Best 6 Joan Nathan Recipes

JOAN NATHAN'S MATZO BALL SOUP

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, schmaltz, stock, matzo meal, nutmeg, ginger and parsley. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Gently mix with a whisk or spoon. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours or overnight.
• To shape and cook the matzo balls, fill a wide, deep pan with lightly salted water and bring to a boil. With wet hands, take some of the mix and mold it into the size and shape of a Ping-Pong ball. Gently drop it into the boiling water, repeating until all the mix is used.
• Cover the pan, reduce heat to a lively simmer and cook matzo balls about 30 to 40 minutes for al dente, longer for light. If desired, the cooked matzo balls can be transferred to chicken or vegetable soup and served immediately. Alternatively, they may be placed on a baking sheet and frozen, then transferred to a freezer bag and kept frozen until a few hours before serving; reheat in chicken or vegetable soup or broth.

JOAN NATHAN'S CHOLENT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 225 degrees F. In a skillet saute chopped onions in oil until softened. Add meat and brown well.
• In an 8-quart casserole heat honey for a few minutes until lightly caramelized. Add rinsed, drained beans, barley, potatoes and the meat. Scatter garlic cloves around the meat. Dissolve salt, pepper and paprika in a cup of water and pour over meat. Add whole onion and bones. Add enough water to cover ingredients.
• Bring to a boil, cover with aluminum foil and lid and simmer 15 minutes. Transfer casserole to oven and cook overnight. The next morning, check casserole. If water still covers meat, uncover and cook until water evaporates to a thick sauce, about 2 hours. To serve, spoon onto a large platter, keeping each ingredient separate.

JOAN NATHAN'S HAROSETH

Steps:

• Grind the raisins and 1 1/2 cups of the almonds together in a meat grinder (see tip). Set aside in a bowl.
• Grate the apple into the raisins and almonds and add the cinnamon. Mix well to combine.
• Using your hands, press the mixture into 1-inch balls. Using the remaining almonds, press 1 into each haroseth. There will be lots of haroseth left over; serve in bowls at the table during Passover.

JOAN NATHAN'S FAVORITE BRISKET

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325. Place onions and garlic in a 5-6 quart casserole. Season brisket with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat oil over high heat and sear brisket until browned, 3-4 minutes on each side. Place fat-side-up on top of onions. Add tomatoes and their juice, breaking them up with a fork. Add wine, celery, bay leaf, thyme and rosemary. Cover casserole and bake for 3 hours, basting with pan juices every 1/2 hour.

ALSATIAN PEAR KUGEL WITH PRUNE COMPOTE (JOAN NATHAN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 F, and grease a 9-inch springform pan with 2 Tbs. of the oil. Peel pears and cut all but one of them into 1-inch cubes.
• Heat remaining 3 Tbs. of the oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Lightly sauté onions until they are translucent. Remove from heat, salt lightly and allow them to cool slightly.
• Soak bread for a few seconds in lukewarm water, and squeeze dry. Put in large bowl and, using wooden spoon or spatula, mix with 1⁄4 cup of the sugar and the butter or parve margarine. Stir in eggs, onions and half of the diced pears, setting aside remaining pears for the sauce.
• Pour batter into the springform pan, and bake for 1 1⁄2 to 1 3⁄4 hours.
• While the kugel is cooking, make the sauce. In a heavy saucepan set over medium-high heat, put 1 cup water, the remaining 1⁄2 cup sugar, the prunes, cinnamon, lemon juice and the remaining diced pears. Cook this compote mixture uncovered for 30 minutes.
• Finely grate the reserved whole pear and stir it into the cooked compote.
• When the kugel is done, remove from oven and set on a rack to cool for about 20 minutes. Unmold from the pan onto a serving platter, and spoon half of the compote over it. Serve the remaining compote on the side.

JOAN NATHAN'S ULTIMATE STUFFED CABBAGE

Steps:

• 1. Defrost the cabbage the night before cooking. When it is completely defrosted, separate the leaves. 2. To make the filling: In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, salt, pepper, eggs, rice, ketchup, and chopped onion; set aside. 3. Place 1 heaping tablespoon of the filling on each cabbage leaf. Tuck the ends in and roll up like a big cigar. Place them, open side down, in a 6-quart casserole. 4. To make the sauce: Cook onions with oil in a saucepan for a few minutes, then add the tomatoes, tomato paste, salt and pepper to taste, onions, ketchup, the juice of one lemon, brown sugar, and raisins. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 15 minutes, covered. 5. Pour the sauce over the cabbage. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for one hour and a half, and then uncover for an additional half hour, adding water if too dry. Taste for sweet and sour and, if needed, squeeze the juice of the remaining lemon over all. 6. Turn the stuffed cabbage rolls onto a serving platter, spoon the sauce over, and serve. This is even more delicious the second day.