Are you entertaining guests with kosher needs soon? To prevent mishaps and awkward situations, here are a few tips to help you out.
Don’t Combine Dairy and Meat Products
Kosher laws dictate that meat and dairy products cannot be served at just one meal. This only means that it is not allowed to have these two food groups in the digestive system at any given time. As you go about planning meals, you can choose to serve poultry and meat cooked with vegetable oils and served with fish and sides of salads.
But several Jewish communities may have restrictions when it comes to raw vegetables that can be eaten. Be sure to check with your guests to know their preferences. Also, an important but simple rule of thumb here is to restrict serving dairy products to breakfast if you can serve eggs with bagels, bread, butter, and cream cheese.
Separate Non-Kosher and Kosher Foods
Remember that even if you have bought and prepared kosher food, combining it with non-kosher foods will just make the whole meal non-kosher. See to it that you take extra care in segregating the food.
Better yet, be sure to invite your guests over to your kitchen so they will be able to direct you on the necessary precautions you should take. A skilled eye will catch any mistake such as adding mayonnaise that contains dairy to a meat sandwich.
Segregate the Utensils
An important rule when it comes to kosher meals is the fact that you are not allowed to use the same utensils for prepping and cooking non-kosher foods and meals. Avoid opening food packages until you check with your guests regarding the utensils they are allowed to use. Ask ahead of time if they can use the cutlery and plates in your kitchen. If not, you can always buy disposable products.
You might also want to get a new knife, cutting and chopping mats, and some fresh sponges for washing down surfaces. Every time you open a package, transfer the food to the disposable plates or see if your guests want to eat straight from the trays that the food originally came in.
Vegan Products are Safe Enough to Choose
Choosing vegan ingredients would be a good option because these foods wouldn’t have any animal-based content. You can use olive oil and coconut oil for cooking in place of cream and butter. If you really need to add milk, consider substituting almond or coconut milk. You can replace cream with mashed avocados or coconut cream.
As for desserts and bread, ordering Passover trays and gifts from a certified caterer is also a great option. These are holiday treats that are great year-round. It is also safe enough to serve brownies, cookies, pie, and puddings.
When it comes to kosher dishes, you can try to prepare Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. Try dishes such as Chicken Shawarma, Hummus served with pita, Israeli Bean Soup, Moroccan Carrot Salad, Mujadara, and Pearl Couscous. You will probably find a whole bunch of recipes made almost completely with vegan options as well as ingredients that you can substitute easily with plant products. You might also want to look into meat substitutes free from gluten to make your regular dishes kosher-friendly and vegan at the same time!
Shopping from a kosher supermarket San Francisco is a whole new experience. Buy the kosher products you need and prepare the most delicious meals for your kosher guests.
