Best 3 Sephardic Charoset Recipes

Charoset is a sweet, nutty paste or relish served at the Passover Seder, representing the mortar used by Israelite slaves to build Egyptian structures. It is typically made with apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and honey, although there are many variations. This article offers three distinct charoset recipes: a classic charoset, a Sephardic charoset, and a modern charoset with a unique twist.

The classic charoset offers a traditional blend of apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and sweet red wine. The Sephardic variation includes an interesting medley of almonds, pistachios, figs, and orange zest for a more vibrant flavor profile. Lastly, the modern charoset introduces dried cranberries, orange juice, and a touch of chili powder for a sweet and slightly spicy finish. With detailed instructions and helpful tips, this article will guide you in creating delicious and meaningful charoset variations to enrich your Passover Seder.

Let's cook with our recipes!

SEPHARDI CHAROSET

Sephardi charoset image

Traditionally, Sephardi charoset is made to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover. The dessert wine, sweet dates and fragrant cinnamon give it a festive feel

Provided by Victoria Prever

Time 15m

Number Of Ingredients 6

Ingredients

100ml-120ml sweet dessert wine, red wine or grape juice
110g raisins
55g medjool dates, or regular dates, finely chopped
55g dried apricots, finely chopped
large pinch of cinnamon, plus extra to taste (optional)
60g whole almonds, toasted

Steps:

Heat 100ml wine or grape juice in a pan. Bring to a simmer and add the dried fruit and cinnamon. Simmer gently until the liquid is syrupy and the fruit tender, about 5-6 mins. If the liquid evaporates before the fruit has softened or starts to dry out, add another 20ml of wine or grape juice. Turn off the heat and leave to cool.
Tip the toasted almonds into the small bowl of a food processor and pulse until you have larger and smaller pieces, but no whole nuts. Tip them into a mixing bowl, then spoon the cooled fruit mixture into the food processor and pulse until it starts to form a paste, but still has some bigger lumps of fruit remaining.
Scrape the fruit into the mixing bowl with the nuts and stir to combine. Add a pinch of salt and taste, adding more cinnamon and salt to taste, if you like. Will keep for several days in an airtight container.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 188 calories, Fat 6 grams fat, Carbohydrate 25 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 24 grams sugar, Fiber 2 grams fiber, Protein 4 grams protein, Sodium 0.05 milligram of sodium

SEPHARDIC DATE CHAROSET

Sephardic Date Charoset image

This is a close approximation of my grandmother's recipe. She used (and I prefer) red wine instead of grape juice, but the option for no alcohol is there for you.

Provided by Alyssa 3

Categories Spreads

Time 1h15m

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 5

Ingredients

1 lb pitted dates
1 1/2 cups warm water
8 tablespoons sweet kosher red wine or 8 tablespoons grape juice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

Steps:

Soak dates in saucepan in water for an hour. Then bring to a boil and simmer for about 45 minutes till they are nice and soft and breaking down.
Drain any excess water.
Put dates in food processor with cinnamon, slowly adding wine as needed to form a semi-smooth puree.
Pulse or stir in walnuts.
Adjust ingredients to taste.
Serve on matzah.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 294, Fat 6.7, SaturatedFat 0.6, Sodium 3.7, Carbohydrate 58.8, Fiber 6.8, Sugar 48.3, Protein 3.4

SEPHARDIC CHAROSET

Sephardic Charoset image

Provided by Adeena Sussman

Categories Food Processor Fruit Nut No-Cook Passover Raisin Date Banana Red Wine Kosher Honey

Yield Makes about 4 cups

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

20 pitted dates, preferably Medjool
3 bananas
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup sweet red wine such as Manischewitz Extra Heavy Malaga
3 tablespoons date syrup (silan) or honey
1/2 cup walnut halves, toasted
1/2 cup unsalted shelled pistachio nuts (not dyed red), toasted
1/2 cup whole almonds, toasted
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground cloves

Steps:

In food processor, purée dates until smooth. Add bananas, raisins, wine, and date syrup and process to combine. Add walnuts, pistachios, almonds, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves and process until smooth. Store, covered, at room temperature until ready to serve.

Tips:

Use fresh ingredients. This will give your charoset the best flavor.
Don't be afraid to experiment. There are many ways to make charoset, so feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavors.
Make sure your charoset is the right consistency. It should be thick enough to hold its shape, but not so thick that it's difficult to eat.
Serve your charoset chilled. This will help the flavors to meld together.
Charoset can be made ahead of time. This makes it a great dish for busy families.

Conclusion:

Charoset is a delicious and symbolic dish that is enjoyed by Jews around the world during Passover. It is a reminder of the Israelites' slavery in Egypt and their eventual freedom. Charoset is also a symbol of hope and new beginnings. If you've never tried charoset before, I encourage you to give it a try. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy it!