From Bar Mitzvahs to weddings, many events among Jewish families will require strictly kosher catering for delicious, carefree refreshment without compromising religious values. Kosher foods, as indicated by Jewish Halakhic law, are often much more complex than many outsiders realize.
A kosher diet involves much more than just avoiding pork and not mixing meat and milk, althoughboth play a part in it as well. The following information just touches the surface of what you need to know, but it is good beginning. Be sure to consult with an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi to learn all the laws.
To make sure that your catering performance is up to the standards of Jewish kosher guidelines, consider the following tips for doing it right:
- Meat and Dairy Must Never Mix. On multiple occasions, the Torah forbids the practice of “seething” a young goat “in its mother’s milk,” which is interpreted as avoiding the mixture of meat and dairy products at all times. For many Jews, adherence to this law involves more than just leaving cheese off of a hamburger. In fact, to abide by kosher laws, there must be separate sets of dishes, silverware, catering supplies, tablecloths, napkins, placemats and even storage areas for each food item. These two groups of foods must never come in contact during the preparation or clean up processes as well.
Jewish law even prohibits cleaning separate meat and dairy eating devices in the same areas. If you intend on catering an event with a prominent Jewish population, it’s typically advised to bring a second set of all eating materials (dishes, utensils, and so on) that are preferably distinguished from the first set to prevent confusion.
- Pay Attention to Preparation Methods. When catering for a Jewish event, preparation methods play a large role in whether or not the food can be considered kosher and thus acceptable to the guests in attendance. Some prohibitions are more or less a given– for example, diseased meat or meat that has been used in service of an idol are forbidden. However, some lesser known rules also apply, including a restriction on eating animals that have died of natural causes, animals that have been “torn by beasts,” or animals that have not been properly slaughtered according to Jewish law.
Modern Orthodox Jews are even opposed to the preparation of certain food items (such as wine, select cooked items, and even dairy products) that are not prepared by other Jews and approved by a Rabbi. However, conservative Jews tend to take a more lenient approach, allowing the consumption of wine under the condition that it is manufactured by an automated process, rather than by those who aren’t Jewish.
- Must-Have Kosher Foods. Although these basic guidelines will help you get started in preparing for catering a Jewish event, it’s recommended that you read further into the restrictions of a kosher diet to make sure your foods are meeting the standards of Jewish Law. The use of different catering supplies and kitchen utensils is only a prerequisite! Not taken as seriously as kosher restrictions, however; the following recipes would practically be a sin to not include in your catering menu.
- Babka: A delicious dessert cake, Babka will satisfy any sweet tooth while adhering to kosher guidelines. The dessert originates from Russia, Poland and Belarus, and is essentially a loaf of challah bread filled with chocolate for a scrumptious after-dinner treat.
- Chicken Garlic Bites: For this simple recipe, simply cut two boneless, skinless chicken breasts into pieces and marinate in a mixture of olive oil, garlic and black pepper. Substitute bread crumbs for matzoh meal, add cayenne, and coat the chicken in the mixture. Bake for 10 minutes at 475 degrees Fahrenheit and you have a delicious, kosher-friendly appetizer.
- Honey Ginger Grilled Salmon: A potential main course for the event, Honey Ginger Grilled Salmon involves first mixing all of the following ingredients into a bag: 1 teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/3 cup reduced sodium soy sauce, 1/3 cup orange juice, 1/4 cup honey, and 1 chopped green onion. Place 1 1/2 pounds of salmon filets in the bag and marinate. Grill for 12-15 minutes and enjoy!
Despite the dietary restrictions of Jewish Law, there are still plenty of delicious recipes to choose from that can make your catering a preferred choice for Jewish celebrations of all kinds.
