When the spring holidays roll around and I’m celebrating with family, I always put out a big meal with Passover recipes like rack of lamb, matzo ball soup, matzo crack and of course this fresh and delicious apple charoset. Passover is one of the biggest Jewish holidays of the year, and you can’t have a Passover dinner without charoset. This blend of apples, cinnamon and honey is an essential part of the holiday, and it also happens to be totally delicious!
Charoset Ingredients
To make this charoset recipe you will need shredded or finely diced apples, toasted walnuts, lemon juice, honey, cinnamon and sweet red wine.
How Do You Make Charoset?
When you make this charoset recipe, start by shredding or dicing your apples into small pieces. Place the apples in a large bowl along with chopped walnuts, honey, cinnamon, lemon juice and sweet kosher wine. Mix everything together, then let it sit for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator to let the flavors meld. Serve the charoset with matzo if desired and enjoy it at a Passover seder or any other time!
Tips For The Perfect Dish
I like to use a firm, sweet apple for this dish with a crisp texture. Some of my favorite varieties include Braeburn, Pink Lady, Envy, Honeycrisp and Fuji apples. You can also use a blend of different types of apples. Try adding a little Granny Smith for a sweet and tart charoset. You can make this dish with either shredded or diced apples, it’s really just a matter of personal preference. You can use a food processor with a shredding blade to chop the apples quickly. Make sure to add the lemon juice, it helps keep the apples from turning brown. I recommend toasting your walnuts for the best flavor. You can put them in the toaster oven for a few minutes, or cook them in a dry pan over medium heat until they’re golden brown and fragrant. Keep a close eye on the nuts as they can burn quickly!
Flavor Variations
While this dish is great as-is, you can add other ingredients to the mix to customize the flavors to your taste.
Fruit: Try adding in dried fruits such as raisins, currants, chopped dried cherries or chopped Medjool dates. You could also add fruit that goes well with apples such as pears. Nuts: Swap out the walnuts for almonds or pecans. Not a fan of nuts? Feel free to omit them. Flavorings: Amp up the flavor of your charoset with add-ins such as lemon zest, orange zest or ground or crystallized ginger. You could add some other warm spices like freshly grated nutmeg, allspice or a little clove.
This charoset is the perfect blend of sweet flavors and is amazing when served on a piece of matzo. Charoset is not just for the holidays, you’ll find yourself making it all year long!
Charoset Video
