This light, but nourishing rice pudding is still a firm favourite in Turkish homes today, enjoyed not only as a delicious dessert but also as a satisfying comfort food.
Lemon Fondant
In Sephardic homes in Greece and Turkey this glossy white fondant is traditionally served as a symbol of purity at life-cycle events and on the New Year.
Orange Spanish Chiffon Cake
Pan d’Espanya, called pan esponjado in Ladino, our Judeo-Spanish language, is the iconic feather-light orange chiffon cake that has been made for generations by the Jews of Spain.
Marzipan Filled Pastries
Gizadas de masapan are marzipan filled baked star-shaped tartlets similar in taste to macaroons.
Almond-Semolina Cake Soaked in an Orange Blossom Syrup
Shamali, revani or basbousa is a luscious syrup-soaked almond-semolina cake popular throughout the East Mediterranean.
Piticas are crisp, thin, deep-fried pastries, drizzled generously with a warm honey syrup fragrant with orange-blossom water.
Milk & Fresh Orange Juice Pudding
This heavenly, delicate milk pudding fragrant with orange blossom water, is layered over a refreshing orange and cornstarch base.
Sesame Studded Biscuits
Most Sephardic households from Rhodes Island have a stash of crunchy pretzel shaped sesame- studded biscuits on hand.
Candied Orange Peel
Coiled strips of orange peel are poached in a fragrant citrus syrup. This glossy sweet treat is wonderful with your favourite ice cream or makes a divine dessert topping.
Almond Shortbread
Irresistible almond shortbread biscuits Polverones that the Jews from medieval Spain adopted for centuries.
Cinnamon & Sugar Coated Cookies
Biskotchos are slightly sweet cookies fragrant with fresh orange that are undoubtedly the most popular cookies in the Ottoman Sephardic home.
Almond Semolina Cake Soaked in a Honey-Citrus Syrup
Shamali is a luscious syrup-soaked almond and semolina cake that is popular throughout the east Mediterranean.