Tzimmes, ortsimmes (Yiddish:צימעס,Hebrew:צִימֶעס), is a traditionalAshkenazi Jewishstew typically made fromcarrots anddried fruits such asprunes orraisins, often combined with other root vegetables (includingyam).[1][2][3]
Tzimmes is often part of theRosh Hashanah meal, when it is traditional to eat sweet and honey-flavored dishes.[4] Some cooks add chunks of meat (usually beef flank orbrisket).[1][3][5] The dish is cooked slowly over low heat and flavored withhoney orsugar and sometimescinnamon or other spices.[6]
The name is aYiddish word that, according to theOxford English Dictionary, may come fromMiddle High Germanimbīz, 'meal'.[7] "To make a bigtzimmes over something" is aYinglish expression that means to make a big fuss, perhaps because of the slicing, mixing, and stirring that go into the preparation of the dish.[5]