Apple and Toasted Walnut Charoset

This apple and toasted walnut charoset Passover recipe is a sweet relish of fruit and nuts that is bound together with honey and a bit of Passover wine.

Every year Jews from around the world congregate to celebrate Passover with a Seder. The evening begins with the reading of the Haggadah, which tells the story of how the enslaved Jews escaped Egypt. Along with the four cups of wine, the table is adorned with a Seder plate that includes a number of symbolic items. There are bitter herbs to commemorate the bitterness of their enslavement in Egypt, a roasted shank bone to remember the lamb offering, and spring herbs that are dipped into salt water to remind us of the tears that were shed. But what gets most of the attention on the Seder plate is the sweet charoset.

Charoset is a symbol of the mortar that the Jewish slaves used. It is one dish that kids and adults alike look forward to each year for its sweet nutty goodness. Charoset is a sweet relish of fruit and nuts that is bound together with honey and a bit of Passover wine. It has many different spellings and just as many versions, depending upon the country where you live.

Ashkenazi (eastern European) Jews make a simple apple and nut mix. Sephardic Jews (Spanish, Asian and African) enjoy their charoset with roasted mixed nuts and dried fruit, and it is often cooked. It looks like fruit compote with nuts. Jews from other countries add chilies, spices and even chestnuts.

If you want, using this Apple and Toasted Walnut Charoset recipe as a guide, substitute for the apples with dried fruit such as figs, dates, apricots, cherries or cranberries. And instead of the walnuts, try a mixture of pistachios, cashews and almonds. Make sure to add the cinnamon, honey and wine. Don't forget to toast the nuts to bring out their rich flavor and moisten the dried fruit with hot water or wine. With a food processor, puree or finely chop the nuts and then pulse in the fruit. Add the honey and spices and more wine, if needed. Watch how fast it disappears off the Seder plate.

This Apple and Toasted Walnut Charoset Seder recipe can be made up to 4 hours in advance.

[ Click Here for More Jewish Recipes and More Passover Recipes ]

Apple and Toasted Walnut Charoset

    Prep Time: 15 minutes

    Cook time: 5 minutes

    Yield: Serves 6

Apple and Toasted Walnut Charoset Ingredients

    1 1/4 cups chopped walnuts

    1 Granny Smith or other green apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped

    1 Fuji apple, peeled, cored and finely chopped

    3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

    1 teaspoon orange zest

    2 tablespoons honey, or to taste

    3 tablespoons sweet Passover wine

    Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Apple and Toasted Walnut Charoset Recipe Instructions

    1. Heat a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add walnuts and toss gently over the heat until they begin to brown lightly and become fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Finely chop the walnuts.

    2. When the walnuts are cool, combine all the ingredients together in a medium bowl and mix well. Taste for seasoning. covered and kept at room temperature. Just before serving toss to combine the ingredients and drain any excess liquid. Serve in a glass bowl garnished with fresh mint leaves.

[ Click Here for More Jewish Recipes and More Passover Recipes ]

Diane Rossen Worthington is an authority on new American cooking. She is the author of 18 cookbooks (click here), including "Seriously Simple Holidays: Recipes and Ideas to Celebrate the Season," and also a James Beard award-winning radio show host.

Available at Amazon.com:

Healthy Cooking for the Jewish Home: 200 Recipes for Eating Well on Holidays and Every Day

1,000 Jewish Recipes

Simply Organic: A Cookbook for Sustainable, Seasonal, and Local Ingredients

 

Subscribe to Receive our Gourmet Recipes


Sweet Treat for Passover - Apple and Toasted Walnut Charoset Seder Recipe

World-renowned chefs with an extraordinary passion for food share their passion on iHaveNet.com. These chefs make great cooking easier than imagined. Each gourmet recipe features expert advice and an easy-to-make recipe. Exactly what you need to transform your home cooking from acceptable to delectable

© Tribune Media Services Inc.