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Calling Shakshuka Shakshuka even if they put pork in it

37 replies

datcherygrateful · 11/05/2024 15:09

I recently came across a menu offering a twist on the traditional dish, shakshuka, by adding chorizo. Traditionally, shakshuka is a Middle Eastern and North African dish beloved, originate and enjoyed mainly by Jewish and Muslim communities, where pork products aren't consumed due to religious reasons. This new variation has sparked quite a debate within me, (I am Middle Eastern), and I'm curious to hear your thoughts.

I understand that we put twists on lots of dishes, and yes I 've seen feta and random stuff thrown into shakshuka, but this particular thing is bothering me a little seeing as the one ingredient that is contradictory to Jewish and Muslim dietary laws is put in it.

I'd be ok if they called it something else, like Chorizo Eggs or Spanish Skillet or something to that effect, but it is fundamentally a vegetarian dish and not only that, fundamentally originating from non pork eating cultures and in my eyes, cannot be shakshuka.

Am I being unreasonable to say you cannot call this dish Shakshuka if you put pork in it?

OP posts:
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Octavia64 · 11/05/2024 17:34

Mmmm shakshuka with feta.

No other comment, sorry, except that the recipe I got it from uses beef which I replaced with vegan beef.

Needanadultgapyear · 11/05/2024 17:32

I always thought it was a regional dish and 40% of Lebanese people are Christians, 300000 Christian's in Syria ( prior to the war 1.5 million).
Whilst pork is not a mainstay there are countries where it is sold and used.
Historically all three of religions were represented.

ItsFuckingBoringFeedingEveryoneUntilYouDie · 11/05/2024 17:32

YABU.
Shaksuka originated in north Africa, not the middle east. Even it's wikipedia entry lists chorizo and merguez as common variations.

I have been adding chorizo for at least a decade. It tastes delicious, even if you do consider it to be some form of cultural appropriation.

eurochick · 11/05/2024 17:27

I was under the impression it was a regional dish rather than one specifically associated with Islam or Judaism (albeit from a region where the majority populations believe in one of those religions). On that basis I don't see the issue.

CountingCrones · 11/05/2024 17:10

Have you seen beigels/bagels sold with bacon, or pork? They are sold in loads of cafes and sandwich shops. A beigel is a culturally a Jewish bread. Pork - and indeed meat and cheese together - isn't kosher.

All foods get adapted and adulterated when they reach an international audience. It's best not to pay it any mind.

LadyThistledown · 11/05/2024 16:44

DoublePeonies · 11/05/2024 16:11

Given you can buy pork free bacon, ham, sausages, salami etc in the middle east (in a very strict, totally pork free country), I'm pretty sure it could be a variation found in the ME.

Malaysia, a Muslim majority country has beef pepperoni instead of pork. Also beef chorizo 😂

FastnetLundyRockall · 11/05/2024 16:29

Turkish shakshuka doesn't generally involve eggs so yabu for that 😉

DoublePeonies · 11/05/2024 16:11

Given you can buy pork free bacon, ham, sausages, salami etc in the middle east (in a very strict, totally pork free country), I'm pretty sure it could be a variation found in the ME.

therealcookiemonster · 11/05/2024 15:56

many dishes from around the world are messed around with... it is something I find myself getting disproportionately enraged by

I'm from South Asia and what has been done to various 'Indian' dishes by TV chefs and restaurants is criminal.

Willyoujustbequiet · 11/05/2024 15:49

LadyThistledown · 11/05/2024 15:41

OP culinary traditions have always been globally influenced since the beginning of time with migration, travel, etc. Modifying a dish isn't disrespecting its history. Unless one claims to make an 'authentic' dish.

This is my feeling too.

123ZYX · 11/05/2024 15:45

123ZYX · 11/05/2024 15:42

From what you've written, it appears to be a regional dish, rather than attached to a religion? So people who don't follow either religion p, but are from that region would be brought up eating it?

I think regional dishes are regularly adapted to suit the tastes of the place it's been taken to. For example when curry was introduced to the UK, it wasn't the same as would be made in South Asia.

Equally paella for example isn't a Catholic meal. If some added meat and ate it on a Friday, it wouldn't be offensive to catholics.

If it was a specially religious meal, it would be different, because the restriction on pork is due to religious beliefs.

To clarify, paella comes from a country where historically a large proportion of the population were Catholic

123ZYX · 11/05/2024 15:42

From what you've written, it appears to be a regional dish, rather than attached to a religion? So people who don't follow either religion p, but are from that region would be brought up eating it?

I think regional dishes are regularly adapted to suit the tastes of the place it's been taken to. For example when curry was introduced to the UK, it wasn't the same as would be made in South Asia.

Equally paella for example isn't a Catholic meal. If some added meat and ate it on a Friday, it wouldn't be offensive to catholics.

If it was a specially religious meal, it would be different, because the restriction on pork is due to religious beliefs.

LadyThistledown · 11/05/2024 15:41

datcherygrateful · 11/05/2024 15:30

Sorry I misread your post

Edited

OP culinary traditions have always been globally influenced since the beginning of time with migration, travel, etc. Modifying a dish isn't disrespecting its history. Unless one claims to make an 'authentic' dish.

Branleuse · 11/05/2024 15:35

Ive only ever seen chorizo offered as an additional paid extra with shakshuka.

chatenoire · 11/05/2024 15:35

badwolf82 · 11/05/2024 15:32

The laws of kashrut are much stricter than simply not eating pork. Unless its made in a kosher kitchen with eggs that have been checked and all other ingredients prepared according to the relevant rules, an orthodox Jew wouldn’t be able to eat it. Presumably the chorizo was clearly included in the menu description so it wouldn’t have been a surprise? If so, i think this post is a bit unreasonable.

Also it could have been veggie chorizo (which does exist!) Also, cheeseburgers aren't kosher and I think most people don't know about this.

crumbpet · 11/05/2024 15:35

datcherygrateful · 11/05/2024 15:31

No they did label it as Shakshuka with

But it still bothered me a little- such a contradiction

That even better then as it's acknowledging Shakshuka is the dish and they've added some chorizo "with" it.

crumbpet · 11/05/2024 15:34

If they call it Chorizo Shakshuka I think I'd just about be ok with it but yeah I do see your point. It's quite disrespectful to the original dish.

WiloTheWisp · 11/05/2024 15:33

Oh I like the idea of feta.

badwolf82 · 11/05/2024 15:32

The laws of kashrut are much stricter than simply not eating pork. Unless its made in a kosher kitchen with eggs that have been checked and all other ingredients prepared according to the relevant rules, an orthodox Jew wouldn’t be able to eat it. Presumably the chorizo was clearly included in the menu description so it wouldn’t have been a surprise? If so, i think this post is a bit unreasonable.

datcherygrateful · 11/05/2024 15:31

No they did label it as Shakshuka with

But it still bothered me a little- such a contradiction

OP posts:
datcherygrateful · 11/05/2024 15:30

CJ0374 · 11/05/2024 15:28

YABU. I add chorizo to mine and thought I was the only one. Its delicious!

Sorry I misread your post

OP posts:
Twiklo · 11/05/2024 15:30

datcherygrateful · 11/05/2024 15:25

but how is that the same?@Twiklo
I'm talking about putting pork into a dish that is famously not only vegetarian, but is supposed to be halal and kosher

Sorry for the misunderstanding, I don't think you're overreacting, I meant that a lot of international dishes are modified in such ways that they become completely different dishes.
I agree with you that's it's quite distatesful

WednesburyUnreasonable · 11/05/2024 15:29

WednesburyUnreasonable · 11/05/2024 15:26

I’m Middle Eastern and can’t get worked up about this. The name seems to be just acknowledging they’ve taken shashouka as a base (which totally renaming it wouldn’t do), and added chorizo.

To add, I’d expect to see chorizo in the actual name (“chorizo shakshouka” etc) - which is how I’d originally read the post.

If they JUST called it shakshouka, I’d find it weird and a bit incongruous but no stronger emotion than that.

datcherygrateful · 11/05/2024 15:29

But I am talking about the principle of putting an ingredient that is technically not allowed, then keeping the name the same

Maybe I'm not articulating my point.
This is not the same as Vegan Beef

OP posts:
LadyThistledown · 11/05/2024 15:28

I'm South East Asian OP and this happens everywhere, with all kinds of dishes. I couldn't get worked up about it - UNLESS, the addition of pork wasn't clearly marked!
For every single person like you there'll be another several people complaining that it was 'stolen' and the name changed. One can't win really.

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