#charosis

[ronniefein]

Passover is in a few weeks! So - I will be demonstrating some special family holiday recipes on March 20th at Temple Beth El in Stamford, CT. Here’s what’s on the menu: a colorful and unusual dried fig and coconut Charoset (recipe is in the profile and on my website) plus a really easy recipe for roasted salmon. I’ll also make some luscious salmon hash and finally, an up to date version of grandma’s dried fruit compote (those recipes are also on my website). It’s gonna be fun! Hope you can come if you live nearby! #passover #passoverrecipes #pesach #pesachrecipes #passover2023 #pesach2023 #cookingdemo #fooddemo #charoset #charoseth #haroset #charosis #figcharoset #coconutcharoset #roastedsalmon #salmonhash #driedfruitcompote #driedfruit #compote #stewedfruit #steweddriedfruit https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpi7hymrtL3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[allofthefeelings]

Headcanon: Squirrel Girl has has never been one to get involved in Latke Topping Discourse (they're both good!), but she has *strong* opinions about charosis.

Doreen once found out some people make charosis without nuts and realized that she is 100% not a supervillain because if anything could have possibly driven her there, this would be it.

[ronniefein]

Need a new charoset? An extra one? You can make this one in a flash and it is NUT FREE. We use it as a side dish, not just for the Seder plate. It goes with brisket, turkey, lamb and everything else. Recipe in the profile and on my blog. #chagpesachsameach #charoset #charosis #haroset #driedfigcharoset #driedfruitcharoset #driedfruit #driedfigs #figs #passover #passover2019 #pesach #pesach2019 #seder #sederplate #seder2019 https://www.instagram.com/p/BwaVoOIHAbX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=eswhpjnicsi0

[ronniefein]

Dried Fig and Coconut Charoset

Every year I make two charosets for our Seders: the family favorite (a Persian style with pistachios, dried fruit and a hint of cayenne), and also a new one.

Last year the newbie was this Dried Fig and Coconut charoset. It was a BIG HIT!

It’s easy to make, you can make it ahead and it is NUT FREE.

Dried Fig and Coconut Charoset

1 cup chopped dried figs

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries

1 navel orange

1 cup flaked coconut

2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup apricot jam

1/4 cup sweet white or red Passover wine

Combine the figs, apricots and cherries in a bowl. Peel the orange and remove the outer white pith (leaving only the orange flesh). Cut the flesh into small pieces and add to the bowl. Add the coconut, ginger, cinnamon apricot jam and wine and mix ingredients. Let rest for at least one hour (preferably several hours) before serving. May be made a day ahead.

Makes about 3 cups

[ronniefein]

Nut-Free Haroset

Passover has it's culinary challenges, it's true, but if you're like me, and have a kid with food allergies you are used to reading labels and figuring out substitutions throughout the year. I actually never minded this part. The fears of what could happen to my daughter if she ate fish or certain nuts, plus the medication and trips to the ER when it did happen were enough to motivate me.

Looked at it in a positive way, the Passover prohibitions plus the allergy no-nos are actually ways that have made my cooking more creative.

I like that.

Obviously, we do not have traditional Ashkenazi haroset at our Seders. My daughter can't even be in the same room as a walnut. She can eat pistachios and almonds, so our usual family haroset with dried fruit includes these.

But -- why take any chances? Because it's possible that one nut allergy could be a warning against all others, my daughter doesn't eat any nuts, in haroset or anything else. On Passover I always serve a second version that's nut-free.

Here is this year's:

Nut-Free Dried Fruit and Apple Haroset

1/2 cup chopped dried figs

1/2 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

1/2 cup raisins

1 apple, peeled, cored and chopped

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg

1/3 cup apricot preserves

4-5 tablespoons sweet red Passover wine

pinch of cayenne pepper 

Combine the figs, dates, apricots, raisins and apple in a bowl. Add the nutmeg, preserves, wine and cayenne pepper and mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Let the mixture stand for at least one hour before serving. 

 Makes about 2-1/2 cups

[ronniefein]

This time of year thoughts turn to charoset! Including charoset ice cream. Really. #charoset #haroset #charosis #passover #icecream #seder #passover2017 #food52 #thefeedfeed Recipe in profile

[ronniefein]

Need nut-free haroset for Passover? Try this one with apples and dried fruit. We use it as a side dish, not just on the Seder plate. Recipe in profile and on blog. #haroset #charoset #charosis #seder #passover #pesach #sidedish #driedfruit #jewishholiday #kosher #jewishfood

[ronniefein]

Sugar and Spice Mangoes

I made this for breakfast today but am seriously thinking for next time: chop the mangoes and use this recipe as haroset for my Seder! Why not??

Sugar and Spice Mangoes

one small Ataulfo (Dominican) mango

one teaspoon crystal sugar (or regular sugar)

sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg, cinnamon and cayenne pepper

Slice or chop the mango, sprinkle with the sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon and spices. Mix. Let rest for 5 minutes.

Makes 2 servings

[ronniefein]

DRIED FRUIT HAROSET WITH GINGER AND CORIANDER

Please see the note below -- not everyone eats sesame seeds during Passover.

Although I usually like to cook new foods and experiment with recipes, when it comes to the Jewish holidays I more or less prepare the same things my mother and grandmother served in their day. For the first night of Passover that means chicken soup with matzo balls, roasted turkey, chremslich and macaroons. And several side dishes, such as braised leeks and tomatoes, roasted carrots, some quinoa dish or other -- and so on.

But I can't help myself, even for this very traditional meal -- I always add a new dish or two or three.

Sometimes it's a side dish, sometimes a dessert.

Sometimes I'll add an additional haroset to my usual one.

That's it for this year. Here's the one: Haroset with dried figs, ginger and coriander.

NOTE: I understand that not everyone eats sesame seeds during Passover (sesame seeds are kitnyiot). Please follow according to your tradition. The haroset is delicious even without the seeds. If you prefer, scatter the top with chopped toasted almonds instead.

DRIED FRUIT HAROSET WITH GINGER AND CORIANDER

1 cup chopped dried figs

1/2 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

1/2 cup raisins

1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground coriander (nutmeg, cinnamon)

1/3 cup apricot preserves

4-5 tablespoons sweet red Passover wine

1 tablespoon lightly toasted sesame seeds

Combine the figs, dates, apricots and raisins in a bowl. Add the ginger, coriander, preserves and wine and mix until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Let the mixture stand for at least one hour before serving.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

Makes about 2-1/2 cups

[ronniefein]

Charosis is more than a blob of stuff that sits on the Passover Seder plate. Sure, we talk about it during the Haggadah reading. It's there to symbolize the mortar used between the bricks that Jewish slaves used to build the pyramids for the ancient Egyptian pharaoh.  

But it's also food. In our family, another fabulous side dish, more like a relish, that we eat plenty of during the meal.

None of us ever really loved the old fashioned apple-wine mixture that most of us Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern European descent grew up with. It always tasted a bit sour and it got brown and ugly and besides, my daughter Gillian can't eat walnuts and somehow almonds didn't taste right in the mixture.

So, years ago I experimented with lots of recipes and found one I liked. It was a "Persian" recipe that I changed over and over until I got it the way I liked. At first my kids refused to eat it saying they would rather eat real mortar than this new charosis. But over the years they gradually came to love it and now insist they always did or at least can't remember when they didn't. 

I double the recipe I am going to post here because it's so good we eat a lot of it and besides, this relish lasts a while in the fridge so you can keep on having it all during Passover.

I've written about charosis at Jamie Geller's Joy of Kosher site. There are more recipes too. You can read the whole thing and get the recipes here: http://joyof.kosher.com/2011/03/21/old-world-charosis-gets-a-hip-makeover/

But for now and for here, is our family's favorite Haroset recipe (I've used that spelling because it is based on the Sephardic original):

Haroset with Pistachios and Pepper

1 cup chopped dried apricots

1 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup raisins

1 cup shelled pistachio nuts

1 cup chopped almonds

2 tart apples, peeled, cored and chopped

2/3 cup sweet red Passover wine

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons grated fresh orange peel

2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 cup orange marmalade

Combine the apricots, dates, raisins, pistachio nuts and almonds in a bowl and toss ingredients to distribute them evenly. (You can prepare this much a week ahead).

Add the apples, wine, vinegar, orange peel, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne and marmalade and mix ingredients. Let rest at least 4 hours before serving. May be made 3 days ahead. Makes about 6 cups.