New York, NY – As Passover approaches, home cooks are seeking inspiration for both traditional and modern meals. Melinda Strauss, a Jewish content creator and author, offers a solution with her cookbook, “Eat Jewish: Over 100 Recipes That Blend Jewish Heritage, Modern Flavors, and Family Traditions.”

From Facebook Album to Bestselling Cookbook

Strauss, also known as “Jewish TikTok Mom,” began sharing recipes online after having her second child. What started as a Facebook album quickly evolved into a popular blog, Kitchen Tested, and eventually a thriving TikTok presence with nearly 2 million followers. “It went very quickly from that to my friends saying, ‘You should start a blog,’” she recalled.

A Focus on Jewish Education Through Food

Strauss’s online platform shifted towards Jewish education as her followers expressed interest in learning more about the culture and traditions. “My focus became Jewish education, and some of that is through food,” she explained. “Because, as you know from my book, it’s teaching the world about Judaism through food. And that’s Jews and non-Jews.”

Innovative Recipes for Passover and Beyond

“Eat Jewish” features a diverse range of recipes, including Yeminite Green Schug and Boyikos. However, it’s Strauss’s inventive twists on classic Passover dishes that truly stand out. The book includes recipes for Potato Kugel, Chicken Soup With Matzo Balls, and Macaroons, alongside more unique options like Hamburger Farfel Stuffing and Pistachio Meringues.

Passover Egg Noodles: A Simplified Classic

Recognizing the labor-intensive nature of traditional Passover Egg Noodles, Strauss developed a simplified method. Instead of making individual crepes, she bakes the noodle mixture in a sheet pan. “They’ve been around forever, but they’re a pain in the neck because you have to make all the crepes, and then you have to roll them and slice them,” she said. “And I was like, I don’t want to make crepes. I hate making crepes. So I tried it instead in a sheet pan and I bake the whole thing.”

Passover Bagels: A Surprisingly Simple Creation

Perhaps the most surprising recipe in the book is Strauss’s Passover Bagels. She discovered that by using the same ingredients as matzo meal popovers, but shaping them into bagels, she could create a Passover-friendly version of the beloved breakfast staple. The key difference lies in using oil instead of butter, making it kosher for Passover.

Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks: A Unique Dessert

For dessert, Strauss offers Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Sticks, featuring maple sugar and vanilla extract. She advises against attempting to make individual cookies, instead recommending pouring the thin batter onto a baking sheet and slicing after baking.

Recipes are excerpted and adapted from “Eat Jewish” by Melinda Strauss, published by Rock Point, an imprint of The Quarto Group.