Keftes (Sephardic) facts for kids

Keftes, also called Keftikes in Sephardic cooking, are like tasty patties, pancakes, or fritters. They are usually made with vegetables and other ingredients. It's important to know that Sephardic keftes are different from kofta, which are meatballs. Keftes might not have meat, but kofta always do.

Some keftes are eaten during holidays. This is because their ingredients or how they are cooked connect to that special day.

Types of Keftes

There are many kinds of keftes, each with different ingredients:

• Keftes de karne – These are patties made from ground beef.
• Keftes de espinaka or spinaka – These are made with healthy spinach.
• Keftes de lentejas – These are patties made from lentils.
• Keftes de gayina or Keftikes de poyo – These are chicken patties or croquettes.
• Keftes de patata kon karne – These combine potatoes and meat into patties.
• Keftes de pescado or pescada or pishkado – These are croquettes made with fish and mashed potatoes.
• Keftes de prasa or Keftes de puero – These are made with leeks.
• Keftes de prasa i karne – These are made with both leeks and meat.

Keftes for Holidays

Keftes de prasa (leek patties) are popular all year, especially during holidays.

Rosh Hashanah

Keftikes de prassa or keftes de prasa i karne are also known as yehi rasones. This Hebrew phrase means "May it be Your Will." Leeks are a special food eaten on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. They are part of a special meal, sometimes called a seder, on Rosh Hashanah. Eating leeks shows a special wish for good things to happen.

The reason leeks are symbolic comes from their Hebrew name, karti. This sounds like yikartu, which means "to be cut off." So, eating karti (leeks) is a wish that bad things or challenges for Jewish people will be "cut off" or go away.

Hanukkah

Keftes de prasa and other keftes are often eaten during Hanukkah. This is because they are usually fried in oil. Hanukkah celebrates a miracle involving oil, so many foods eaten during this holiday are oily. Keftes de prasa, especially those made without meat, are like pancakes and are perfect for being fried and soaking up oil, just like other Hanukkah treats.