Khubeza patties ( he, קציצות חוביזה) are fried patties made of
khubeza, a variety of a
mallow native to the
Levant
The Levant () is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is ...
region) combined with
bulgur
Bulgur (from tr, bulgur, itself from fa, بلغور, bolġur (bolghur)/balġur (balghur), groats ), also riffoth (from biblical he, ריפות, riffoth) and burghul (from ar, برغل, burġul ), is a cracked wheat dish found ...
,
pita crumbs, eggs, spices, garlic and onions.
History
During the
siege of Jerusalem, when convoys of food could not reach the city, residents of
Jerusalem
Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
went out to the fields to pick khubeza, a wild green which is high in iron and vitamins. The Jerusalem radio station Kol Hamagen broadcast instructions for cooking it. The broadcast, picked up in Jordan, convinced the Arabs that the Jews were dying of starvation and that victory was at hand.
Food writers in Israel have encouraged the population to prepare khubeza on
Israel Independence Day
Independence Day ( he, יום העצמאות ''Yom Ha'atzmaut'', lit. "Day of Independence") is the national day of Israel, commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948. The day is marked by official and unofficial ceremonies ...
.
Variations
Jew's mallow (molokhia) leaves can be used instead of khubeza.
See also
*
Israeli cuisine
Israeli cuisine ( he, המטבח הישראלי ) comprises both local dishes and dishes brought to Israel by Jews from the Diaspora. Since before the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and particularly since the late 1970s, an Israel ...
References
{{Jewish baked goods
Israeli cuisine
Culture of Jerusalem