The recipe I created this week is symbolic of Abraham’s journey and covenant with G‑d. Abraham is given five blessings and this dish has five vegetables that represent these blessings. The vegetables are cut into long ribbons, symbolizing our unique individual journeys.

There are ground nuts, symbolizing the “dust of the earth” mentioned in Lech Lecha, and there are two dipping sauces that are made from foods commonly eaten now in Israel (which is promised to Abraham in this week’s parsha): pomegranate molasses and tahini. Our journeys are not about the past, but the future, and placing dollops of each condiment on opposite ends of the lettuce represents where we started out, and where we can end up.

Ingredients:

  • 4 full pieces of lettuce
  • 1/2 yellow pepper, sliced length-wise
  • 4 individual scallions
  • 1/4 purple cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 green cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 carrot, peeled into strips
  • 1 handful almonds, finely chopped
  • 1/5 cup pomegranate molasses
  • 2 tbsp. tahini paste
  • lemon juice
  • small pinch of salt

Directions:

  1. Wash all vegetables. Peel and slice.
  2. On a platter, arrange the lettuce leaves in the corners and the vegetables lengthwise in the center, along with the small bowl of ground nuts. Pour pomegranate molasses into a small bowl and place at one end of the platter.
  3. Place the tahini in a small bowl and slowly add cold water until it becomes thinner and lighter in color. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and small pinch of salt. Stir well. Place at opposite end of platter to pomegranate molasses.
  4. Each person can create their own wrap, by placing the vegetables lengthwise on an open piece of lettuce, sprinkling nuts, drizzling pomegranate molasses at the bottom of the vegetables and then tahini towards the top. Then, roll and wrap a strip of carrot to hold in place.


Reprinted with permission from Neesh Noosh.