Ptitim is very similar to the Ashkenazi Jewish farfel, which was brought to Israel by Ashkenazi Jews from Europe beginning in the 1800s, and the two are often substituted for each other. American chef Charlie Trotter has produced a number of recipes for ptitim-based gourmet dishes, even as a dessert. Ptitim may also be used in other dishes as a substitute for pasta or rice. They can also be baked, go in soup, served in a pie, used for stuffing, or made as a risotto. The ptitim grains may be fried for a short time before adding water. Commonly, ptitim is prepared with sautéed onions or garlic (vegetables, meat, chicken or sausage can also be added). The grains retain their shape and texture even when reheated, and they do not clump together. Ptitim can be used in many different types of dishes, both hot and cold. Ĭouscous-style ptitim prepared as a dish of the Israeli cuisine Ptitim has also been popularised in the other countries, and in the United States, it can be found on the menus of contemporary American chefs and in gourmet markets.
Varieties made with whole wheat and spelt flour are also available for health-conscious consumers. Ptitim is now produced in ring, star, and heart shapes for added appeal. In Israel, ptitim is popular among children, who eat it plain, or mixed with fried onion and tomato paste. The store-bought product is easy and quick to prepare. Unlike common types of pasta and couscous, ptitim was factory-made from the outset, and therefore is rarely seen home-made from scratch. Ptitim is made by extruding dough through a round mold, before it is cut and toasted, giving it the uniform natural-grain-like shape and its unique nutty flavor. Consequently, ptitim is sometimes called "Ben-Gurion rice".
Ptitim was initially produced with a rice-shape, but after its success Osem also began to produce a ball-shaped variety inspired by couscous. The company took up the challenge and developed ptitim, which is made of hard wheat flour and toasted in an oven. Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, asked Eugen Proper, one of the founders of the Osem food company, to devise a wheat-based substitute for rice. Ptitim was created in 1953, during the austerity period in Israel.
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