Judaism is as much a culture as it is a religion and, like every culture, it has many distinctive cuisines. Of course, there are the classics like challah, matzah, hamentashens, and charoset, but these are specialized foods consumed on specific Jewish holidays. But what about the delicacies that have come to represent the Jewish people -—  the dishes that are now a part of our traditions and culture? The foods that nearly every Jew, no matter what country they call home, can say, “Oh yeah, I’ve had that.” These are the cultural cuisines that have been brewed, stewed or baked in so many Jewish homes regardless of sect. So what are these dishes that represent us? Here’s a list of the Top 10.

10) Matzah ball soup ~ Every family has their own secret recipe with certain ways to make the perfect matzah ball. Some secrets have been outed, like adding Seltzer, and special techniques, like handling the batter minimally to increase fluffiness. Traditionally brewed with a chicken base, matzah ball soup has been a Jewish comfort for hundreds of years, and it’s the one type of matzah that Jews will eat anytime of the year.

9) Falafel ~ Originally an Egyptian food, falafel are small balls usually made of chickpeas or fava beans. Very common in modern Israel, falafel balls are stuffed into warm pita bread accompanied with various diced veggies and hummus. These delicious sandwich-taco-tortilla hybrids can be purchased on any block on the streets of Israel, but are usually put together at home here in the states. Nothing fills you up like some scrumptious falafel.

8) Bagels and lox ~ While it may be rather stereotypical, it is so for good reason. Everyone loves bagels, lox and cream cheese—maybe that is why the best bagels are found on the East Coast. I suppose a dense population of Jews brings with it the perfect bagel recipe. Plus, does there exist a b’nai mitzvah lunch lacking a nice table of bagels and lox?

7) Kugel ~ Sweet kugel, fruit kugel, green kugel, plain kugel. This Ashkenazi dish can be made in infinite ways to be a dessert, or a way to trick the kids into eating their greens. Many kugels can have anything from cinnamon and cranberries to sweet potatoes or broccoli. So when in need of a nice Jewish meal, grab a recipe and hop to it! 

6) Gefilte fish ~ Typically considered a Shabbat or Passover food, gefilte fish is one of those foods which is both a biblical delicacy and a cultural one. Consisting of fish ground up with other ingredients such as onions, eggs, carrots, and bread, this classic Jewish dish can be purchased by the jar or made from scratch.

5) Brisket ~ Usually a beef-based dish for us Jews, brisket is the ultimate leftover comfort meal. To add flavor during cooling, cola is commonly used as a sugar substitute, but remember to skip the diet kind.

4) Kasha Varnishkes~ Traditionally an Eastern European Jewish dish, it is one of those Arnold Palmer type of blends. Who would have thought lemonade and iced tea would be amazing mixed together? Kasha varnishkes combines kasha, or buckwheat groats, with bow-tie noodles called varnishkes to make, with the proper seasoning, a perfectly nutritious and delicious dish.

3) Mandel bread ~ This is a rather hard type of cookie that can be customized with chocolate chips, various types of nuts, or even craisins if you want to be adventurous. Good by themselves or dipped in a hot drink, these cookies are basically Jewish biscotti.

2) Borscht ~ Lets be honest, most average Americans wouldn’t actually know what borscht is, because who eats it? Russians, Jews, and Russian Jews; that’s who. A native Russian dish, this soup has become a classic Jewish dish. And yes, it’s supposed to be cold.

1) Chopped liver ~ A ground dish using either chicken or calf liver, chopped liver is usually made with hard boiled eggs and onions. Because it is commonly used as a side dish, people coined the phrase, “What am I, chopped liver?”