Yid.dish: Ha + mohn + tashen (poppyseed filling)
Image by JCarrot
Why Poppyseed Hamentaschen Are The Only True Hamentaschen – I share this short formula from my father:
Mohn (poppy seed) + Taschen (pockets) = Mohntaschen (poppy seed pocket pastries)
- Ha (Hebrew definite article) = Hamohntaschen (Haman’s Pockets) or Purim poppy seed pocket pastries
Now, I LOVE poppy seed filling Hamentashen. And seeds are a traditional food for Purim because Esther is supposed to have eaten nuts and seeds during her fast. But I don’t love all of those ingredients you find when you use a can of poppy seed filing, nor do many of my friends. So, what’s a girl to do? Clearly the answer is, make my own! So I did.
The general idea is to
1) soak the poppy seeds overnight – I used about 5 tablespoons
2) blend them with a couple teaspoons of honey (I used some I brought back with me from Israel last Purim). I used my immersion blender for this step.
Then use them as you would any other Hamentashen filling! Pretty simple, no? Enjoy, and think of Esther.
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