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Passover Tips
No Jewish holiday has a more complex set of dietary rules than Passover and there is no
single agreed upon method of observing these rules. Ahskenazim and Sephardim have a
totally different set of rules because Sephardim ignore the issue of kitniyot.
Amongst the Ashkenazim there isn't even agreement as to which grains are considered
kitniyot. The one point that all of the rabbis do agree on is which grains constitute
chametz. Rye, wheat, spelt, oats and barley are the five forbidden grains that are chametz.
I am NOT a rabbi and I am NOT offering advice on kashrut. I am not telling you what is
allowed or disallowed on Passover. You alone are responsible for the kashrut of your
own kitchens! Now that I have the disclaimers out of the way, let's talk about something
that I do know about and that is nutritious food preparation.
No matter what your level of religious observance, there is no reason to eat white
flour matzahs and potato starch which offer almost nothing nutritionally beneficial to
your bodies. It is not necessary to compromise nutritionally during passover. Aviv and
Yehuda make organic whole wheat matzahs made in Israel and kosher for passover. Whole Foods
is now carrying these and many kosher stores can special order if you request early enough.
You can also get organic, whole wheat shmura matzahs from your local Chabad. These are handmade, round and the most kosher of all matzahs.
However, they are expensive. To make nutritious matzah
meal, simply place several sheets of whole wheat matzahs in your food processor and whirl
until they become the consistency of coarse bread crumbs.
Many rabbis find that quinoa flour is not classified as kitniyot. Both
Portobello Mushrooms
with Quinoa and
Asparagus Over Mushroom Quinoa are recipes using only vegetables and quinoa. Also, try
making a batch of
Mint Pistachio Relish. It will add delightfully different pizzazz to whatever dish you are
serving. This Passover, try
Ginger Lovers'
Yam Soup,
Luscious Butternut Soup or Creamy Carrot Soup.
They are all vegetable based, very filling and contain no kitniyot.
Chestnut flour, made purely from chestnuts, which are nuts, is also a possibility to
consider during passover. (You can find many sources for chestnut flour on-line.) You can also
grind almonds in your food processor and use almond meal as a flour. Dessert recipes that you
can enjoy during Passover can be found in the
Sponge Cakes
article. Those recipes can be made with either chestnut or quinoa flour. Vanilla Custard
has no leavening or grains and makes a delightful dessert or snack for passover.
Using my Vegan Kishke
recipe there is no need for chicken fat. I use the whole wheat matzo meal described above, lots of vegetables
and sparing amounts of healthy vegetable oils.
However strict your observance, have a wonderful holiday.
 
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