skygiants | (no subject)

I had folks over for Purim festivities! After we'd efficiently knocked out about five batches of traditional-ish hamantaschen -- crowdsourced fillings included raspberry, blueberry, lingonberry, mixed-berry, and rhubarb jams, apple butter, lemon curd, nutella, speculoos, ginger preserves, and every combination of the above, occasionally with unsweetened dark chocolate mixed in -- we decided to get experimental and try something I had always wanted to attempt: SAVORY HAMANTASCHEN.

I suspected there was at least a 50% chance this would turn out to be a terrible idea but in fact it was an AMAZING idea, which I'm documenting in case anyone else wants to attempt it.

We started with standard hamantaschen dough, cut out about 2/3 of the sugar and the vanilla and orange juice, and added about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese, a dollop of olive oil, and a slew of herbs including rosemary, oregano, turmeric, paprika, and dry mustard. We also added extra flour and water on a guesstimation basis until the proportions/stiffness seemed approximately right.

For fillings, we started out by playing around with the apple butter, rhubarb jam, and a jar of onion jam I had lying around; then we got bolder and tried tomato sauce, cheddar cheese, mustard, and sriracha combos. Here's some of the pizzataschen, as documented by

genarti:

And here's one of the many plates of sweet hamantaschen:

As we folded many tiny circles into tiny triangles, I subjected my guests to the worst Purim films we could find streaming: Purim: The Lot,, a surprisingly gory animated movie narrated by Esther's slave girl(??) which inexplicably detours in the middle to the story of Samson(???), and Esther and the King, in which Esther is played by JOAN COLLINS and caught in a LOVE TRIANGLE between AHASUEROS and SIMON THE NICE JEWISH BOY, neither of whom wear pants ever at all. To be fair, I'm pretty sure 'good Purim movies' are not a thing that currently exist.

While I'm talking about Jewish stuff: my Yiddish classes have started up again! I mention this because last week we watched this music video in class, after learning the original 1930s Yiddish song on which it was based, and I've now watched it like 10 times since:

Watch on YouTube

Apparently Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird are a RADICAL KLEZMER CABARET PUNK BAND and I'm ... really into it ...... (Daniel Kahn is also the guy who did the Yiddish version of Hallelujah, which was making the rounds a little while back.)

(Also, have I mentioned here yet how much I love my Yiddish classes and the adorable leftie socialist Jewish organization that hosts them? They are having a "radical Purim extravaganza" tonight and the only reason I'm not there is because I already ate enough home-baked hamantaschen to sink a freighter. HAPPY ONCOMING PURIM TO ALL.)

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alias_sqbr

You should use turkey ham then they'd be ham 'n taschen!

(I'm sorry. That is a good song, happy Purim :))

sovay

ashnistrike

This sounds like the most amazing Purim celebration ever.

lovepeaceohana

Those look amazingly delicious and yay for experimenting with savory versions! :D Happy Purim!

monanotlisa

"how much I love my Yiddish classes and the adorable leftie socialist Jewish organization that hosts them"

Heh. Go you. Happy oncoming Purim!

thistleingrey

I'm just happy that Yiddish classes exist.

I had not heard of Daniel Kahn and the Painted Bird, nor have I watched the clip yet because Reason is reading on the floor behind me, but I like the sound of the clip and there appears to be more on Spotify. Thanks.