ESRA's Soups & Salads
Edited by Meira Applebaum, Joanne Grozovski, Freda Lanesman, Ann Moss, Leon Moss, and Ita Weiner
Gefen Publishing House, (2004)
ISBN: 9-6522-9332-6
Reviewed by Rochelle Caviness
ESRA's Soups & Salads is a wonderful cookbook that has been compiled by members of ESRA - English Speaking Residents Association. ESRA is a non-profit, Israeli organization that is run entirely by volunteers. Their mission is to provide cultural, social, educational, civic, and support programs for English speaking residents in Israel, as well as for the community in general. According to their website (www.esra.org.il), some of the varied programs that they run include Computer Centers for Immigrants, Crisis Welfare Assistance, Social Clubs for the Handicapped, and After School Centers.
The ESRA's Soups & Salads is a spiral bound cookbook that has been created as part of a fund-raising effort on behalf of ESRA. It includes recipes from not only 'regular' people, but also so from professional chefs and restaurants. For example, on page 107 you'll find a tasty recipe for Chicken Salad, from Wang's Grill at the Royal Beach Hotel in Eilat, which uses Chinese cabbage, sesame oil, and soy sauce to give it an Oriental zing.
Soups and salads can be an important component of any meal. They can also serve as the main dish. There are more than 200 recipes in this fabulous, and mouth-watering collection, and you are sure to find just the right recipe for any occasion. Best of all, these recipes are all easy, and quick to prepare!
The recipes in this book are all kosher and each is labeled with an M, D, or P denoting wether it is a meat dish, dairy dish, or if it is pareve. The directions on how to prepare these dishes are easy to follow, with important directions printed in bold type. In addition, the ingredients list for each recipe has metric measurements. You do not, however, have to know how to cook 'metric'. A handy list of equivalents (i.e., 1 oz = 30 gm), a list of abbreviations (i.e., gm = gram), and information on how to convert from grams to ounces (and back again) is located at the beginning of the book.
The recipes in this collection are divided into three sections: cold soups, hot soups, and salads. To tempt your taste buds, here is a sampling of what you will find in this marvelous collection.
Israeli Bean Soup
Chilled Asparagus & Leek Soup
Pumpkin Soup with Honey & Cloves
Thai Butternut & Sweet Potato Soup
Potato & Farfel Soup
Apple Pie Pasta Salad
Beef & Pepper Salad
Couscous Salad with Pine Nuts & Herbs
Red Bell Pepper & Spinach Salad
and, the most unusual combination I found in this cookbook - Broccoli & Orange Salad. This recipe calls for broccoli, oranges, tomatoes, onion, and basil served with a vinaigrette sauce. The combination of ingredients was so intriguing that this was one of the first recipes that I tried. I was pleasantly surprised at just how tasty and refreshing this salad is!
The ESRA's Soups & Salads cookbook is ideal for both experienced cooks, as well as for beginners. The recipes are easy to prepare, requiring minimal cooking experience. In addition, the range of recipes offered will provide experienced cooks with variety of savory dishes to incorporate into their menu planning. In short, this is a can't miss cookbook that will delight appetites of all ages.
