I sure have some awesome neighbors always willing to help me with my brave food choices : )I can always count on them for help with cooking directions ,reading labels etc...So I am not afraid to try new stuff at the store...Just another example of the warm inviting Israeli hospitality . Haiya who lives next door promised she would show me how to make this Moroccan fish dish and when she does I will post it on the blog -I can't wait to learn how : ) I have had it and it is fantastic!!!!!!!!!

The food in Israel is limited, but healthy,simplistic, and light... One exception ! This dish

Malawach with Tomatoes (Resek Agvaniyot)

Malawach ...Ma' low 'ah is a Yemenite dish of fried pastry dough. It is absolutely yummy. You can buy Malawach in the freezer section at the grocery store in Israel .It's not as good as fresh Malawach, but yummy. Not to mention way easier to make ! The locals eat this many ways (my neighbor layers the pancakes with meat ) I like it the traditional way with a Mediterranean salsa
Basic dough ball recipe for Malawach
4 cups flour
2 tbsp oil
2 tbsp vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
2 cups water; or enough to make a soft dough
1/4 lb. butter at room temperature

Mix everything except the butter -knead a bit for smoothness. Let rest , covered, for 3 hrs. Divide dough into 8 pieces. Flatten out 1 piece to about 6 inches in diameter. Incorporate about 2 tsp of butter into dough circle, pushing and kneading it in but maintaining the circle Cut a line open form the center of the circle to the outside edge. Take one end and roll it around into a ball. Prepare all pieces of dough in the same

Flatten out the ball to about 10 inches in diameter to make a pancake that is not more than 1/4 inch thick Heat a skillet and melt more butter over moderate heat(I use oil) Fry pancake until brown and crisp, for about 5 min. on each side

Now for the easy part Resek Agvaniyot -Cut the tomatoes in half and grate them into a bowl,flesh side on the grater ( I had never heard of grating tomatoes before I started my Israeli food adventure,it works well) I used four


Add 1 Tbp. of spicy chile sauce. The secret to the tomatoes...I hope I can find these Yemenite ones in the states they are so good .Try your local Asian market, any variety will work

Almost everything in Israel is served with Cucumbers and Red peppers
I also made an Israeli corn salad with dill . Malawach is served with Givina ,but you could use sour cream. Gavina It is a local cheese that is amazing and low fat.It tastes nothing like sour cream or yogurt. It has its own taste -There are so many different kinds of white cheeses here that look the same but taste completely different!

Happy children!