Passover is almost here! The 8 day celebration is a favorite celebration for a great reason: in commemorating the story of Moses, it honors freedom everywhere. Modern day Jewish people refrain from eating leavened bread to reflect on the Israelites’ quick flight out of Egypt and their perseverance through the desert. Given the restriction on yeast, many Passover recipes weave matzoh crackers or matzoh meal and eggs into delicious and inventive meals.
But of course, if you’re allergic to wheat or eggs, this holiday can be challenging. And finding safe products poses a problem for those who wish to observe the holiday and participate in the traditional Passover dinner, called a seder.
Thankfully, companies have begun to take note and gluten-free Passover products are MUCH easier to find today than they were when my son was first diagnosed with a wheat allergy almost 12 years ago.
From matzo crackers to graham crackers, creamy chicken soup to the ever-essential matzo ball soup, and desserts galore, gluten-free alternatives are finding their way onto shelves in supermarket and are available for shipment online.
Egg is often used more often during Passover to lighten dishes and replace traditional leavening ingredients. But what if you are allergic to eggs? Kugel, gefilte fish, matzo balls, and matzo brei are all held together with egg. Not to mention desserts?!
Of all the Passover recipes, matzo ball soup (a year-round favorite as well) is the most loved. And, the hardest to recreate without eggs. Enter aquafaba [read more about aquafaba here: “Okay, I Give… What is Aquafaba?”, Oct. 2016].
The Tablet magazine printed a recipe by Rebecca Klempner [“Matzo Ball Soup – And Hold the Eggs?!”, Aug. 15, 2015] that uses aquafaba combined with xanthan gum to solve our problem:
In trying to recreate your favorite Passover recipes, remember that you can use aquafaba, banana, tofu or apple sauce in place of eggs depending on taste and method of preparation.
What are your Passover recipes? Which Passover dish do you need help recreating safely? (Maybe another reader has mastered it!)