Passover, the Jewish holiday that spans eight days and commemorates the freeing of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, begins this year at sunset on April 22, On the first night of Passover, families gather for Seder; a meal that includes special symbolic dishes and rituals. Here are some of the traditional Seder dishes with a Boston Organics twist:
One traditional dish is charoset: a mixture of apples, pears, nuts, and wine. Update yours by adding dried fruit like pineapples, dates, or apricots, and spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger or nutmeg or make it vibrant with beets.
Also try: Apple Charoset (with apricots, dried cranberries, honey, and crystalized ginger) or Basic Charoset.
Bubbe's (bub-ee; Yiddish word for grandmother) cure for all sicknesses, aka Jewish Penicillin. Got the blues, or a light sniffle? Chicken soup is sure to help! Stewed with hearty broth, and packed with plenty of love. *not scientifically proven to cure illnesses*
Get traditional while substituting Matzo Balls for Noodles in these recipes: Chicken with Sweet Root Vegetables, Kid-Friendly Chicken Noodle Soup, or Lazy Chicken & Lentil stew (if you eat Kitniyot during Passover). Or spice it up with Curried Carrot & Sweet Potato soup (pictured below).
While traditionally associated with Hanukkah, latkes are delicious any time of the year and a welcome alternative during bread-free Passover. These crispy fried potato pancakes are related to both French fries and fritters! What's not to love about crispy fried potatoes. The challenge when drying latkes is getting the right amount of crisp so the oil must be at a high temperature, which also minimizes any greasiness. Choose an oil with a high smoking point, pick a pan with even heat distribution, and don’t crowd the pan when you’re frying! Serve with applesauce, make your own or sour cream. Yum!
Also try: Grilled Cheese Latkes with Basil Pesto, Sweet Potato Latkes, or Vegan Baked Potato Latkes Recipe.
Matzah is an unleavened (meaning it's made without yeast or a rising agent) cracker-like bread. The crackers can be ground into a breadcrumb-like consistency, and when combined with other ingredients make matzah balls. Fluffy matzah balls are usually found floating in Bubbe's heart warming chicken soup.
Try this classic Matzo Ball Soup recipe with carrots!
Cap off your meal with a sweet treat at the end. Everyone loves these rich and fudgy flourless chocolate brownies!
What are your family's Passover traditions? How are you virtually celebrating Passover with your loved ones? Comment below!