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Carrots are said to symbolize the hope of increased blessings for Jews in the coming year; here, they are drizzled with honey and roasted till tender and sweet, along with colorful and easy delicata squash.
The latter represents a desire for our merits to be recognized and outweigh the lesser aspects of our nature. String beans, fenugreek seeds and garlic play their part in the oven medley, too; the roasted cloves enrich the salad's vinaigrette
. The roasted bits are then tossed with fresh spinach, crisp apple slices and shredded beets (each with their own blessing). A bounty of pomegranate seeds emphasizes the many blessings we wish for.
The salad is hearty enough to serve on its own, but I have really enjoyed it in tandem with a slow-cooker brisket that's a new recipe for me (as in, Dinner in 420 Minutes, as my editor has dubbed it). The amount of meat is modest (family of four-size) and the recipe could hardly be simpler: Cut a few pounds' worth into large pieces and sear them, then toss them into the slow cooker with thin rounds of leeks (symbolic), dates and garlic (symbolic!) pomegranate molasses (ditto), a bit of water and a pinch of cayenne. This one-pot treatment can be done days in advance, overnight or during a day of prayerful contemplation.
The resulting sauce, left chunky or stick-blended to a puree, has a sweet sourness to it that tastes like a High Holidays brisket should. If you make it ahead, it can be covered and warm up along with the roasting vegetables.
The meal won't guarantee a prosperous and healthy New Year, but I can promise it will be satisfying and easy to prepare. And you don't have to celebrate Rosh Hashanah to enjoy it.
BRISKET WITH LEEKS AND POMEGRANATE MOLASSES
SERVINGS: 4 to 6
This is tailor-made for a modest-size holiday family meal. Cooking the brisket in the slow cooker or with the slow cooker setting on an Instant Pot allows the meat to become meltingly tender and pick up flavors from some ingredients that are symbolic for the Jewish New Year.
You'll need a 5 1/2- to 6-quart slow cooker (or equivalent). If you have an appliance that allows you to sear the meat as well, there's no need to do that step separately on the stove top.
Serve with challah.
MAKE AHEAD: The brisket tastes even better after a day's refrigeration. Cover with its sauce. Discard any congealed fat and reheat on the stove-top over medium-low heat, until warmed through.
Ingredients
• 6 to 8 medium leeks, dark green parts trimmed
• 2 1/2 to 3 pounds flat-cut beef brisket
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 1/2 cup pomegranate molasses, or more as needed
• 1/3 cup water
• 5 ounces pitted dates, coarsely chopped (generous 1 cup)
• 2 large cloves garlic
• Pinch ground cayenne pepper
• Pomegranate seeds (arils) (optional)
Steps
Cut the leeks crosswise into 1/2-inch thick rounds; submerge in a bowl of cold water and ice cubes for 15 to 30 minutes, then use a slotted spoon or your hands to lift them out of the water and drain.
Meanwhile, cut the brisket into 4 equal pieces. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
Pour 2 tablespoons of the oil into the slow cooker, then add the leeks; cover and turn on HIGH.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large, ovenproof skillet (preferably cast-iron or nonstick) over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the brisket pieces and brown on all sides, turning as needed.
Transfer to the slow cooker, then add the pomegranate molasses, water, dates, garlic and cayenne pepper; cover and reduce the heat to LOW. Cook for 6 to 7 hours, or until the brisket is quite tender. Check it about halfway through and reposition the pieces so that they are coated and close to submerged in the liquid.
Once the meat is done, transfer the pieces to a cutting board. Increase the heat to HIGH; if you'd like a non-chunky sauce, use an immersion (stick) blender to puree the slow cooker mixture until fairly smooth. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the sauce is slightly reduced. Taste and add salt and/or pepper and more pomegranate molasses, as needed.
Meanwhile, slice the meat as you wish and arrange it on a platter. Pour the sauce over the top; garnish with pomegranate seeds, if using. Serve warm.
Nutrition | Per serving (based on 6): 460 calories, 42 g protein, 36 g carbohydrates, 17 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 125 mg cholesterol, 240 mg sodium, 2 g dietary fiber, 28 g sugar
HONEYED CARROT SALAD WITH SQUASH AND ROASTED GARLIC VINAIGRETTE
SERVINGS: 4 to 6
Several foods that have symbolic meaning for the Jewish New Year - gourds, carrots, green beans, apples, honey, fenugreek seeds, garlic, spinach, fish, pomegranate seeds - come together in this colorful melange that tastes great warm or at room temperature.
MAKE AHEAD: The vegetables, minus the spinach, can be roasted a day in advance. Reheat in a 350-degree oven with the spinach on top so it crisps.
Ingredients
• 3 small delicata squash
• 1 bunch young small carrots, scrubbed well
• 3 or 4 fresh sage leaves
• Cloves from 1/2 head garlic (unpeeled)
• 2 tablespoons fenugreek seeds (may substitute 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek)
• 2 tablespoons plus 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt
• 1/3 cup mild honey
• 3 large Jonathan apples
• 1 bunch Chinese long beans (6 ounces; may substitute 8 ounces trimmed haricots verts)
• 3 small cooked beets
• 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
• 5 ounces baby spinach
• 2 or 3 sardines packed in olive oil, preferably Bela brand, drained (optional)
• Seeds from 1/2 pomegranate, for garnish
Steps
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Cut each squash in half lengthwise and discard the seeds and trimmed ends. Turn cut sides down and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch half moons. Transfer them to the baking sheet, along with the carrots, sage leaves (to taste), garlic and fenugreek seeds. Drizzle with the 2 tablespoons of oil and toss to coat evenly, then season lightly with salt. Drizzle with 1/4 cup of the honey. Roast (middle rack) for 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, core and cut the apples into thin slices; submerge in water or cover with a damp paper towel. Trim the beans and cut into bite-size lengths. Finely chop or shred the beets using the large-holed side of a box grater.
Toss the green beans into the roasted vegetable mixture in the oven, and stir with a fork to incorporate. Drizzle the remaining honey over the mixture. Roast for 5 to 10 minutes, until the carrots and squash look somewhat caramelized.
Remove the garlic from the roasted mixture, then squeeze the cloves into a medium bowl, discarding the skins. Add the remaining 4 tablespoons of oil, the vinegar and a pinch each of salt and pepper; whisk to form an emulsified vinaigrette, making sure the roasted garlic has thoroughly broken down.
Arrange the spinach leaves on a large platter, and drizzle a little of the vinaigrette over them, tossing to coat. Scatter the roasted vegetables, including the roasted fenugreek seeds, evenly over the spinach, then add the sliced apples, shredded beets and sardines, if using. Drizzle with half the remaining dressing.
Garnish with the pomegranate seeds just before serving. Pass the remaining dressing at the table.
Nutrition | Per serving (based on 6, using half the dressing): 290 calories, 4 g protein, 53 g carbohydrates, 10 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, 7 g dietary fiber, 35 g sugar
