Six Eyal Shani recipes you must try at home
Inspired by the chef's dishes on "MasterChef: Dream Team," we revisited some of his most iconic recipes. From classic shakshuka to his legendary smashed potatoes, these dishes are easy to recreate in your own kitchen.
Earlier this week, the contestants of "MasterChef: Dream Team" were inspired by the chef and judge Eyal Shani.
"40 years ago was the moment I started cooking. I identified zero talent in myself for two years. I held services at 'Oceanus,' which was considered the best restaurant in the country. The orders would come in, I would jump and escape through the window to the mountains and return when the service was over," he joked about his journey, adding: "I came to the conclusion that the whole world is hidden in every raw material."
Just in time for the weekend, we revisited some of the chef's recipes that you simply must try for yourself.
Eyal Shani's Classic Shakshuka
Used to shakshuka loaded with spices and fried onions? The chef's recipe does the opposite: no unnecessary additions, only good, fresh tomatoes (preferably as many types as possible), garlic, spicy green pepper, olive oil, and eggs. Within half an hour, you will have a magnificent dish that anyone can prepare at home.
Eyal Shani's Focaccia
Good focaccia seems like something requiring a tabun oven and a lot of experience. However, Shani's recipe proves you can achieve a wonderful result in a home kitchen. Flour, yeast, and olive oil turn into an airy dough with browned edges. The proofing process takes time, but it is well worth the wait.
The Smashed Potato (Miznon style)
This is a signature dish of Shani's kitchen. You boil a potato, brown it in the oven, and fill it with sour cream, garlic, dill, and green onion. The fun part: you smash it with a rolling pin until it becomes a thin layer, meant to be eaten with a spoon.
Potato in Pita
At first glance, this might seem like a provocation—a carbohydrate inside a carbohydrate. Yet, it remains one of Shani's legendary dishes. It takes 15 minutes of work, 45 minutes in total, and is accessible to everyone.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower
This recipe reveals how little is needed for a great result. A single cauliflower is blanched in salt water, brushed with olive oil, and roasted until brown on the outside and soft on the inside. Four ingredients and less than an hour of your time.
Eyal Shani's French Toast
Perhaps this is the perfect Saturday breakfast? Simple ingredients turn into a complete experience. There are no complicated techniques, yet the dish feels far more sophisticated than the effort required to make it.
