Kubaneh facts for kids
Traditional Yemenite Sabbath-bread
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| Alternative names | kubani, kubneh, kubane |
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| Type | Bread |
| Place of origin | Yemen & Israel |
| Created by | Yemenite Jews |
| Main ingredients | Flour, yeast, sugar, salt, water, butter or margarine, vegetable oil |
Kubaneh (pronounced koo-BAH-neh) is a special kind of bread. It comes from the Yemenite Jews, a Jewish community from Yemen. Today, it is very popular in Israel. People traditionally bake Kubaneh slowly overnight. They eat it for breakfast on Shabbat, which is the Jewish day of rest. It often comes with haminados, which are eggs baked in their shells. It can also be served with resek agvaniyot, a sauce made from grated tomatoes.
History of Kubaneh
A Jewish community lived in Yemen for thousands of years. In the 20th century, many Jewish people had to leave Yemen. This was because they faced unfair treatment and difficult times. Most of them moved to Israel to find a safe home. Only a very small group of Jews remains in Yemen today.
Traditionally, Yemenite Jews made their Kubaneh in different ways. On regular weekdays, they often used sorghum flour or cornmeal. But for Shabbat and holidays, they used wheat flour. Sometimes, they added sugar, honey, or black cumin to the dough.
The bread was baked in a greased pot. The pot was sealed tightly and cooked slowly overnight. People would eat the Kubaneh the next day while it was still warm. Many people especially liked the qaʻeh. This was the hard, oily bottom crust, known for its delicious taste. In colder months, some people would add sheep fat or other meat to the Kubaneh. This made it an extra special dish. It was sometimes given to women after they had a baby.
How Kubaneh is Made
Kubaneh is a bread that Yemenite Jews bake overnight. It is eaten for breakfast or brunch on Shabbat. This special bread has also become popular with many other people. It is baked slowly at a low temperature. It cooks in a container with a tight lid.
The main ingredients for Kubaneh are flour, sugar, salt, and butter or margarine. Sometimes, people cook eggs in their shells right in the same dish as the bread. These eggs are then served alongside the Kubaneh. The bread can be sprinkled with sugar. It is also often served with grated tomatoes. Other popular toppings include zhug (a spicy sauce), clarified butter, and hot pepper-garlic chutney.
Kubaneh in Popular Culture
Kubaneh was shown in a popular Israeli TV show called The Beauty and the Baker. The main character, Amos Dahari, is played by Aviv Alush. Aviv Alush himself has Yemenite and Tunisian Jewish family roots. In the show, Amos Dahari's family is also of Yemenite Jewish background. This helped to share the tradition of Kubaneh with many viewers.
