For those of you who keep Passover, you are most likely preparing for the obscene amounts of matzo you will be consuming when the holiday rolls around. Nothing about bland, brittle and unseasoned crackers sounds appetizing.
Fortunately, there is more to Passover food than just plain matzo. If you’re looking to mix up your regular Passover meals of matzo PB&Js and matzo cream cheese sandwiches, try cooking some of the many Passover meals found around the world.
Here are 5 international Passover meals that will actually get you excited for this chametz-free holiday.
1. Hallaq
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Tired of the same old apple, walnut and cinnamon charoset? Then you must try hallaq, Persian charoset. Charoset is a mixed fruit and nut dish that is usually eaten with matzo. Charoset symbolizes the mortar used by Jewish slaves in Egypt to construct the pyramids and other ancient Egyptian structures.
Hallaq not only symbolizes the Jewish Exodus from Egypt, but it highlights some of the sweet and warm flavors from Iran such as raisins, dates and pomegranates.
2. M’Soki
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M’Soki is a hearty vegetable and lamb soup with origins in Tunisia. Passover in Tunisia is sometimes called the Spring Festival. Bright colored vegetables are used in this holiday dish to correspond with the colors of spring. Lamb is a popular symbol of the Jewish Exodus out of Egypt and can be seen in many Passover dishes around the world.
3. Anjinaras
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Anjinaras is a sweet and savory Passover dish hailing from Turkey. The star of this simple dish is artichokes tossed in a mixture of fragrant Turkish flavors. Artichokes, which are grown in the springtime, stay true to the spring theme of Passover.
Fun Fact: anjinaras in Turkish is artichoke.
4. Boumuelos
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If you’re looking for a more decadent Passover treat than matzo brie, try making boumuelos. Matzo brie is a variation of French toast using matzo crackers. Boumuelos are traditionally eaten for breakfast after the first Passover Seder in Bulgaria.
Variations of this Bulgarian treat, called bunuelos, are popular in many South American countries as well as Spain, Greece, Turkey and Morocco.
5. Matzo Meal and Cottage Cheese Latkes
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Latkes, also known as potato pancakes, will never go out of style at any Jewish dinner table. This simple Russian recipe replaces potatoes with matzo meal to keep true to the dietary restrictions of Passover. Cottage cheese, a Russian staple, adds some tang to these Passover snacks.
For those of you who are getting ready to stock up on boxes of matzo, remember that your Passover meals don’t have to taste as bad as the bitter herbs on your Seder plate. These five unique and ethnic Passover dishes are great ways to enhance your Passover Seder.
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