Patch Picks: Passover Recipes

It's time to start planning your meals for Passover, which starts April 19. Want to try something new? Lorri Lewis of  in Palo Alto suggested these five tried-and-true kosher recipes. For more recipes, Lewis says, visit jewishfood-list.com. 

1. Artichokes in Tomato Sauce

Difficulty: Easy. Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 45 minutes. Servings: 12

Ingredients: 

3 pkgs frozen artichoke hearts

1 onion finely diced
1 clove garlic pressed
4 TBSP olive oil
3 tomatoes diced
2 TBSP tomato paste
2 TBSP chopped parsley
salt/pepper to taste
juice of 1/2 lemon

Directions: Fry onion and garlic in olive oil until soft and golden. Add defrosted artichoke hearts, shake pan, let color slightly. Add rest of the ingredients, stir well, cover with water, simmer about half an hour or until cooked and sauce is reduced.

2. Almond Torte

Difficulty: Semi-easy. Prep time: 20 minutes. Cook time: 1 hour. Servings: 8

Ingredients:

6 large eggs @ room temp
1 cup sugar
grated zest of 1 lemon
10 ounces almond meal

Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add ½ cup sugar and continue beating until stiff, satiny peaks form. In another bowl beat the egg yolks with the remaining ½ cup sugar until thick and pale. Add the lemon zest and almond meal, mixing thoroughly. Fold the almond mixture into the whites. Pour into an ungreased 9-inch springform pan. Bake in oven for about 1 hour.

3. Classic Ashkenazie Charoset

Difficulty: Easy. Prep time: 15 minutes. Servings: 8

Ingredients: 

2 grated apples
1 cup chopped walnuts
sweet red Passover wine
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Directions: Mix apple, cinnamon and walnut in a bowl, add enough Passover wine to the mixture so it holds together. Can be made in a food processor. This dish is a requirement for the Seder Plate.

4. Mock Chopped Liver

Difficulty: Easy. Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 15 minutes.

Ingredients: 

3 TBSP oil
1/2 lb. chopped mushrooms
1 chopped onion
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 hard-boiled eggs
salt/pepper to taste

Directions: Saute mushrooms and onion in the oil until onions caramelize and mushroom liquid is gone. Place all ingredients in the bowl of food processor. Using cutting knife, pulse until a smooth paste forms. Serve cold with salads or spread on matza.

5. Passover Granola

Difficulty: Easy. Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 25 minutes. Servings: 12

Ingredients:

1 lb. matza farfel
1/2 cup oil
1/2 stick melted butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups mixed dried fruit
(raisins, coconut, apricot, prunes, dates, figs cut in small pieces)

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix melted butter, oil, orange juice and brown sugar. In another bowl, mix farfel and nuts. Pour liquid over the dry mix and combine well. Spread evenly on an oiled jelly roll pan. Bake for 25 minutes, turning mixture every 10 minutes. Add the fruit for the last 10 minutes. Cool completely before storing in a tightly covered container.