In Jewish culinary tradition, breakfast recipes are often overlooked - unless it’s Yom Kippur. But, Shabbat breakfast or a slow Sunday morning brunch is an ideal way to start a weekend morning with friends or family. Whether it is New Year's day or the day after Purim or Simchat Torah a protein rich breakfast is in order. Fortunately, the kosher diet offers a tasty substitute for bacon.
Understanding Kosher Dietary Laws
Before diving into specific recipes, it's essential to understand the basics of keeping kosher. The kosher diet follows strict rules regarding permitted and prohibited foods and how they are prepared and consumed. Some key principles include:
- Separation of Meat and Dairy: Meat and dairy products cannot be cooked or eaten together. Separate utensils, cookware, and dishes must be used for each.
- Kosher Animals: Only specific animals are considered kosher, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and certain fowl and fish. These animals must be slaughtered in a specific manner (shechita) to be considered kosher.
- Prohibited Foods: Pork, shellfish, insects, and reptiles are among the animals not permitted in a kosher diet.
- Pareve Foods: Pareve foods are neutral and can be eaten with either meat or dairy. Examples include eggs, fruits, vegetables, and grains (provided they are prepared without meat or dairy ingredients).
Kosher Breakfast Staples
With these guidelines in mind, let's explore some delicious and satisfying kosher breakfast options:
Eggs: A Versatile Pareve Option
Eggs are kosher! It's a good thing because there a lot of kosher recipes that use eggs like Passover Chocolate Mousse Cake and Almond Flour Banana Muffins. Eggs are a great pareve source of protein and can be eaten alongside any number of kosher recipes. The one thing that you have to watch out for is a spot of blood in an egg or blood spots in eggs. This can render the egg treif or not kosher. An egg with blood is not kosher and should not be eaten. If this happens, there will be blood in the egg yolk. Do not try to salvage any part of the egg with blood, just throw it out.
Classic Kosher Bacon and Eggs: Fortunately, the kosher diet offers a tasty substitute for bacon in the form of something called beef fry. There are several national brands (as well as some local brands here in Chicago) that figured out how to use a similar curing process on fatty cuts of beef to produce a bacon substitute. Most major grocery stores that stock kosher meat products will have at least two varieties of beef fry to choose from. I always prefer it fresh cut from the deli but that is not always available. The national brands are pretty good too. Most of them come in a clear package and you want to make sure that the one you grab has the fattiest cuts you can find. Cooking kosher bacon and eggs is going to be a matter of personal preference. Some people like crispy beef fry and some like it a little less well done. Some like scrambled eggs and others like sunny side up or fried eggs. My suggestion is that when kosher beef fry and eggs hits the menu, become a short order cook and make each plate to order. This is not as difficult as it sounds since you can group similar orders together. Also, this is a very quick recipe so you can turn around orders very quickly. Garnish with orange or grapefruit (or both). The sweet fruits are such a great balance to the salty beef fry that your palette will never get bored. Heat the cast iron skillet or heavy bottomed pan on medium heat.Add the strips of beef fry to the ungreased pan. Make sure to lay them flat so as to get the most surface area possible in contact with the pan.Flip the beef fry strips after about 5 minutes. This is for medium/well beef fry. You can flip it a minute sooner or a minute later for less or more well done beef fry.Remove the pan from the heat after another 5 minutes (adjust your time by adding or subtracting the same amount of time as above). Carefully take the beef fry strips off of the pan with a pair of tongs. Lay the strips out on to a plate with a paper towel on it to absorb the excess grease.Return the pan to the flame at a low heat.Add eggs.
Read also: Understanding Kosher Meal Plans
Shakshuka: This Middle Eastern and North African dish features eggs poached in a flavorful tomato sauce with peppers, onions, and spices. It's a hearty and satisfying breakfast that can be customized with various vegetables and herbs. Here are some Shakshuka variations to try:
- The Best Shakshuka Recipe
- Green Bean Shakshuka topped with za'atar and harissa
- Lamb Shakshuka
- Beet, Kale & Goat Cheese Shakshuka!
- Shakshuka Puttanesca
- Caprese Shakshuka Breakfast Casserole!
- Green Shakshuka
- Shakshuka with Summer Squash and Goat Cheese
Omelets and Frittatas: These are excellent ways to use up leftover vegetables and add protein to your breakfast. Consider adding mushrooms, onions, spinach, or peppers to your omelet or frittata. Lox, Dill and Goat Cheese Yogurt Omelette are also a great option. My friend Czilas used to often make frittata as her go-to lunch.
Bread and Grains: Versatile and Filling
Bagels with Lox and Schmear: Bagels are a classic breakfast choice, especially when paired with lox (cured salmon) and cream cheese. For a kosher twist, use kosher cream cheese and ensure the lox is certified kosher. Here are some bagel variations to try:
- Break Fast Bagel Board
- Bagel and Lox Greek Yogurt Bowl
- Lox and Schmear Stuffed Everything Bagels
- Asiago Cheese and Truffle Salt Bagels
- Bagels, Lox and Schmear
- Everything Bagel Sufganiyot
- How to Make a Bagel and Lox Costume
- Bagel, Lox & Schmear Bite with Everything Bagel Dip
- Rainbow Bagels
Matzah Brei: A traditional Ashkenazi Jewish dish made with matzah (unleavened bread), eggs, and milk or water. It can be served sweet or savory.
- Cinnamon Roll Matzah Brei
- Lox and Horseradish Schmear Matzah Pizza
- Matzah Brei with Lox and Schmear
- Pizza Matzo Brei
- Dark Chocolate Coconut Banana Vegan Matzah Brei
- Cinnamon Apple Matzah Brei
- Avocado Matzah Toast
Challah French Toast: Use challah bread to make French toast for a delicious and satisfying breakfast. Top with fruit, syrup, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.
Read also: Examining Diet Pepsi's Kosher Status
- Cardamom Challah French Toast with Tahini Syrup and Halva
- Baileys Challah French Toast
- Cornflake-Crusted Banana and Nutella Stuffed Challah French Toast
Toast with Avocado and Toppings: Avocado toast is a popular and healthy breakfast option. Mash avocado on toast and top with everything bagel seasoning, za'atar roasted chickpeas, preserved lemons, or a fried egg.
- Apples and Honey Avocado Toast
- Avocado Bagel Toast with Za’atar Roasted Chickpeas and Preserved Lemons
- Tahini Rosewater Avocado Toast
- Smoked Salmon Avocado Tartine
- Avocado Matzah Toast
Dairy Delights (to be eaten separately from meat)
Yogurt Parfaits: Layer yogurt with granola, fruit, and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a quick and easy breakfast.
- Persimmon Yogurt Bowl
Blintzes: Thin pancakes filled with cheese or fruit, often served with sour cream or jam.
- Tzimmes Blintzes with Cardamom Yogurt SauceIt
- Caramelized Onion, Apple and Goat Cheese Blintzes
- Chive Cream Cheese Blintzes with Lox and a Poached Egg
- Blueberry Blintzes
- Coffee Blintzes
- Pumpkin Pie Blintzes
- Cheese Blintzes with Mixed Berry Sauce
- Goat Cheese and Zucchini Blintzes with Cilantro Cream Sauce
- Cheese Blintzes Casserole
Kugel: A baked pudding made with noodles or potatoes, cheese, and eggs. It can be sweet or savory.
- Blueberry Goat Cheese Kugel with Meyer Lemon Glaze
- Sweet Potato Kugel Parfait
Other Creative Kosher Breakfast Ideas
Latkes: Potato pancakes traditionally served during Hanukkah, but they can be enjoyed any time of year. Try topping them with sour cream, applesauce, or lox.
Read also: Similarities in Halal and Kosher
- Cheesy Breakfast Taco Latkes with Doña Sauce
- Israeli Breakfast Latkes with Homemade Schug
- Avocado Latkes Breakfast Tacos
- Potato Latkes Eggs Benedict
Tacos: This taco takes the best of breakfast and combines it into a cute little taco portion.
- Avocado Schnitzel Breakfast Tacos
Bowls: This savory power breakfast bowl is loaded with “good for you” proteins, vegetables, and fats, making it a really nutritious way to start off your day!
Smoothies: This is one of the easiest ways to boost your daily nutritional intake. It’s also a great way to add essential vitamins to the diet of your pickiest eaters (which kid doesn’t love a sweet, enticing smoothie?) and those who need breakfast on the run.
Recipes
Poached Figs with Orange, Cinnamon and Ginger:
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 cup water
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1-inch chunk peeled fresh ginger, coarsely chopped
- 2-inch piece of cinnamon stick, broken
- 2 2-inch strips orange peel
- 8-10 fresh green figs (cut in half if very large)
- ice cream, whipped cream, sorbet, optional
- Place the juice, water, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon stick and orange peel in a saucepan and bring the liquid to a boil. Stir to blend the liquids, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the figs and simmer for another 5-8 minutes, or until the figs are tender. Remove the pan from the heat and let the ingredients cool. Remove the figs from the pan and cut each in half (if not already cut). Set aside. Strain the ingredients in the pan. Discard the solid ingredients. Pour the liquid back into the pan and cook over high heat for 5-6 minutes or until the liquid is syrupy (the consistency of maple syrup). Let the syrup cool. Before serving, some of the fig halves in serving dishes, pour some poaching syrup on top. If desired, place some ice cream, whipped cream or sorbet on top.
Tips for Keeping Kosher at Breakfast
- Plan Ahead: Prepare ingredients in advance to save time in the morning.
- Read Labels Carefully: Always check labels to ensure that products are certified kosher and do not contain any non-kosher ingredients.
- Use Separate Utensils and Cookware: Designate separate utensils and cookware for meat and dairy to avoid cross-contamination.
- Be Mindful of Cross-Contamination: Be careful when preparing and serving food to avoid cross-contamination between meat and dairy.
- Get Creative: Don't be afraid to experiment with different flavors and ingredients to create your own delicious and kosher breakfast recipes.