Gribenes
Encyclopedia
Gribenes or grieven are crisp chicken or goose skin cracklings
with fried onions, a kosher food somewhat similar to pork rind
s. Gribenes are a byproduct of schmaltz
preparation.
A favored food in the past among Ashkenazi Jews
, gribenes is frequently mentioned in Jewish stories and parables. Today, it is more likely to be called a "guilty pleasure
", "heartburn
heaven", and "heart attack food". It is a high-cholesterol
food.
and Rosh Hashanah
. Traditionally, gribenes were served with potato kugel
or latkes during Hannukkah.
Gribenes is also associated with Passover
, as large amounts of schmaltz, with its resulting gribenes, were traditionally used in Passover recipes.
, typically on rye or pumpernickel bread with salt, or used in recipes such as chopped liver
, or all of the above. It is often served as a side dish
with pastrami
on rye or hot dogs
.
This food has also been eaten as a midnight snack, or as an appetizer. Some Jews in Louisiana
add gribenes to Jambalaya
in place of non-Kosher shrimp
. It was served to children on challah
bread as a treat.
dialects (from Old High German
griobo via Middle High German
griebe), where Griebenschmalz is lard from which the cracklings have not been removed.
Cracklings
Cracklings or crackling is a crisp, deep fried food that may be made from various animals. Pork rind cracklings are popular in the American south. The skin of all kinds of poultry are used to make cracklings, including duck, chicken, goose and game birds...
with fried onions, a kosher food somewhat similar to pork rind
Pork rind
Pork rind , is the fried or roasted skin of a pig. Frying melts most of the fat from the pork rind...
s. Gribenes are a byproduct of schmaltz
Schmaltz
Schmaltz or schmalz is rendered chicken, goose, or pork fat used for frying or as a spread on bread, especially in German and Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine. Also is very common in Ukrainian cuisine Schmaltz or schmalz is rendered chicken, goose, or pork fat used for frying or as a spread on bread,...
preparation.
A favored food in the past among Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews
Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim , are the Jews descended from the medieval Jewish communities along the Rhine in Germany from Alsace in the south to the Rhineland in the north. Ashkenaz is the medieval Hebrew name for this region and thus for Germany...
, gribenes is frequently mentioned in Jewish stories and parables. Today, it is more likely to be called a "guilty pleasure
Guilty pleasure
A guilty pleasure is something one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it. The "guilt" involved is sometimes simply fear of others discovering one's lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes. Fashion, video games, music, movies, and junk food can be examples of...
", "heartburn
Heartburn
Heartburn, also known as pyrosis or acid indigestion is a burning sensation in the chest, just behind the breastbone or in the epigastrium...
heaven", and "heart attack food". It is a high-cholesterol
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
food.
Holiday food
This food is often associated with the Jewish holidays HanukkahHanukkah
Hanukkah , also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE...
and Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah , , is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holy Days or Yamim Nora'im which occur in the autumn...
. Traditionally, gribenes were served with potato kugel
Kugel
Kugel is a baked Ashkenazi Jewish pudding or casserole, similar to a pie, most commonly made from egg noodles or potatoes, though at times made of zucchini, apples, spinach, broccoli, cranberry, or sweet potato...
or latkes during Hannukkah.
Gribenes is also associated with Passover
Passover
Passover is a Jewish holiday and festival. It commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt...
, as large amounts of schmaltz, with its resulting gribenes, were traditionally used in Passover recipes.
Servings
Gribenes can be eaten as a snackSnack
A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. The food might be snack food—items like potato chips or baby carrots—but could also simply be a smaller amount of any food item.-Snacks and health:...
, typically on rye or pumpernickel bread with salt, or used in recipes such as chopped liver
Chopped liver
Chopped liver is a spread popular in Jewish cuisine.It is often made by sautéeing or broiling liver and onions in schmaltz; adding hard-boiled eggs, salt and pepper, and grinding that mixture...
, or all of the above. It is often served as a side dish
Side dish
A side dish, sometimes referred to as a side order or simply a side, is a food item that accompanies the entrée or main course at a meal.-Common types:...
with pastrami
Pastrami
Pastrami , is a popular delicatessen meat usually made from beef and, traditionally in Romania, also from pork and mutton. In Israel, "Pastrama" is the term used for sliced chicken and turkey. Like corned beef, pastrami was originally created as a way to preserve meat before modern refrigeration...
on rye or hot dogs
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
.
This food has also been eaten as a midnight snack, or as an appetizer. Some Jews in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
add gribenes to Jambalaya
Jambalaya
Jambalaya is a Louisiana Creole dish of Spanish and French influence. -Jambalaya varieties:Jambalaya is traditionally made in three parts, with meats and vegetables, and is completed by adding stock and rice. It is also a close cousin to the saffron colored paella found in Spanish culture...
in place of non-Kosher shrimp
Shrimp
Shrimp are swimming, decapod crustaceans classified in the infraorder Caridea, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Adult shrimp are filter feeding benthic animals living close to the bottom. They can live in schools and can swim rapidly backwards. Shrimp are an important...
. It was served to children on challah
Challah
Challah also khale ,, berches , barkis , bergis , chałka , vánočka , zopf and kitke , is a special braided bread eaten on...
bread as a treat.
Etymology
The word gribenes seems to be related to Griebe (plural Grieben) in various GermanGerman language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
dialects (from Old High German
Old High German
The term Old High German refers to the earliest stage of the German language and it conventionally covers the period from around 500 to 1050. Coherent written texts do not appear until the second half of the 8th century, and some treat the period before 750 as 'prehistoric' and date the start of...
griobo via Middle High German
Middle High German
Middle High German , abbreviated MHG , is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350. It is preceded by Old High German and followed by Early New High German...
griebe), where Griebenschmalz is lard from which the cracklings have not been removed.