Shkedei marak

Today, the topic of Shkedei marak is of utmost importance and has captured the attention of millions of people around the world. Whether due to its impact on society, its relevance today or simply because of its fascinating history, Shkedei marak has managed to become a topic of constant debate. From its beginnings to its possible repercussions in the future, Shkedei marak has proven to be an exciting topic that deserves to be explored in depth. Throughout this article, we will delve into the different aspects of Shkedei marak, analyzing its origins, evolution and possible future scenarios.

Shkedei marak
Shkedei marak
Alternative namesSoup mandel
Place of originIsrael
Main ingredientsFlour, palm oil

Shkedei marak (Hebrew: שקדי מרק, lit. 'soup almonds'), known as mandlakh (Yiddish: מאַנדלאַך or מאַנדלעך, lit. 'little almonds') in Yiddish, or as "soup mandels" or "soup nuts" in the United States,[1][2] is an Israeli food product consisting of crisp mini crouton used as a soup accompaniment.[3] Shkedei marak are small yellow squares made from flour and palm oil. As a parve product, they can be used in either meat or cream soups. Despite the name, they contain no almonds.

Etymology

The word mandlach is the plural diminutive of mandel, which means "almond" in German and Yiddish. The word "shkedei" is the plural form of "shaked", which means "almond" in Hebrew, and "marak" is the Hebrew word for soup.

History

Although today shkedei marak are manufactured, they are based on the homemade crispy-fried squares of dough known as mandlach traditionally served with chicken soup by Ashkenazi Jews.

Marketing

For many years Osem was the exclusive manufacturer of shkedei marak in Israel, but today the product is also marketed by other food companies, such as Vita and Knorr.[4] Davidovich Bakery & Sons located near Haifa also produces and packages soup almonds under a variety of brand names.[5] Over the years, food companies have experimented with different shapes for shkedei marak, including stars, rings, and little fish.[6] In addition to their use in soups, shkedei marak are eaten plain as a snack food.

See also

References

  1. ^ Shkedei marak marketed as Soup Mandel in the U.S. Archived 2009-02-25 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ O'Leary, Joanna (2022-08-22). "Why Jews Are So Obsessed with Soup Nuts". MyJewishLearning.
  3. ^ Falafel Nation: Cuisine and the Making of National Identity in Israel, Yael Raviv
  4. ^ Shkedei marak: a new Knorr product
  5. ^ Davidovich Bakery & Sons Archived 2008-12-28 at the Wayback Machine: company web site
  6. ^ Fish-shaped mini mandels Archived 2009-02-21 at the Wayback Machine on Osem web site (type "mandel" in search field)