Lokshen

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Lokshen
Alternative namesJewish egg noodles, itriyot, lockshen, locshen, lokshyn, lockshen noodles
Type
matzo meal, rice flour, spelt flour
VariationsFarfel

Lokshen (

tuna noodle casserole
, and both sweet and savory lokshen kugels.

History

"Jews eat lots of lokshen on Shabbat because noodles are symbolic of the unity of the people of Israel: They are so tangled that they can never be separated."
— 
Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz[1]

Origins

Noodles are mentioned in the

French Jews of Provence which had a notable population in the 12th century CE. Mizrahi Jews also had numerous noodle varieties of their own during the first millennium as well.[5]

Early history

The definitive Ashkenazi noodle, lokshen, was the confluence of both Central Asian and Provençal by way of Germany influences.[5] According to Jewish food historian Rabbi Gil Marks, lokshen noodles were first made sometime around the 13th century.[6]

Modern history

In

Judeo-Arabic itriyot, a word which slowly overtook lokshen in the Hebrew lexicon and by which they are still known by today.[7]

Overview

Brands

There are many brands of lokshen around the world. Common North American brands include Manischewitz, No Yolks, Gefen, Kemach,[8] Heimishe,[8] and Greenblatt's. Israeli brands of lokshen (more commonly known as itriyot) include Osem and Meshubach. British brands of lokshen include Kleinblatt's Pure Egg and Sova Foods. Some European brands of lokshen such as Sova Foods sell their lokshen noodles in a in individual "nests", similar to Chinese noodles.[9] There are also various private-label brands offering lokshen.

Types

Extra fine

Extra fine lokshen consist of very fine noodles similar in thickness to

matzo ball soup
, and other Jewish soups.

Fine

Fine lokshen are similar to extra fine, however they are slightly thicker and are more similar in thickness to vermicelli or

angel hair pasta, though they sometimes are thicker than the aforementioned varieties. Like extra fine lokshen, these are typically used in various soups, however many people also use them in various lokshen kugels as the fine texture of the lokshen noodles creates a more dense consistency in kugel.[10]

Medium

Medium lokshen are much thicker than fine egg noodles, and are somewhat similar to pappardelle or Chinese egg noodles, though medium egg noodles have a somewhat richer flavor due to the liberal amount of egg yolks traditionally used in their production. When boiled, medium lokshen are flat and are not wavy or curly like the varieties mentioned below. Medium Jewish egg noodles are mainly used to serve on their own dressed with a simple sauce or butter as a side dish, or they are used in a lokshen kugel, often sweet but sometimes savory varieties use medium lokshen as well.

Wide

Wide lokshen are the most-commonly found variety of lokshen, and unlike the aforementioned varieties of lokshen; wide lokshen are somewhat curly and are not flat after cooking unlike medium lokshen. They are mainly used for

tuna noodle casserole
. They are favored by some for use in noodle kugel as their width and curly texture allow the cheese or whatever accompaniment within the kugel to remain distinct from the lokshen itself and not become one contiguous dense mass, which some people prefer. Medium and fine lokshen often absorb more of the kugel batter and make more dense kugels.

Extra-wide

Extra-wide lokshen are more curly than wide lokshen, and are somewhat wider as well. These are less popular for use in lokshen kugel due to their broad width and curly shape, however they are sometimes used in lokshen kugel. These are most commonly served as a side dish on their own or with a simple butter, margarine, or tomato-based sauce.

Broad

Broad lokshen are similar to extra-wide except they are even wider and curlier than extra-wide lokshen and as their name suggests are the broadest variety of lokshen.

Varnishkes

Varnishkes are a variety of lokshen that are similar in shape to

bow tie pasta, except there are differences in terms of their preparation as they are made with plain flour instead of semolina, and have a higher quantity of egg yolks as is typical of Jewish egg noodles. These are used in the Jewish dish kasha varnishkes, which consists of varnishkes that are prepared with buckwheat
kasha and caramelised onions.

Passover version

Various

Jewish law
.

Square

In the Jewish diaspora this shape is often called "egg flakes" and is sold by brands such as Gefen and Kleinblatt's.[11] It is most often used for soup or served to children with butter. There is an Israeli variety of square lokshen sold by brands such Meshubach, consisting of small square shape lokshen that is popular with children and for use in soups.[12]

Farfel

Farfel, a Jewish noodle similar to lokshen
Main article: Farfel

Farfel (

egg barley.[13]

In popular culture

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Tangled History of Noodle Kugel". My Jewish Learning. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds". British Library. Archived from the original on 23 December 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Itriya". Balashon. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Pasta 101".
  5. ^ a b Katz, Jonathan (21 April 2017). "Five Myths About Medieval Cuisines – and Jewish Foods and Books to Unlearn Them". Flavors of Diaspora. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  6. ^ Marks, Rabbi Gil. The Encyclopedia of Jewish Food.
  7. ^ a b Gilad, Elon. "Word of the Day / Lokshim". Ha'aretz. Ha'aretz. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Keimach Foods Catalog" (PDF). Keimach. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Wide Lokshen Nests". Sova Foods. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  10. ^ Lawson, Nigella. "Lokshen Pudding". Nigella. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  11. ^ "Gefen Egg Flakes". Kayco. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Square Lokshen". Sova Foods. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  13. ^ Nathan, Joan. Jewish Cooking in America, Knopf: New York. 1994 (Pp. 286-87)
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