History American Haroset for Passover

[donna]

Passover is from April 3 through 11 this year. One of the traditional dishes for Passover is an apple and walnut haroset. This is one of the symbolic foods of Passover, with its texture meant to suggest the mortar used by Israelites when they were enslaved in Egypt.

There are many variations on the theme, including the Sephardic-style, made with dried fruits, nuts and sweet wine. This dessert is from "Bold" by Susannah Hoffman and Victoria Wise, Workman, 1995. It is the addition of dried cranberries that makes them call it American.

American Haroset

2 tablespoons pistachios
2 tablespoons almonds
1/4 cup diced dried apricots
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 tablespoons chopped lemon rind
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons honey

Rub the pistachios in a kitchen towel to remove the skin, roughly chop. Toast pistachios and almonds in a skillet or microwave until fragrant and toasty.

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce to medium and simmer gently for 15 minutes until thick and sticky and the fruit is soft, stirring frequently. If it begins to stick, add a little more water.

Cool, refrigerate in a jar. Will keep for months in the refrigerator.