Vegan Ma’moul
Before I share a Purim recipe, I want to offer a few ways that you can help in Ukraine through food. Hamantaschen for Ukraine (“bakery solidarity for Ukraine”) has a list of bakeries across the US, EU and UK that are selling hamantaschen with proceeds going to a Polish relief organization supporting Ukrainian refugees. Bake for Ukraine has all of the tools for you to host a bake sale to provide funds to help Ukraine. Cook for Ukraine has raised a few hundred thousand dollars for Ukrainian relief through people’s DIY meals and bake sales. Last, World Central Kitchen has already provided over 2 million meals to people in Ukraine and surrounding countries like Poland, Moldova and Hungary. Click here to learn more about how you can support WCK.
Vegan ma’moul
The recipe I’m sharing for Purim is not hamantaschen (scroll down for my previous Purim recipes, including hamantaschen). I love preparing mishloach manot and don’t feel that they always need to include hamantaschen (people will always have enough hamantaschen). Rather, this is “Rachel’s ma’amoul”. Rachel was a Syrian immigrant to Israel and her recipe was passed down through her family and her family has shared it with me. Ma’amoul is a Middle Eastern pastry of flaky dumpling-style cookies stuffed with a walnut mixture. The cookies are delicate, light and gentle in flavor and texture–they don’t require much sugar and work well with vegan butter They’re delicious on their own or with a cup of tea.
Ingredients:
Dough
1 cup semolina flour
1 cup white flour
1 cup vegan butter, room temperature, cut into cubes
1 tsp orange blossom water
Filling
2 cups minced walnuts
2-3 tbsps confectionary sugar
1/2 tsp orange blossom water
Optional: a few ground cloves
The four stages of preparing the cookies
Preparation
1. Dough: Mix the flours together, then add the orange blossom water and butter. Mix well until it starts to take shape. If crumbly, add a bit of cold water. When it becomes a soft round ball, cover it and put it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
2. To make the filling: mix together thoroughly all of the filling ingredients in a food processor or blender until the walnuts are fine like coarse sand.
3. Pre-heat the oven to 375 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Take about 1 tbsp of filling and roll it into a ball in your hand. Then shape it into a flat bowl and add about 1 tsp of dough. Then shape it into a Hershey kiss shape and lightly poke it with a fork all over, though not letting it pierce through the dough. Place on the baking sheet.
4. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with confectioners sugar. Let cool and then enjoy!
Vegan tahini hamantaschen
Click here for my previous Purim recipes
Tahini orange cake
Tahini hamantaschen
Truffles
Stuffed Dates
Purim sameach!