Paleo Passover

Yes, it can be done.

With Passover just one week away, I thought it a suitable time to post some alternatives to the traditional meal in order to give you enough time to procure your ingredients and prepare a lovely holiday meal.

Prompted by a desperate plea from a reader who just recently discovered his gluten intolerance and is nervous about the upcoming Seder meal offerings at his mom’s house, I thought it would be an excellent blog topic.  If you’re doing the cooking, you’ll have no problem at all keeping Paleo.

Granted, it is trickier if you’re a guest, but with a little planning and forethought, you can make that work as well.  Check in with the host or hostess before hand and either ask what you can bring or explain your food sensitivity and see if it’s ok with them to bring a dish or two to share with everyone.

I would also ask you to note in advance, please, that this is simply coming from a dietary angle and is not intended to offend anyone from a religious perspective.  I am completely aware of the symbolism of some of the foods served on this holy day, such as matzoh, which serves as “a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt, leaving no time for dough to rise.”  Please do not take offense at the omission of similarly significant ingredients, of which there are many.  

In actuality, there are gluten free matzoh crackers available these days, however they still contain grain, so they’d still not be Paleo.  Given the nature of the occasion, however, it would certainly be understandable even for someone who is Paleo to have a small amount in keeping with their cultural tradition.

With the help of a close friend who will be hosting this year’s Seder Dinner for her family, I’ve compiled the following ideas of what to prepare and eat for your holiday meal.

• Haroset- a paste made with apples, cinnamon, honey and sweet wine, you can Paleoize by swapping the sweet wine* for red.  A holiday would be the rare occasion where a small amount of honey would be acceptable.
• Beitzah:  roasted egg
• Bitter herbs:  freshly grated horseradish, endive, Romaine lettuce
• Roasted lamb shankbone
• Red Wine
• Roasted Sweet Potatoes, rather than white potatoes
• Cabbage
• Cauliflower
• Roasted Asparagus

You can end the meal with fresh fruit topped with Paleo-friendly homemade honey cocoa meringues, made with cage-free egg whites.

Enjoy!