Sponsored by Sabra.

No matter what’s going on in life, there’s something so heartwarming about getting together with family and friends on a Shabbos or Yom Tov to share good times with good food. And let’s be real. Whether you’re hosting or being hosted, you don’t want to spend all your quality time in the kitchen! Here are eight quick and delicious ideas to add a little flavor to your table in record time.

1) Lachmagine with Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus

Growing up, we loved going to our Syrian friends’ houses and getting to taste all the super flavorful traditional foods we didn’t have on our Ashkenazi table. While yebra, kibbe and cigars are all winners, only lachmagine has managed to find itself onto my regular rotation. Better make extra because these go fast! Original recipe shared by Mindee Y.

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 package mini pizza rounds

In a small saucepan, heat olive oil and cook onion for 5 minutes, or until translucent. Add tomato sauce, lemon juice, sugar, and black pepper. Reduce for 20 minutes. Allow to cool, then stir in meat. Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and lay out pizza rounds. Spread meat to the edges of the pizza rounds and spray with cooking spray. Bake for 40 minutes, checking after 30.

Arrange lachmagine on a large platter with Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus in the center.

2) Quick and Easy Fire-Roasted Eggplant Plate

I love making this on a Friday afternoon, close to Shabbos, when everything else is done. When we sit down to the meal, the eggplant is still warm and smoky, and perfectly complements everything else on the table!

• 2 large eggplants
• olive oil, to taste
• salt and pepper
• juice of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 1/4 cup prepared techina
• Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus

Pierce each eggplant with a paring knife and cover in 2 layers of foil (heavy duty works well here). Turn two burners on to medium heat and place the eggplants directly on the grates, flipping every few minutes until very soft to the touch, about 10 minutes all together. (this can be done in the oven on broil for about the same amount of time.) Remove from foil. Slice open each eggplant and arrange on a platter. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Add generous spoonfuls of Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus and drizzle with techina. Garnish with lots of fresh parsley.

3) Warm Mushroom Hummus

This is one of my favorite ways to dress up hummus; so easy, so flavorful, and so quick.

• 16 ounces mushrooms of choice, I like cremini or shimenji
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
• Sabra Classic hummus

Heat olive oil in a sauté pan. Slice mushrooms (if applicable) and sauté until browned, about 7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add in chopped onion and cook an additional 2 minutes, so the onion still has some bite in it. stir in cilantro and remove from flame. When ready to serve, carefully arrange mushroom mixture in the center of the Sabra Hummus.

4) Spicy Ground Lamb Hummus Plate

I love this for a party or group setting! Put a few platters of these out with some pita chips and your guests will be thrilled. Not into spice? Use Sabra’s Roasted Garlic or Classic Hummus instead for also amazing results!

• 1 pound ground lamb
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 red pepper, diced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 Gefen frozen garlic cubes
• salt and pepper to taste
• Sabra Supremely Spicy Hummus

Heat olive oil in a large, heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add pepper and cook and additional 5 minutes. Add frozen garlic cubes, then ground lamb. Break the lamb up well with a fork or wooden spoon until cooked through. Season well with salt and pepper. Serve warm over Sabra Supremely Spicy Hummus.

5) Everything Pita Chips 

It’s a universally accepted fact that hummus and pita are soul mates. They just cooperate so well with each other! My issue is, I like my pitas very, very fresh, and I don’t really want to start bothering with homemade pita… ever. That’s so extra. Pita chips are a happy medium! You might notice that these chips have a whopping three ingredients, but no one has to know you haven’t slaved over a wood burning oven all day.

• 1 package pitas
• olive oil
• everything spice
• Sabra Olive Tapenade Hummus

Preheat oven to 400. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice each pita in 8 wedges and lay on baking sheets. Drizzle with oilve oil and season liberally with everything spice. Cook until crispy, about 10-12 minutes. Serve with Olive Tapenade Hummus.

6) Upgraded Shabbos Liver Plate

Eggs and liver are a classic shabbos lunch appetizer, but the same dish every week is bound to get boring. This easy plating upgrade is quick and delicious, and a nice spin on the classic!

• Sabra Classic Guacamole
• 1 cup egg salad
• 1 cup sauteed liver, diced finely
• Terra chips

You’ll also need:

• 1.5-inch ring mold

On rectangular appetizer-sized plates, fill ring mold with egg salad, then guacamole, then liver, so you have three circles in a row. Place a Terra chip into each circle and serve!

7) Quick Party Sabra Hummus Bites

 

Finger foods are the ultimate party food, but pre-packaged hors d’oeuvres don’t really do it for me. These are easy to prep ahead and taste amazing.

• 4 sweet potatoes, washed well
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper
• Sabra Spinach and Artichoke Hummus
• 2 packages beef bacon or beef fry or pastrami

Preheat oven to 425. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Slice sweet potatoes into 1/4 inch slices and lay on baking sheets. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. roast for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, slice beef bacon in to 1 inch pieces and place in an ungreased pan. Fry over medium heat until crispy, about 7-10 minutes. Assemble: Lay sweet potato rounds on a platter. spread with Sabra Spinach and Artichoke Hummus and sprinkle beef bacon on top.

8) Healthy Sabra Hummus Rounds

This quick and delicious snack is the perfect after-school bite or cure to midday munchies! Use your favorite hummus flavor and mix up the toppings for your own spin on things.

• 1 large cucumber, sliced
• Sabra Roasted Garlic Hummus
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1/4 red onion, finely diced
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

In a nonreactive bowl, mix tomatoes, onion, red wine vinegar, sugar salt and pepper. Allow to sit for 10 minutes. Place cucumber rounds on a platter and spread each one with Sabra hummus. Top with tomato salad.