Since I was too ill to cook the last night of Pesach, I made the meal for Shabbat. Luckily, I still had some matza for my dessert.
Dinner this evening was:
Carn Estofada amb Prunes i Patates (Catalan-Style Veal Stew with Prunes and Potatoes)
I used osso bucco instead of the recommended veal shoulder. As the dish was simmering away, my husband sneaked a taste of the sauce and moaned blissfully, “this dish should be in a museum.” Need I say more? This dish is outstanding. The flavors of chocolate, prunes, chili, cinnamon and orange zest marry into an amazingly complex sauce that just bursts on the palate. The crispy potatoes add the perfect texture to the dish. This is a very rich dish that should be served with a dry and assertive red wine, such as the one we had. In the absence of the Rioja, we drank, a good Cabernet Franc or Shiraz would do pretty well.
For dessert, I made a family recipe that I have never made for my husband. They are matza fritters and they are made in several different countries. The Dutch call them Gremshelish, the Italians call them Pizzarelle Con Giulebbe. My recipe is combination of the Italian version and the version my grandmother used to make from leftover Matza Shalet batter. She served it with a lemon custard. This custard is dairy, so if you keep more than one hour between eating meat and dairy, you can serve this with a non-dairy lemon sauce of your choice.
This was a big hit with my husband. The custard is very light and creamy and the fritters are also light, but should not be served with a rich meal like we had for Shabbat dinner. You should make a double or triple recipe of the custard for all of the fritters.
- 5 matzahs broken into small pieces
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds or pine nuts
- 3 egg yolks lightly beaten
- 2 egg whites
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 cup single cream half and half
- 2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
- 1-1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
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Place the matza pieces in a bowl of cold water and soak until soft but not falling apart, one to two minutes. Drain in a colander and squeeze out any excess water.
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In a large bowl, mix together the matza pieces, sugar, cinnamon, lemon rind, vanilla, salt, raisins, pine nuts and egg yolks.
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In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff but not dry. Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the matza mixture.
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In a large, heavy pot, on medium-high, heat at least 2 inches of oil. Drop heaping tablespoons of the matza as necessary, until they are a deep brown on all sides. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
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Serve warm or at room temperature, accompanied by the lemon custard.
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Whisk sugar and egg yolks in medium bowl to blend. Bring cream and lemon peel to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Slowly whisk the cream mixture into the yolk mixture. Return to saucepan. Stir over medium heat until custard thickens and leaves path on back of spoon when finger is drawn across, about 5 minutes (do not boil). Strain custard into bowl; discard solids. Whisk lemon juice and vanilla into custard. Chill until cold, about 3 hours. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover and keep refrigerated.)
These matza fritters look like they were absolutely worth the wait. I feel privileged to have the recipe and the story that goes with it. We are fortunate here to be able to get matza all year round so I will definitely try this recipe for a family gathering. And BTW, the veal dish looks amazing!!!! Well done!