Info
- Course: Hors D'oeuvre, Snack
- Skill Level: Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Favorited: 4 Times
Can be made ahead of time.
Cheese Omelets
- + New List
Cookbook
Recipe
Ijeh b’Jibneh
Ijeh is a perfect hors d’oeuvre or luncheon dish. More eggs or some egg whites can be added to stretch the dish to feed more. Everybody loves ijeh!
Yield :
Serves 4 to 5 (1 to 1½ dozen omelets)
Ingredients
Ijeh:
- 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/3 cup finely chopped yellow onions
- 1 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
- Several grindings of black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
To fry and serve:
- 4 to 7 tablespoons vegetable oil
- One 12-ounce package (6 per package) pita bread or homemade pita bread, warmed in the toaster oven and cut into quarters
Directions
1. Place all the ijeh ingredients in a medium-size bowl and mix well.
2. Heat 4 tablespoons of the vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat for 30 to 45 seconds, reduce the heat to medium, and drop 1 tablespoon of the cheese mixture at a time into the hot oil. Fry 3 to 4 portions at a time. Watch the skillet carefully, as the ijeh fry rapidly. When the edges of the patties start to brown and curl, turn and fry until both sides are puffy and golden, about 1 minute. Remove immediately to a plate covered with paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining cheese mixture. Add more oil to the skillet during frying if necessary. (Any type of ijeh may be prepared in advance and set aside at this point. To reheat, place on a baking sheet or ovenproof plate, cover with aluminum foil, and place in a preheated 350°F oven until sizzling. Ijeh may also be fried, frozen, and then reheated while still frozen in the same manner.)
3. Have hot quarters of pita ready. Place the ijeh in the pockets and serve immediately.
Notes
“In 1945, San Nahem, a fellow S/Y, was a pitcher who had made it to major league baseball. He was being interview on the radio and was briefly asked about his Syrian-Jewish background. At the end of the interview, he was asked, ‘why don’t you wish your radio public in Syrian (Arabic) a Merry Christmas?’ Although Sam did grow up in the Syrian community, he didn’t know much about the language spoken by his relatives, much less how to say something to do with Christmas in Arabic. After a short pause he smiled and yelled out, ‘Ijeb b’jibneh!’ which meant ‘cheese omelet!’ All the friends, family, and community who had been listening fell over themselves in hysteria. Sam may not have known how to speak a word in Arabic, but he did know what was most important—the Syrian food!”–JOE BIJOU
© 2002 Jennifer Felicia Abadi
Nutritional Information
Nutrients per serving (% daily value)
This recipe serves 5. Nutritional information is based on using 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil, and does not include Pita Bread. For nutritional information on Pita Bread, please follow the link above.
232kcal (12%)
240mg (24%)
1mg (1%)
88mcg RAE (3%)
81mg
12mg
12g
1g
0g
2g
145mg (48%)
348mg (15%)
5g (26%)
20g (31%)
1mg (4%)
Would you like to leave a comment about this recipe?