Passover Charoset Recipe Made Easy (and Naturally Gluten Free) (2024)

FAQs

Are gluten free foods ok for Passover? ›

During Passover the only source of gluten is from matzoh. Otherwise, the Kosher for Passover diet is inherently gluten-free. and the Sabbath Meals, special care must be taken to avoid cross-contamination with any form of gluten containing matzoh or other foods containing gluten.

Charoset – A sweet, brown mixture representing the mortar and brick used by the Hebrew slaves to build the structures of Egypt. In Ashkenazi Jewish homes, Charoset is traditionally made from chopped nuts, grated apples, cinnamon, and sweet red wine.

The actual Seder meal is also quite variable. Traditions among Ashkenazi Jews generally include gefilte fish (poached fish dumplings), matzo ball soup, brisket or roast chicken, potato kugel (somewhat like a casserole) and tzimmes, a stew of carrots and prunes, sometimes including potatoes or sweet potatoes.

Charoset (pronounced har-o-set) comes from the Hebrew word cheres that means "clay," though it goes by many different names around the world.

Traditionally, the category of forbidden foods on Passover — known as hametz — was defined as the fermented products of five grains: wheat, spelt, barley, oats and rye.

During Passover, Ashkenazi Jews traditionally stay away from not only leavened foods like bread, namely barley, oats, rye, spelt, and wheat, but also legumes, rice, seeds, and corn. The ban has been in place since the 13th century, but it's always been controversial.

The seder plate 7 ingredients include Beitzah, Maror, Charoset, Karpas, Chazeret, Zeroah, and Matzo.

During Passover, parsley is traditionally dipped in salt water to signify the pain the Israelites experienced as slaves and the tears they shed. My parents would also take this time to address a current injustice in the world.

Because rice and legumes were sometimes mixed with wheat — which is avoided during Passover unless it's in its unleavened form, matzo — those items were avoided, too, according to the Times of Israel.

Potatoes may be the most common ingredient because there are so many varieties, and it is the ubiquitous food when it comes to Passover. No need to use the plain-old white potato; vary your mash.

Is hummus kosher for Passover? ›

That said, hummus, which is made from chickpeas, cannot be eaten on Passover by Ashkenazi Jews. For approximately the last thousand years, Jews of Ashkenazi descent have observed the prohibition of eating kitniyot, legumes, on Passover. Kitniyot includes legumes such as beans, peas, corn, rice, chickpeas, sesame, etc.

However, make sure you bring something that is 'Kosher for Passover,'" advises Schweitzer. "There's a difference between just kosher and kosher for Passover. Make sure to avoid offering any gift with yeast or wheat or any food prepared in dishes or with utensils used for unleavened food.

Everyone takes some maror and dips it in the charoset. All then recite the following blessing, after which everyone should immediately eat their maror without leaning to the left. Ba'ruch Ah'tah Ah'doh'nai Eh'lo'hay'nu Melech ha'o'lam ah'sher kidishanu b'mitz'vo'tav v'tzee'vanu al ah'chee'laht ma'ror.

It is often enjoyed with bitter herbs, matzo — or for many charoset-lovers — enjoyed directly out of the bowl. It is sweet but not saccharine, crunchy and crisp from the apple and nuts, and the cinnamon and wine round out the flavors.

Charoset is one of the symbolic foods on the Passover Seder Plate. After reciting the blessings, and eating first maror dipped in charoset and then a matzah "Hillel sandwich" (with two matzot) combining charoset and maror, people often eat the remainder spread on matzah.

CERTIFIED – Haddar Gluten Free Pretzels are certified gluten free and Kosher for year round use including Passover.

Needless to say, unleavened bread is still made from wheat and is not gluten-free. But don't worry! There is now excellent gluten-free matzah on the market and well as many gluten-free products this time of year!

Regretfully, because one can only perform the mitzvah of eating matzot at the Seder with a matzah that is made from one of the five varieties of grain (barley, wheat, rye, oats, and spelt), eating matzot using any of the other flours that are gluten free would still not enable one to fulfill the mitzvah.

This Easy Passover Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe is just as chewy and delicious as the cookies that you make during the rest of the year. The difference is that these cookies use almond flour instead of matzo cake meal meaning that they are naturally gluten free and kosher for Passover.