Purim commemorates the story told in Megillat Esther, the Book of Esther. It relates the story of how the Jewish people were saved from Haman, advisor to King Ahasuerus in 5th century BCE Persia.. Haman’s plan was a genocide of all the Jews in the land. That plan was thwarted by Esther, the secretly Jewish wife of the king and Mordecai her uncle.. They were able to stand up to the king and prevent the execution of the Jewish people. But I think the main message is not only about saving the Jews from execution. It is also about how, even though G-d is not mentioned at all in Megillah Esther, He is still there. He is still orchestrating the unfolding events and guiding Esther and Mordecai in their mission to save the Jewish people.
Hamantashen are traditional pastries eaten on Purim. They are three-cornered pastries connected to Purim by representing Haman’s hat or his ears. A deeper meaning is that the filling hidden inside the pastry represents G-d hidden inside the Purim story.
Enjoy the recipe for hamantashen! A small tip for a new hamantashen baker is to spread the filling evenly across the center of the circle, and to pinch the corners tightly so that the filling stays contained. This helps the hamantashen hold their shape, makes them easier to transport, and allows you to share them with friends and family.
Happy Purim!
Make your own Hamantashen
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup oil
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
Filling Options
Jam, peanut butter, chocolate spread, pistachio spread, white lotus seed paste, golden lotus seed paste, red bean paste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 175°c and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mix together the wet ingredients: egg, oil, sugar and vanilla extract. Add the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt, and stir until a smooth dough is formed.
- Roll out the dough to around ¼ inch thick. Cut circles using a cookie cutter or a glass cup.
- Place 1 teaspoon of the filling in the center of the circles and pinch closed to form a triangle.
- Bake the hamantaschen for 10-12 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.