A classic French preparation, Parisienne gnocchi (with spinach and poached egg), transformed by schmaltz. Photo by Donna Turner Ruhlman.
The Book of Schmaltz: Love Song to a Forgotten Fat is available today. And while I love the impact of schmaltz on classic Jewish dishes such at kreplach and helzel, I also love the new uses I’ve found for the much maligned fat—these Parisienne gnocchi, for instance, pâte à choux made with schmaltz instead of butter, boiled, then sautéed in schmaltz. Here’s a post on pâte à choux, or use this ratio to make as much or as little as you want.
Schmaltz, rendered chicken fat flavored with onion, is one of the great flavors and fats to use in cooking. It’s too good to be relegated to Jewish cuisine alone, though, I have to admit, there’s not a lot that can beat pure schmaltz spread on warm rye toast.
L’chaim!
Natalie Luffer Sztern
Schmaltz = Grieben.(in my younger years that meant simply onions fried to caramelization in Schmaltz.
Tori Avey
Mazel tov Michael!
Sarah Levine Simon
The odor of onions cooking in schmaltz never fails to comfort me. Glad to have it back at the table. I’ve been using duck fat in my chopped liver for many years but must return to chicken fat and all the memories it renders.
Susan Ericson
Kasha Varnishka’s made without schmaltz is just noodles and grain! Such flavor…so dangerous!
WENDYKWOODY
I LOVE BUY UR BOOK I JUST STORE IT WAS LOT MONEY IS ANYONE THAT LIKE BUY ME ONE PLEASE
WoodyKWendy
ME TOO WANT ONE SO BUY TWO PLEASE WITH LOTS OF PICHURES PRETTY
YITZ
MY ZAIDEH GD REST HIS SOUL, DROPPED DEAD AT THE AGE OF 63 FROM A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK AND FARSHTUPPTA ARTERIES FROM SHMALTZ ,IN EASTERN EUROPE ,A SHMEAR OF SHMALTZ KNOBEL(GARLIC)ON A SLICE OF BREAD WAS EATEN AT LEAST TWICE A DAY
alexis
yes, i too remember smalltz, just a smear on ryebread, or corn rye, it was excellent, or even some good pumpernickle… with a little tomatoe, or perhaps onion and some smoked white fish or herring… oy vey.. vas dat goot.
Ingrid Gordon
Grieben on good bread with some salt. Is there anything better? I always render out schmaltz when I roast a chicken. I’m a Hospice nurse and one thing I know if life is too short to not eat schmaltz.
Mike
No offering on Google Play, Kindle…wtf this is an electronic age.
Michael Landry
i pre-ordered this book for my Amazon Kindle on feb. 4 2013. Now I understand your change of mind about it’s kindle release, BUT why are us who have pre-ordered it being punished? I see it has a release date in the Itunes store, YET on Amazon it’s disappeared. I love your books and have read many(not all) of them. I just pre-ordered your Egg book on Amazon Kindle! I just want to know when I can enjoy this book.
Mitchell Gordon
Can’t wait to get my book Michael!
ken albala
Jesus, I should have seem this coming. Brilliant idea Ruhlman. As Usual.
Alessandra Rovati (DinnerInVenice)
Pure genius! Looking forward to receiving my copy….