fritters with an orange glaze), keftes de espinaka (spinach patties), keftes de prasa (leek patties) and shamlias (fried pastry frills). Other specialities Almadrote—an oil, garlic and cheese sauce served with eggplant casserole Baba ghanoush—mashed cooked eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, various seasonings, and sometimes tahini Baklava—a layered dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey Börekitas—small borekas with eggplant, spinach and cheese Couscous—small steamed balls of crushed durum wheat semolina traditionally served with stew spooned on top Falafel—a deep-fried ball or patty-shaped fritter made from ground chickpeas, fava beans, or both Fazuelos—fried dough formed into a spiral shape Ful—a stew of cooked fava beans served with vegetable oil, cumin, and optionally with chopped parsley, garlic, onion, lemon juice, chili pepper and other vegetable, herb and spice ingredients Haminados—hard-boiled eggs braised over many hours, turning brown in the course of all-night cooking Halvah—a sweet sesame-based confection Holishkes—blanched cabbage leaves wrapped in a around minced meat and simmered in tomato sauce Hummus—a Middle-Eastern dip, spread, or savory dish made from cooked, mashed chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon juice, and garlic Kibbeh—dishes usually made by pounding bulgur wheat together with meat into a fine paste and forming it into balls with toasted pine nuts and spices Kubbana—a traditional Yemenite Jewish bread similar to monkey bread Lahoh—a spongy, pancake-like bread that originated from Yemen Ma'amoul—shortbread pastries filled with dates or nuts Malabi—a milk pudding whose basic ingredients are rice, sugar, rice flour and milk Matbucha—cooked tomatoes and roasted bell peppers seasoned with garlic and chili pepper Moroccan cigars—ground beef wrapped in dough Moussaka—an eggplant- and/or potato-based dish, often including ground meat Pastel di carne con masa fina Pescado frito—a traditional Shabbat fish dish (usually cod) for 16th-century Andalusian Jews of Spain and Portugal Sabich—a sandwich of pita or laffa bread stuffed with fried eggplant, hard-boiled eggs, salat katzutz, parsley, amba and tahini Sahlab—a hot milk-based winter drink with a pudding-like consistency, possibly containing powder from near-extinct orchids, sometimes garnished with nuts and cinnamon Shakshuka—eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, onion and garlic, commonly spiced with cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg Skhug—a hot sauce originating in Yemen Sofrito—a meat (lamb, beef, chicken) stew sautéed with potatoes, garlic, turmeric, and cardamom Tabbouleh—vegetarian salad made mostly of finely chopped parsley, with tomatoes, mint, onion, bulgur, and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice, salt and sweet