What foods are kosher for Passover?
I am planning a seder dinner for several friends and came across a seder menu in which a salad made with quinoa was used. I am not Jewish and was wondering if anyone knew if quinoa was kosher for Passover? And if it is not kosher, is there another type of grain or unleavened product that could be substituted like couscous or barley? Thanks so much!
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13 Comments:
According to my rabbi, quinoa is kosher for passover - although you might want to check with your guests first to make sure they are comfortable with it. Couscous and barley are out.
karen r at 11:11PM on 04/07/08
Generally on processed foods that are kosher certified, there will be an encircled K on the package, but where on the package depends on the product. When preparing a kosher meal, you should avoid serving dairy and meat during the same meal, and serve no scavenger (this includes shellfish, pork, and certain finfish like catfish). Your local synagogue would have additional resources.
beth1 at 11:30PM on 04/07/08
The kosher symbol can also appear as an encircled U. I did a little googling and it looks like Quinoa is ok.
LiveToEat at 11:50PM on 04/07/08
Quinoa is being debated as to whether or not it is kitniyot. Some traditions will consume kitniyot, others won't. I'm of ashkenaz tradition, so I don't consume kitniyot. This means no quinoa, legumes, corn, and a few others. Those who follow sephardic traditions will consume kitniyot during pesach.
Also, as some have mentioned about hechsers- the OU certification is a good one to follow, as long as that's what your guests pasken to as well. Some groups prefer certain kosher certifications, as each have different requirements to obtain certification. Just becuase something is kosher doesn't mean it's kosher l'pesach. You need to make sure the food is specifically marked for passover.
http://www.kashrut.com/ should be of some help for you, both in identifying kosher for passover items, but also for finding reliable hechsers for your specific area.
EtherMaiden at 12:00AM on 04/08/08
I validate what Karen said.
To follow up to what EtherMaiden said:
I'm of ashkenaz decent and my family - including my orthodox grandmother - says yes to quinoa. I think you should ask your friends whether it's acceptable to them.
CanadianFoodieGirl at 9:59AM on 04/08/08
Agreed with all above, the quinoa should be kosher. One of the biggest worries about whether or not it is, is the fact that a lot of the quinoa is processed in the same factory with other grains, such as wheat and barley. If it does have the OU mark, it should be good. Good luck on the seder!
NinjaFluff at 10:42AM on 04/08/08
Quinoa seems to be OK because it is a grass and not a grain, and therefore exempt from the prohibitions surrounding grains, legumes, wheat, rice, etc. However, the rabbinic authorities I looked up recommend that to avoid any potential contamination from chametz that you should get a new package which is labeled "kosher for Passover" or "kosher l'pesach." Many of the kosher symbols, such as the U, the K, and the Star-K, will have a "P" next to them to indicate they are OK for Passover. Your best bet, if possible, may be to shop in the Passover section of your local grocery. Good luck with your Seder!!
sixsonnets at 11:11AM on 04/08/08
The orthodox union has a pretty comprehensive listing of kosher for Passover foods. You can look them up at http://www.ou.org or just google OU passover guide.
Stufsocker at 11:45AM on 04/08/08
Oh yea, while quinoa is controvercial (i use it and enjoy it) DO NOT USE COUS-COUS OR BARLEY! Neither is in any way anywhere near being kosher for Passover.
Stufsocker at 11:47AM on 04/08/08
I agree with what Karen said too. Quinoa would probably be your best kosher for passover bet. On passover, we usually serve a lot of kugels as our side dishes to keep the starch parts of the meal intact. Potato kugel, apple kugel, vegetable...you name it! Just make sure it's kosher for passover :) (not all kugels are!)
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 12:05PM on 04/08/08
Thanks everyone for all of the help. I am making passover dinner for a friend and it is her favorite holiday so I am kind of nervous about messing something up :/
Jj6407 at 7:31PM on 04/08/08
Good luck, Jj! Hope it turns out great.
Christina at 8:50PM on 04/08/08
Here are some additional resources:
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/jewish/Passover.htm
http://www.epicurious.com/recipesmenus/holidays/passover/recipes
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Holidays-and-Events/Passover/Main.aspx
CanadianFoodieGirl at 10:46PM on 04/08/08