Farfel

Farfel is a small, pellet- or flake-shaped pasta that is a staple in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine. Made from egg noodle dough, it is often toasted before cooking, which adds a distinctive flavor. You can find farfel in soups or as a savory side dish. In the United States, it is sometimes referred to as "egg barley" and is available pre-packaged.

During Passover, when grains are prohibited due to dietary laws, there is a special version called "matzah farfel." This consists of small bits of matzah that serve as a substitute for the traditional egg noodle farfel.

Here is an interesting historical anecdote: The Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Hasidic movement, had a tradition of eating farfel every Friday night. He appreciated the word's similarity to "farfaln" which means "wiped out, over and finished." For him, these small noodles symbolized the end of the old week.