The story of Matam Chofetz Chaim begins in 1917,
when Reb Zelig Yehuda Lazar, z”l, immigrated from the Ukraine to the United States with his family.

1917

The story of Matam Chofetz Chaim begins in 1917, when Reb Zelig Yehuda Lazar, z”l, immigrated from the Ukraine to the United States with his family.At the time, there were no social laws that protected workers, and business owners demanded that their employees report for work seven days a week, including Shabbos. Zelig’s father could not find work and struggled to support his family. Zelig decided to help his father out and found work in a salami factory in Chicago. He made up for the hours he missed on Shabbos by working on Motzaei Shabbos. He was successful and discerned that there was potential in the field. Shortly after he married, Zelig used his wedding money to open a small butcher shop called Lazar Kosher. Within a short time, the butcher shop attracted a loyal customer base of kosher consumers, among them the city’s rabbanim, who were happy to be able to purchase meat in a store with a mehadrin hechsher. (Until then, kosher meat was sold in butcher shops without a hechsher.)

1929

Reb Zelig was very well liked, and due to his expansive connections, he was able to survive the financial crisis of 1929. For the next ten years he fought against the tax on kosher meat until he won in court, and even received American citizenship as a result of the highly publicized process. In the summer, when everyone traveled to the mountains and work at the butcher shop slowed significantly, Reb Zelig worked on developing salamis and other special products. His goal was to provide kosher, high quality, delicious meat products at a good price. Indeed, the customers showed their approval and his customer base grew from year to year. With time, the small store became a factory for salami and pickled meats. The business had many non-Jewish consumers who enjoyed the unique, high quality products. Reb Zelig passed away in 1969, and left the factory to his son-in-law and right hand, Reb Shimon Talesnik. Reb Shimon made aliyah to Israel three years later, armed with the values that his father-in-law Reb Zelig had imbued in him: honesty and integrity, mehadrin kashrus and the highest quality products.

1969

In Israel, Reb Shimon began working in a kosher meat factory but the quality of the meat and the overall management was not in tune with his values. He decided to partner with the Yerushalmi Matam Chofetz Chaim store, which sold meat products, vegetables and frozen foods with a mehadrin hechsher. Within a short time, Reb Shimon transformed the store into a thriving business of ready to cook and ready to eat meats. Matam Chofetz Chaim became a brand name.To this day, one hundred years after the business began, Reb Shimon is still involved in product development. Matam Chofetz Chaim is managed by his children and grandchildren. The store specializes in meat products that everyone can use to prepare gourmet meals with minimal effort.

Today

Matam Chofetz Chaim – 100 Years of Meat Delicacies that Improve Through the Generations

Matam Chofetz Chaim is kosher certified by Harav Rubin, and is constantly innovating and developing, using secrets of the trade passed down through the family. The company cuts and cleans the meat in a way that leave sonly the nicest parts for cooking and serving, and uses unique seasoning and spice blends, transforming meat, poultry and turkey products into a winning experience in kitchens in Israel and abroad  Matam products are available at a number of locations, and at its flagship store, at 30 Agrippas Street in Yerushalayim.Orders can be made by calling 02-6232839 or 02-6249443.for 100 years.

 

Stuffed Turkey Breast

Basic Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup honey

  • ¼ cup white wine

  • 2 onions, sliced into wedges

  • ¼ cup water

  • ¼ cup lemon juice

  • 1 Tbsp garlic powder

  • 1 Tbsp onion powder

  • ¼ cup water

Preparation:

In oven:

  • Arrange the onions in an oven pan and place the turkey in the center.

  • Mix the other ingredients in a bowl and pour over the meat. Rub into the meat.

  • Cover the pan and bake at 180 C for 2 hours.

In a pot:

  • Dice onion and mix together with the rest of the ingredients.

  • Add two cups of water and place the meat in the pot.

  • Bring to a boil, then lower the flame to a simmer. Cook for 1¼ hours per kilogram.

Chef’s Recommendation:

Breaded Turkey Breast

Ingredients:

  • 1 egg white

  • 1 Tbsp honey

  • Pinch salt

  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

  • 3 Tbsp olive oil for marinade

  • 1 cup bread crumbs

Preparation:

  • In a bowl, mix all the ingredients except bread crumbs.

  • After the meat is ready (prepared according to basic recipe in the oven) cool a bit and remove the net

  • Place the meat in a clean pan and heat oven to maximum heat for 15 minutes.

  • Brush the meat on all sides with marinade. Cover with a layer of bread crumbs. Press bread crumbs into meat with your hands, and make sure the meat is completely covered.

  • Bake in the oven for 8 minutes until lightly browned.

    Tip – You can add any spices you like to the bread crumbs.

     

Side Dish:

Sweet Potato Bomb

Ingredients:

  • 6 small sweet potatoes, washed well

  • 3 Tbsp olive oil

  • 1 Tbsp kosher salt

Preparation:

  • When cooking the roast in the oven, put the sweet potatoes next to it so they will soften and absorb the taste.

  • After the meat is ready, check that the sweet potatoes have softened. Remove from the liquid, and dry with paper towel.

  • Brush with olive oil and place in a clean pan.

  • Heat the oven to maximum temperature and bake for 10-15 minutes until the sweet potato is crispy.

  • Remove from the oven, make a slit down the middle and sprinkle with kosher salt.


    Tip: Put a whole garlic head near the sweet potatoes. After cooking, the garlic becomes a spread, and they can be served whole as well.

     

רוסטביף הודו
וסלט עדשים שחורות

מתכון בסיסי:

חומרים:

  • 2 בצלים חתוכים לקוביות
  • רבע כוס שמן
  • 2 כפות יין אדום

אופן ההכנה:

  1. בסיר בגודל מתאים מחממים שמן ומטגנים בצל עד השחמה.
  2. מוסיפים את הנתח לסיר, ומטגנים את הנתח מכל כיוון להשחמה.
  3. מוסיפים לסיר את יתר המוצרים, מביאים לרתיחה ומנמיכם את האש.
  4. מבשלים חצי שעה, הופכים את הרולדה ומבשלים עוד חצי שעה, הופכים שוב, וממשיכים לבשל עוד חצי שעה.
  5. מצננים מעט ומורידים את הרשת, פורסים לפרוסות בעובי אצבע ומגישים.

המלצת השף:

חומרים:

  • 1 שורש פטרוזיליה
  • 1 שורש סלרי
  • 3 גזרים קלופים וחתוכים לארבע
  • 2 בצל קצוץ לקוביות קטנות
  • 2 כוסות יין אדום
  • 2 כפות דבש
  • 3 כפות סוכר חום
  • 3 כפות קטשופ

להברקת הנתח לפני ההגשה:

  • חצי כוס ממי הבישול
  • 2 כפות דבש
  • כף סוכר חום

אופן ההכנה:

  1. בסיר רחב מחממים שמן, מטגנים את כל הירקות יחד להשחמה יפה.
  2. מוסיפים יין אדום ומגרדים את הקרקעית של הסיר.
  3. מוסיפים את יתר החומרים, מערבבים ומשקעים את הנתח בתוך הרוטב.
  4. במידה והנוזל לא מכסה חצי מגובה הנתח יש להוסיף יין או מים עד לכיסוי של חצי מגובה הנתח.
  5. מבשלים חצי שעה, הופכים את הרולדה ומבשלים עוד חצי שעה, הופכים שוב, וממשיכים לבשל עוד חצי שעה.
  6. מצננים מעט ומורידים את הרשת, פורסים לפרוסות בעובי אצבע ומגישים.

הברקת הנתח:

  1. מערבבים את כל החומרים ומחממים תנור לחום מקסימלי.
    מברישים את הנתח במרינדה ומכניסים לתנור ל 5 דקות, מוציאים מהתנור ומיד מברישים שוב במרינדה.  

תוספת מומלצת:

סלט עדשים שחורות

חומרים:

  • כוס עדשים שחורות
  • 3 כוסות מים חמים
  • 1 בצל סגול חתוך לקוביות קטנות
  • חופן שמיר קצוץ דק
  • כף דבש
  • חצי כפית מלח דק
  • 3 כפות שמן זית
  • 1 עגבנייה קצוצה
  • 2 כפות מיץ לימון

אופן ההכנה:

  1. משרים את העדשים במים חמים למשך כשעה.
  2. מעבירים את המים עם העדשים לסיר ומבשלים על להבה נמוכה 20 דקות עד שמתרכך אבל נשאר קריספי במרכז.
  3. מערבבים יחד עם יתר המוצרים, טועמים ומתקנים תיבול.
  4. מגישים לצד הבשר.