Nada’s Veggie and Beef Boureks

Tastemaker

By Lynda Wheatley | April 18, 2020

Usually, we’re all about Nada’s fresh-made hummus, chicken schawarma pita (so garlic-y good and with a wonderfully mean punch of pickle), and tabbouleh (parsley, bulgur wheat, green onion, and tomato dressed with bright lemon juice and olive oil).

But with things all weird in the world, the gourmet deli has been closing earlier than usual — about 4pm most days. Turns out, it was a blessing in disguise, one that forced us from our usual comforts to the few ready-to-go items remaining in the deli case that day at 5pm: veggie or beef boureks, and Nada’s curry chicken and cherry chicken salad.

As expected, both chickens were dependably solid — moist quality chicken chunks, just-right mayo and spices, and never-skimpy dottings of dried cherries and crunchy celery throughout each. But it was the boureks that unexpectedly won the day.

Wrapped in generous but light (and somehow not greasy) egg roll skins, the boureks had an almost pastry-like mouthfeel. And despite their disparate fillings — carrots, peas, and cabbage v. finely minced ground beef — each delivered the gently sweet and slow-warming heat a good curry should.

Curry and cherry chicken, $10 per pound; bourek, $3.50 each. Call ahead to order and ensure deli hours, especially on Fridays, when loyal regulars often beat seat-of-their-pants fans to the case: (231) 947-6779. Find Nada’s Gourmet Deli inside Saco’s liquor store at 542 W. Front St. in Traverse City.