Uri? Roni? Sammy? Moshe? David? Itzik?!

Nope - I am not choosing a very Israeli men's name for a new pet. I’m missing my spice guys from my tours of the Carmel Market, the Levinsky Market and the legendary Machane Yehuda in Jerusalem! In this current reality where shops are closed and we are supposed to stay in our homes, I’ve found that one thing I miss the most are my spontaneous strolls into my favorite spice shops. I love being able to walk into a spice shop, check out all their offerings and handpick exactly what I want.

Yours truly at Uri’s spice shop in simpler times!

In honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day usually celebrated with barbecues around the country, I’d like to highlight a very special spice - the “Doritos” or “BBQ” spice, but back to that in a minute. In normal times, the entire country will be jam-packed with Israelis feasting on barbecued meats that are greatly enhanced by a very special spice blend we’ll discuss soon.

Spice shops line so many of the open air markets here in Israel, and one of the questions we are often asked by our guests is: with so many spice shops around, how do we choose where to buy?!

There are several factors that go into finding your favorite spice guy. I’d liken this to the process of picking out a good barber - one part practicality, one part gut instinct. First and foremost, you need to make sure that you like the way that barber cuts your hair. Does he do a good job? When it comes to spices, that means determining that he is offering you the freshest and most expertly selected spices.

Hanging out with my BFF Uri and fellow Delicious guide Tani!

But here’s the kicker: who wants a great haircut if you can’t open up to your barber? You visit your barber before big life moments: simchas, sad occasions, job interviews and first dates, Oddly enough, I do the same with my spice guys! When I first moved into my new apartment? Sage, of course. When I went to the US to meet my new niece? Za’atar and hawaij as family gifts. The time I dared cook for a guy? A nice kebab blend! One of my spice guys even knew when I hosted a group of girlfriends for a holiday party - after all, he was the one who helped me choose the spices for the mulled wine. Needless to say, it was a couple of exciting and busy months for me and my spice guys back when we could all go out. Just like with a barber, you want a spice guy who you can trust, open up to and with whom you can share life’s ups and downs. A lot of it is personal preference: Uri, Roni, Sammy, Moshe, David and Itzik are all incredible men. They are quirky and loving and have wonderful stories to share.

When I take guests to meet these spice guys, I enjoy listening as they talk about spices and, in a true break with mainstream Israeli culture, patiently and gingerly give tips for how to use everything. I then love to share my own tips that I’ve learned over the years from experimenting in my kitchen and from trading ideas with all of the other Delicious Israel guides. The spice guys sometimes listen - maybe in amusement, perhaps in horror, as I share some new and modern ways to use these spices and blends.

Introducing: Doritos Spice

All of these spice guys are unique in their own way, and while the stores may look the same to the untrained eye, every spice vendor has their unique touches. But one of the blends that all of these amazing vendors share is what we at Delicious Israel (and now some of our spice guys!) call “Doritos Spice,” thanks to a brilliant little boy who came on a market tour and proclaimed that this tastes just like his favorite snack food! This blend, made with paprika, garlic and salt, among other spices, is more commonly known as the “Chicken Grill” or “BBQ” spice. It’s traditionally used as a rub for chicken, adds a hint of smokiness and a lot of flavor and explains why a basic chicken breast from your Israeli street food place is somehow so delicious.

Here at Delicious Israel though, we’ve found so many uses for our beloved Doritos Spice. If you don’t already have some, I encourage you to order a blend online - I can help you find just the right one. I recommend sprinkling it on popcorn, adding it to your scrambled eggs and mixing up a kale salad with lemon, olive oil and the delicious blend.

My newest use for the spice has been a silver lining in the era of COVID-19. While I try not to eat french fries often, I love splitting a plate of them with friends when I’m out for a beer, something I have not been able to do for quite a while now. I miss my salty bar food! Enter the baked french fry. This dish has been a healthier and very flavorful alternative to my occasional order of bar fries, and is the perfect side dish to this year’s indoor Yom Ha’atzmaut barbecue . The one advantage of not doing the whole shabang in a park is that you can cozy up with these fries fresh out of the oven!

Easy and Delicious Baked BBQ Fries

Ingredients

2 large potatoes (Yukon Gold or Russet work best), cut into about 1/4-inch wide sticks
3 tsp. Doritos/BBQ spice
2 tbsp. olive oil (plus a little extra for greasing the pan)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Spread a drop of oil over a large foil-lined baking pan.
Place washed and cut potatoes in a large bowl and pour very hot tap water over the top, covering the potatoes by about an inch. Let the potatoes sit in the water for 10 minutes.
Drain the potatoes and dry them well with a towel. If using paper towels, you will need quite a lot.
Rinse and dry the bowl and fill with the dried potatoes. Add the olive oil and the Doritos/BBQ spice to the bowl, tossing well until potatoes are coated.
Spread the potato mixture on the baking sheet, pouring any leftover spice from the bowl on top of the potatoes. Make sure each potato is directly on the pan.
Bake the potatoes in the middle rack of the oven for 12 minutes. Flip the potatoes and cook for an additional 12 minutes, or until they have reached your desired level of crispiness.
Let cool, add extra seasoning if desired and transfer to a bowl.

For maximum authenticity, crack open a beer, put on some background music and video chat with your besties. I recommend repeating this weekly until you are able to take a trip to the barber and meet up with friends at a bar. Wishing you a safe and satiated Yom Ha’atzmaut at home!