Tu B'Shevat [TOO bay shuh-VAHT] - the Jewish New Year of the Trees - began at sundown last night and continues through today. It is traditional to celebrate the holiday by having a tree planted in Israel; by eating a new fruit; or by holding a seder in which specific fruits are eaten in a particular order, along with the recitation of blessings.
It is also customary to enjoy dried fruits and nuts - such as figs, apricots, pecans, walnuts, etc. - although eating any type of fruit is a lovely way to acknowledge the beauty and bounty of trees.
According to MyJewishLearning.com: "The Bible expresses a great reverence for fruit trees as symbols of God's ... beneficence. Special laws were formulated to protect (them) in times of war and ensure that the produce of trees would not be picked until the trees were mature enough and tithes were given from them." Respect for trees and care for the environment are deeply ingrained in Judaism.
Just because the recipe for today's salad is ridiculously simple and only requires 4 ingredients, don't underestimate the impact of its taste! The brightness of the oranges, the sweetness of the dates, the tartness of the pomegranate molasses ... it's an intensely flavorful combination. And the almonds contribute a lovely crunch to contrast with the softness of the fruits.
In honor of Tu B'Shevat, you can serve the Orange, Date and Almond Salad featured below which showcases the glorious produce of trees. You could also offer some other dishes which feature a variety of delicious fruits and nuts, such as olives, lemons, cherries, chocolate, oranges, quince, bananas, hazelnuts, and more:
Braised Chicken Thighs in Lemony Olive Sauce
White Chocolate and Cherry Brownies
Lemon-Glazed Cherry Pasties
Chocolate Cherry Kugel
Zesty Lemon Spaghetti
Chocolate-Glazed Orange Cake
Quince-Glazed Baked Yams
Banana Nutella Cake
Triple Orange Brownies
Don't forget to read about my "Chopped" challenge: dare me to use ingredients you suggest, and I'll post about my creations! Click here for the terms ....
Orange, Date and Almond Salad
4 large oranges
3/4 cup pitted dates, chopped
1/3 cup almonds, lightly toasted, chopped
3 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
Cut the ends off the oranges, then stand them upright and slice off the peels. Turn the oranges on their sides and cut into thick slices, then place onto a serving dish.
Sprinkle the dates and almonds over the oranges.
Drizzle the pomegranate molasses over everything.
Serves 4.
2 comments:
I think people tend to equate simple with nothing special, but that is where they are so wrong... this salad if proof of that. I love that it only uses 4 ingredients! You get to actually taste all the true flavors :)
The simplest recipes are always my favorite. Not just because they are super easy but because they are the most delicious and easy to digest. This sounds to-die-for!
Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters
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