Modern Jewish Comfort Food: 100 Fresh Recipes for Classic Dishes from Kugel to Kreplach

Determining just what constitutes comfort food in a community as diverse as the Jewish one could be a more than daunting task. But Sharon Sarna, creator of a Jewish food blog called The Nosher, begins instead by identifying 8 core cooking techniques that allow her to showcase ideas from many traditions.

To begin, there is of course chicken soup, with versions that range from classic matzah ball to a kosher-style ramen. Other techniques are stuffed vegetables, kugels (sweet and savory), shakshuka, schnitzel, meatballs, dumplings and pastries, and latkes. As a bonus, there's a hefty chapter on sweets and desserts that leans heavily on cookies.

If this seems as if it might be too familiar, consider Sarna's inclusion of Mexican-inspired shakshuka, chickpea and cauliflower "meatballs," Georgian khinkali meat dumplings with cilantro and smoked paprika, and corn and zucchini latkes.

Hardcover. Color photographs throughout.