Passover Charoset ( Apple and cinnamon treat)



Chopped Apples, Cinnamon, apricots, walnuts, OJ, and grape juice ground into  Passover Charoset

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Charoset is a quick and easy recipe for a rich cinnamon and apple flavored nutty spread that is an absolute delight to the taste buds. It is also so healthy because it iis all real food, gluten free, and vegan.

It is technically a traditional Passover ceremonial food for the Seder plate. It is supposed to look like the mortar that the ancient Hebrews used to make buildings for the Pharaohs.( the frogs are reminiscent of one of the ten plagues).

There are as many  recipe versions of charoset as there are countries. In the Middle Eastern countries, they make their charoset using tropical fruits like dates, figs, etc. My mother in law ( who lived in Egypt) makes a version with  lots of dates and raisins. It needs no sweetners because it is naturally sweet ( recipe below). It makes a great spread for kids instead of jelly.

People of Eastern European background use apples in their recipe. I've also heard all kinds of recipes from countries like Morroco, Yemen, Africa, etc that may contain three kinds of different nuts, bananas, prunes, etc.

My version of Charoset is a Eastern European version similar to the Charoset that my Russian grandmother used to make with apples, cinnamon, and walnuts.  However, At my Seder table, I will have two versions of Charoset . One will be my mother in law's and the other will be my grandmother's version.




My mother in laws Pasty Middle Eastern Charoset ( soaked dates and raisins) makes a delicious jam



My grandmothers Apple, walnuts, cinnamon, apricot Charoset makes a chunky spread




Ingredients for Charoset

After the Seder ( the Passover ceremony night) , we continue to enjoy eating charoset all week long as a snack on matzo.. So,  no matter if you celebrate Passover or not, Don't skip over this one,  you gotta try charoset ( on a little matzo)

Ingredients for my grandmother's Charoset.

2 large red apples, chopped in small chunks( I used organic and left the peel on)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup grape juice or sweet red wine
8 dried apricots
1/4 tsp. cinnamon or more to taste
freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 orange

Directions:
Put everything in a food processor with metal blade.
Whiz a few times quickly on off  on off
Makes a chunky paste

Eat on Matzoh.. or any salt less cracker



Prefer the Middle Eastern Charoset which is like a jam or paste and tastes great ?

Ingredients:
2 cups raisins, soaked
1 cup pitted dates, soaked
Gound walnuts for a topping ( optional)

Directions:
Soak raisins in a bowl overnight ( or at least 2 hours)
Soak pitted dates in a bowl overnight ( or a least 2 hours)
Drain  well in the morning
Put raisins and dates in a food processor and process a few time until mixture is well mixed
Eat on matzoh

Another Passover Recipe: Passover Pizza



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Shared on Beth Fish Reads Weekend Cooking