Purim Foods around the World

This week, Jews around the world celebrate Purim, the festival commemorating our triumph over the wicked Haman. In much of the world, we eat the popular treat Hamentashen to symbolize our victory.

Here are some lesser-known Purim treats from around the world. Try some in your “Mishloach Manot” (the gift baskets Jews traditionally give one another on Purim), or try incorporating them in your meals this Purim for a special holiday feast!

Russian Kulich – A Special Purim Challah Bread

In Jewish communities in Russia, on , it was customary to bake long, sweet challah loaves that resemble ropes, to commemorate the rope that Haman wanted to hang the Jewish leader Mordechai on (and on which Haman was hanged instead)!

Special Purim Bread

Making breads with hard boiled eggs baked inside.

Caveos Di Aman, Purim Spaghetti

For many Jewish communities, pasta has long been considered a traditional Purim dish. Here is a traditional Bulgarian Purim meal; the name means “Haman’s Hair”.

Homemade Beef Kreplach

Served in soup or fried as a an appetizer, kreplach is a favorite Jewish staple.

Deblas

Debla means “Rose”. This delicious Purim dessert is famous among all the Sephardi Jews, but goes by different names. Whether you call them Hojuelas or fijuelas or deblas, they are all basically thin rolled dough that is fried and covered in a sweet honey like syrup.

Nanbrangi, Persian Poppy Seed Cookies

In many communities, seeds such as poppy seeds or sesame seeds are added to Purim delicacies, to symbolize “Haman’s fleas”. This delicate dessert, decorated with poppy seeds, is a traditional Persian Purim treat.

Simsemiyeh – Sesame Candy

Sesame seeds are a popular ingredient on Purim, when they are said to symbolize “Haman’s fleas”. This is a classic Syrian Jewish candy.

Haman’s Fingers

In Jewish communities from Greece and Turkey, Purim is celebrated by eating wicked Haman’s “fingers”. These fingers are similar to Moroccan cigars but made with sweet crushed nuts for a dessert cigar. Here’s a recipe for this rich pastry.

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