Hosting Shabbat meals can be stressful. Even cooking for yourself or your family can be hard! No one has enough time or energy for the Shabbat meals of their dreams.
So here’s my best tip: the “bar” concept – a versatile and practical solution for your Shabbos meals!
(Keep reading for my easiest go-to Shabbat recipe! It takes 5 minutes or less.)
The beauty of the bar concept lies in its flexibility. Think salad bars, falafel bars, taco bars, burrito bars, or even burger bars. These setups allow guests to personalize their meals according to their preferences, dietary restrictions, or allergies. It’s an excellent way to cater to vegetarians, vegans, and those with specific food sensitivities without the need for separate dishes.
Diners love it, cooks love it. By providing a variety of toppings and ingredients, you’re essentially inviting your guests to participate in the meal preparation. This not only reduces your workload but also creates a fun, customized dish made just to your guest’s tastes.
The bar concept aligns perfectly with the idea of one-pot meals, which are ideal for Shabbat. These meals are typically easier to prepare and keep warm, making them practical for observant hosts who don’t cook on Shabbat. Whether you’re serving a hearty stew, a flavorful chili, or a warm soup, these dishes can form the base of your “bar,” with various toppings and sides available.
Ultimately, opting for a bar-style or one-pot meal for your Shabbat gathering simplifies the hosting process while ensuring that all your guests’ needs are met. It’s a win-win solution that allows you to focus more on the joy of sharing a meal and less on the stress of complex meal preparation.
Your turn! What’s your easiest go-to Shabbat meal?
Bonus! My Burrito Rice recipe that serves as an excellent base for a taco or burrito bar.
It’s dead simple. Mix together:
- Rice
- Beans/protein – I prefer black beans
- Salsa
- Optional additions
- Canned Rotel, drained (tomatoes and chilis)
- Taco seasoning spice mix
- Canned “Mexican corn” (corn and chilis)
- Second protein
- Literally anything else in your fridge or pantry that sounds good to you
- (I would recommend cheese being on the side but you could include it here.)
It’s a forgiving recipe. Start with your rice, then add other ingredients in small amounts until it “looks right” or tastes right. You can always add more to the rice, but it’s hard to take away.
It takes about 5 minutes of active work for me, over the course of a half hour. I put rice into the Instant Pot, then I put the cooked rice in a huge bowl and mix in the other ingredients. The key is that the rice should still be warm because it’ll solidify as it cools. Once it’s cooled, it’s nearly impossible to mix the other ingredients in evenly.
It reheats great, and it can easily last a week in your fridge. So make a big batch and eat it in several different ways over a week!
What can you make with it?
- Burrito
- Taco
- Taco salad (on a bed of greens, add crushed tortilla chips)
- Nachos
Bon appetite!
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