vitamin K and even higher in protein, iron, folate and dietary fiber.

This signature Middle Eastern dish of lentils and rice garnished with crunchy onions is known more as “poor man’s food,” or peasant food because of its cheap and staple ingredients. But don’t underestimate this dish: the caramelized onions and the hint of cumin give the Magadra a strong wholesome flavor and once you start eating it, you cannot stop. You will love the warmth this dish brings to your body. Complex in history and culture, this cuisine exudes charm in its simplicity and authenticity of ingredients and preparation. It’s yummy, filling, and good for you.

This uncomplicated concoction of spiced lentils and rice, most often served with a generous swirl of tahini sauce and a topping of fried onions, is an all time favorite of Israeli people. It also figures prominently on the menu at Habayit. A heavily spiced blend of lentils, rice, and fried onions is a perfect bowl of comfort food. This time when you visit Habayit kosher restaurant in Los Angeles, wolf into a bowl of Mujadara - a complete one-dish meal of rice and lentils gently flavored with sweet and earthy spices like cinnamon and cumin and topped with crispy fried onions. This classic, simple and delicious Middle Eastern rice and lentil dish can be both a satisfying and complete one-dish main course.

It can be daunting to look at a menu filled with words that you’ve never seen before, but most of us love to try new dishes from time to time.  Habayit kosher restaurant offers a variety of American-Israeli cuisines featuring delicious spices, incredible flavors and fresh ingredients.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to try any of these kosher dishes before, learn about them first and get your mouth watering before making your way to Habayit Israeli style restaurant in SantaMonica!

Experience the ultimate “Israeli schnitzel” at Habayit!

Schnitzel was first brought to Israel by European immigrants in the late 19th century and since then it has become one of the popular street food of Israel. Schnitzel is so in demand these days that most of the restaurants have it on their menu, right next to falafel, shawarma and shakshuka. Tender on the inside, crunchy on the outside, this recipe is a winner all around. Although the Schnitzel is a dish that can be found on pretty much every restaurant menu, there are universes between a standard Israeli Schnitzel and one that’s prepared and cooked by an expert.

What is an Israeli SCHNITZEL?” Israeli schnitzel is the ultimate comfort kosher food which is fast and convenient. It’s nothing but a flattened piece of tenderized meat coated in flour, dipped in beaten eggs, covered in breadcrumbs, and finally pan-fried in oil. It was originally called Wiener Schnitzel, which is made from escalopes of veal coated with flour, eggs and breadcrumbs. The recipe evolved and people eventually started making chicken, fish and turkey schnitzel. These fried slices of meat have taken on different variety of forms in the current foodie world.

Schnitzel is known in different names in different countries, but they all use almost similar recipe: boneless, skinless meat is tenderized by pounding it into a thin cutlet, which is then breaded and deep fried or grilled. Most kosher restaurants shallow-fry their schnitzel, while some others boldly chucks them in the deep-fryer or grill instead. Cooked slowly in a wide enough skillet, the breadcrumbs crust will be golden and crispy by the time the chicken is cooked through. It makes them super crisp.

The key is well-seasoned bread crumbs, perked up with a handful of za’atar, the ubiquitous Israeli spice blend, protecting the flavorful meat. You can also schnitzels tucked into a pita with that some salad, plus pickles, to eat out of hand. Chicken and tahini have a beautiful combination for each other. Adding tahini increases the richness of meat without overpowering its delicate flavor. The final result is a juicy slice of meat covered in a light, gratifyingly crunchy crust, making it completely reminiscent of Israeli street food.

Chicken Schnitzel is one of the best ways to cook chicken breasts. It’s more like chicken nuggets but way bigger and flatter. Many kosher restaurants toss sesame seeds and paprika into the chicken’s breading and stack the cutlets in pita sandwiches piled high with Israeli cucumber & tomato salad, hummus, hot sauce, tahini, and a generous heap of French fries.

These days, schnitzels are made using nearly any protein and are present in both fine dining and in cheap lunch spots; that the common word for boneless chicken breast has become simply, schnitzel. It forms a perfect pair for French fries and of course, kids love it. Try the ultimate Israeli Schnitzel from Habayit Jewish kosher restaurant in Santa Monica with a wedge of lemon & veggies, and you have yourself one incredibly delectable meal. Enjoy!