Rosh Hashanah is drawing close, so we thought we’d share with you a recipe sure to bring sweetness into your life this New Year – Teiglach!
Teiglach, or pastry nuggets cooked in honey, are a classic Ashkenazi recipe popular around Rosh Hashanah, Purim and Sukkot. These little treats are extremely sweet, so enjoy them as a snack after dinner or during the day. Teiglach dates all the way back to Roman times, but fell out of popularity in the Middle Ages before appearing again in the 12th century. Nowadays it is particularly popular in Lithuania. Around the world, it’s customary for Jews to eat honey and other sweet foods on Rosh Hashanah to represent the hope of a sweet new year.
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp baking powder
A pinch of kosher salt
250g plain flour (plus extra to add if needed)
500g honey
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp ginger
50g dried fruit and/or nuts to garnish (walnuts, raisins, almonds, cranberries and apricots are good options. If you don’t eat nuts on Rosh Hashanah, feel free to substitute for extra fruit)
Steps:
1. Beat the eggs with the oil, baking powder and salt
2. Add the flour to the egg mixture and stir with a fork. Continue slowly adding more flour until you have a dough that is soft but still holds together
3. Knead by hand for 10 minutes and then wrap the dough in cling film and put it in the fridge for 90 minutes
4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into small pieces – approximately half an inch thick and half an inch wide
5. Put the honey in a pan and bring to the boil before adding the lemon and ginger
6. Drop the dough pieces into the honey mixture one by one, then reduce to a simmer and add the fruit and/or nuts
7. Simmer for 15 minutes until the dough is golden brown, stirring to ensure that all the dough, fruit and nuts are coated in syrup. If the mixture becomes too thick and sticky, add a little bit of water to thin it
8. Use a spoon to remove the pieces from the honey and let them cool for 5 minutes on an oiled tray, then spoon into muffin cases
9. Enjoy!