Israel

Israel rules on boureka shapes

June 12, 2013 13:53
Potato bourekas at a market stall in Jerusalem (Photo: Yoninah)

BySandy Rashty, Sandy Rashty

1 min read

Israeli regulators have been focusing on one of the country’s most protected delicacies – the boureka.

The pastry – often stuffed with cheese, potato, spinach or mushroom – must now comply with strict shape and filling directions stipulated by the Israeli Rabbinate's kashrut regulators.

The so-called “bourekas revolution” was implemented on Tuesday.

From August 7, the shape of a boureka will indicate whether the bites are dairy or parev – failure to comply will result in the baker losing their kashrut certificate.

Circular or finger-shaped bourekas will be dairy, while parev bourekas will be in a triangle or spiral shape.

Since the pastry is often sold in bulk without a label or packaging, the new stipulations are said to prevent a mistaken breach of kashrut.