How TO CELEBRATE
PASSOVER

The Passover seder (from the Hebrew word for “order”) is a symbolic celebration where family and friends gather at the table—and where certain foods bring the story of Passover to life. Matzo, an unleavened bread that represents ancient Israelites’ hurried escape from slavery in Egypt, when there wasn’t time to wait for dough to rise, is perhaps the most familiar of those foods. But every item on the seder table holds some special meaning.

THE Seder plate

The focal point of any Passover table, the seder plate, features five ceremonial foods:

• Karpas, a vegetable or herb, such as celery or parsley, is dipped in salt water to suggest the tears shed by the slaves.
• Maror, a bitter herb, typically horseradish and/or romaine lettuce, represents the bitterness of slavery.
• Haroset, a mixture of apples, nuts, and spices, signifies both the hard labor they endured and the sweetness of liberation.
• Z’roa, a roasted lamb-shank bone, represents the paschal (lamb) sacrifice the Israelites made on their exodus from Egypt.
• Beitzah, a roasted egg, symbolizes spring, renewal, and fertility.
• Plus, the four glasses of kosher wine prescribed for every adult symbolize the four stages of their journey: freedom, deliverance, redemption, and release.

Tip

Rather than having a communal seder plate, create one for each individual at the table; this one features the five symbolic foods, with both romaine and horseradish representing maror.

 

passover desserts

When it comes to baking, matzo meal is often employed to replace standard flours for cakes, cookies, pie doughs, and pastries. Nut flours are another option—and are classic ingredients in European-style tortes (and many modern gluten-free recipes). Since dairy products often contain additives (and so are not kosher), some people avoid those, too. Instead, use coconut oil, non-dairy creamers, or “kosher-for-Passover” chocolate and other ingredients.

flourless options: More often, flour-free treats are in order, and there are a surprising number to choose from.

• Meringues—basically, beaten egg whites with sugar and vanilla or other flavorings—can be baked into disks and then layered with kosher curd or coconut cream and fresh fruit.
• All sorts of cookies can be prepared, including coconut or almond macaroons.
• Flourless chocolate cake is perhaps the most classic holiday dessert, substituting butter with coconut oil.

matzo crackers: These make dessert even easier—and very delicious.

• For matzo bark, cover two whole crackers (side by side in a rimmed baking sheet) with melted dark chocolate; before it sets, sprinkle with chopped toasted nuts and flaky sea salt; chopped candied ginger and grated orange zest; or toasted flaked coconut.
• Stack the crackers, icebox-cake-style, with whipped “cream” and coat with chocolate ganache (both made with coconut cream or non-dairy cream of choice); top with fresh raspberries and shaved dark chocolate.
• Make matzo s’mores, sandwiching toasted marshmallows (under the broiler, if preferred) and chocolate-bar squares between crackers.