hamantaschen

Hamantaschen are triangular pastries traditionally eaten during Purim, the Jewish holiday that commemorates the survival of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire. The dough is typically a short, rich pastry made from flour, sugar, eggs, and fat such as butter or oil. They are filled with sweet fillings such as poppy seed paste (mohn), apricot, prune, raspberry, fig, chocolate, or nuts; the filling is placed on a circle of dough, which is folded into a triangle and sealed.

The name hamantaschen comes from Yiddish hamantaskh or hamantaschen, commonly interpreted as "Haman's pockets" or "Haman's ears," referring to the Purim villain Haman. The triangular shape with three corners is often linked to Haman's three-cornered hat, though some explanations connect the form to other symbolic associations or to the idea of a pocket.

Historically, hamantaschen originated in Ashkenazi Jewish communities of Central and Eastern Europe and spread with Jewishdiaspora communities in the modern era. They are now baked for Purim in many countries, with a wide range of traditional and contemporary fillings reflecting regional tastes.

Preparation typically involves rolling out the dough, placing a small amount of filling on circles, folding the dough into triangles, and pinching the edges to seal. They are baked until the pastries are golden. Variants include doughs based on yeast or oil, and fillings from poppy seeds to fruit preserves, chocolate, or nuts, reflecting local culinary preferences.