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What is Farfel?

By Giora Shimoni, About.com

Farfel

Farfel

Giora Shimoni
Definition: Farfel, a popular side dish in Jewish Ashkenazi cuisine, are small, pellet-shaped, egg noodles.

Noodle Farfel are made of flour. They are generally seasoned with salt and pepper, and are enjoyed as a side dish to a poultry or meat entree.

Matzo Farfel simply consists of matzo broken into small pieces. Matzo farfel is used as a bread substitute during the Passover holiday in kosher-for-Passover recipes, especially in oven-baked dishes.

At the Friday night Sabbath meal, the Baal Shem Tov, the father of Chassidut, would eat farfel. He explained that farfel is related to the Yiddish word farfallen which means done, over, finished. Whatever happened during the week or in the past is finished; Friday night is the time to put the past in the past, move on, begin anew. Thus began the custom to eat farfel during the Sabbath evening meal.
Pronunciation: far - ful
Common Misspellings: farfal
Examples:
My children want me to make farfel instead of rice for the Sabbath dinner.

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