Food Tourah – Vaera

January 23, 2025 in Food Tourah

Parshat Vaera – 14 parshiot down, only 40 more to go!

Vaera (I appeared) opens with G-d speaking to Moses and recalling his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. G-d acknowledges the “moaning” and suffering of the Israelites under their bondage in Egypt and promises to lead them to freedom. G-d sends Moses and Aaron to speak to Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave. God foretells that he will harden Pharoah’s heart so that He “may multiply [His] signs and marvels in the land of Egypt” [Exodus 7:3] In response to Pharaoh’s refusal to release the Israelites, G-d sends a series of plagues including water turned to blood, frogs, lice, death of wild animals, boils and hail.   With each plague Pharaoh begs for relief, but as soon as each plague relents, Pharaoh “hardens his heart”, refusing to let the Israelites go.

For this week’s Vaera-inspired menu, we began by looking for food that calls to mind the tears the Israelites must have shed through their suffering – enter Crying Tiger Beef! Use a vegetarian oyster sauce and a kosher fish sauce substitute, and you are good to go. Too complicated?  Any spicy dish that makes your eyes water will fit the bill – try Spicy Roasted Eggplant or any other heat-forward favorite that comes to mind.

Taking inspiration from the Nile running red, this  Red Pepper Soup is deliciously satisfying in the brutal cold of winter. And with all this talk of Pharaoh hardening his heart, we got a little nervous!  So just to be safe, how about these heart-healthy recipes from the American Heart Association:  Sriracha Glazed Chicken with Paprika Butternut Squash (another recipe that might induce tears!) or  Salmon with Honey-Balsamic Glaze?

And finally you might want to skip straight to dessert…Choose from these adorable Frog Cupcakes – use this recipe, or get creative and design your own – or celebrate God’s marvels with a batch of these Magic, Marvelous Memorable Cookies!

B’tayavon and Shabbat Shalom,
Alison (Baraf) & Sarah (Roark)

To read past installments of Food Tourah – Click Here.

For a more in-depth look at this week’s parsha, visit Sefaria.com.