The time of the Passover holiday is near once again. And it brings numerous questions with it for anyone observing this Jewish holiday. The dietary restrictions are somewhat clear for those who are not following a specific diet.
Meanwhile, for those who are eating a specific diet, it may bring complex contradictions. One of those includes whether you can eat gluten-free bread on Passover. To make your life easier, here's everything you'll need to know.
History Of The Passover Holiday
The Passover is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the hardships of the Jewish ancestors in slavery under the Egyptians and celebrates the freedom they struggled for and achieved.
The history remains unclear, but the general retelling of the story is that Moses went to the Egyptian Pharaoh and, under God's command, asked him to free the Jew slaves. Each time the Pharaoh replied with a negative, God sent a plague over Egypt.
There were a total of ten plagues, and the last was the killing of every first-born. The Jews, during this plague, marked the doors of their houses with lamb's blood. The practice let the angel of death ‘pass over' that house and not take the first-born baby of the Jews. Ultimately, the Egyptian Jews were freed from slavery and migrated from Egypt.
In its entirety, ‘Exodus' is the story referred to for this historical event. This historical retelling is in the Old Testament of Torah, i.e., the Holy Book of the Jews.
When Is Passover?
Jews celebrate Passover on the 15th of Nissan, the Hebrew month. The 15th of Nissan is the date of the last plague Egyptians, relieving Jews of this plague. Therefore, each year in the spring season, Jews celebrate starting on the 15th. Israelites observe Passover for seven days, while other Jews go through eight days. For 2021, Passover will begin on 27th March up until 4th April.
Why Can't You Eat Traditional Bread On Passover?
The Jewish holiday prohibits traditional bread made from wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and oat until sunset on the last day. These grains collectively comprise the ‘Chametz' category. Chametz, in some scholarly statements, also includes leavening agents such as yeast and sourdough. Furthermore, all grain-based products made from chametz are forbidden as well.
When the Jews fled from Egypt, they didn't have time to gather their things, including leavened bread for the journey. Therefore, Jews avoid bread of these grains as a dietary restriction in their religious tradition of the holiday. The practice is to understand and celebrate the struggle of their Jewish ancestors.
For this reason, only unleavened bread, i.e., bread that doesn't rise, is eaten during the Passover days, and especially in the first two nights of the Seder dinner. Flatbread made from wheat flour that needs to be kneaded and baked under 18 minutes (the time it takes for bread to rise after coming into contact with water) is a significant food in the Passover known as Matzo.
Is Chametz Bread The Only Prohibited Bread?
Now comes the distinguishing part; the Jews further form two groups- Ashkenazi Jews and Sephardi Jews. The first group is of Jews mainly located in the areas of Eastern Europe. The latter are Jews who belong to Portugal, Spain, the Middle East, and Northern Africa.
Most Americans belong to the Sephardic group. Ashkenazi Jews prohibit consuming kitniyot alongside chametz. Kitniyot items include rice, corn, millet, dried beans and lentils, peas, green beans, soybeans, peanuts, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and mustard. The Askenazi tradition bans products of these food items too during the Passover.
The reason is that these Jews considered kitniyot to resemble chametz too closely. Another possible thought is that the mixing of kitniyot with chametz was frequent, which led to mixing up the two and making the kitniyot contaminated.
Is Gluten-Free Bread Permissible On Passover?
Manufacturers use various food items to produce gluten-free bread. A few of these include potato flour, soybean flour, tapioca flour, almond flour, coconut flour, cornflour, etc.
For the Ashkenazi Jews, any gluten-free flour version originated from kitniyot food items is restricted in Passover. Besides that, other types that are not a part of the list of kitniyot are permitted, including the commonly used almond flour and coconut flour.
Sephardic Jews, alternatively, can have gluten-free bread of flour made from kitniyot and other varieties. As a general overview, gluten-free bread on its own is not included in chametz and is therefore allowed on Passover.
However, for Askenazi Jews, the flour variety determines its permissibility in Passover. In the case it's not, you can always choose another type that doesn't have flour made of kitniyot items.
Is Gluten-Free Matzo Acceptable?
Matzo, in official terms, is a flatbread made from chametz grains that you must bake before the bread rises. Gluten-free dieters cannot eat grains enlisted in chametz anyway, which is why this is the best time for these individuals when grocery stores are bursting with gluten-free products.
Matzo is a traditional food item served in Seder, and the only Matzo that is Kosher for Passover is unleavened bread, specifically from chametz grains. Other gluten-free products can make Matzo, but it doesn't adhere to the traditions of Passover matzo.
Gluten-free dieters can also go for a gluten-free matzo version from gluten-free oats. Therefore gluten-free dieters comply with the traditions by making unleavened oat bread or forgo this part of the holiday and make their gluten-free version using any variety.
What To Look Out For
If you're buying store-bought gluten-free bread instead of making it yourself, you'll need to search for those with ‘kosher' labeling alongside the ‘gluten-free' one. Thankfully, there is a wide range of gluten-free bread available during this time and ones that are kosher for Passover.
However, gluten-free, kosher products do not give a guarantee from the elimination of cross-contamination during manufacture. Unless they are gluten-free certified, contact the manufacturer to check on the possible risks of cross-contamination, which could be detrimental for gluten-intolerant individuals.
Similarly, when suffering from any other allergies, especially dairy, you'll have to inquire about that too, since kosher products can have milk in them.
Like gluten-free products, kosher products aren't cheap to come by either. They cost more than regular products of the same food. Hence, if your budget doesn't allow it, opt for a homemade version instead.
Despite saying that, Passover is still the ideal time of the year to grab gluten-free and kosher products. Most of these varieties aren't available throughout the year.
Recipe for Gluten-Free Matzo
Ingredients:
- 1 cup All-Purpose Gluten-Free Flour
- ½ cup certified gluten-free oat flour
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- 4 tbs. extra virgin olive oil
- 5 tbs. water
- olive oil spray
Directions:
- Preheat oven at 450°F.
- In a large bowl, combine gluten-free flour, oat flour, and salt, and mix. Add in the water gradually and keep mixing.
- Once you have mixed everything, knead the dough and shape it into a ball. Then, flatten it out on a counter. Roll the dough until you acquire a cracker-like thickness. Ensure you roll it out equally from all sides.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the rolled-out dough on it. Cut it into desired size and shape. Lightly prick the top with a fork.
- Spray the crackers with olive oil. Next, place the baking sheet with the crackers in the oven.
- Bake the crackers for about 10 minutes or until you see a light-brown color.
- Serve and enjoy!
Additional Tips:
- If you are worried about cross-contamination when consuming oat flour, you can easily switch it with almond flour.
- Add the water ½ tablespoon at a time. Depending on the flour you use, you may need more or less water.
- Keep adding water until the dough forms a slightly wet texture and forms a ball. Simply add more flour if the mixture is too sticky.
Gluten-Free Matzo / Matzah Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour
- 1/2 Cup Gluten-Free Oat Flour
- 1/2 Tsp. Kosher Salt
- 4 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 5 Tbsp. Water
- Olive Oil Spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven at 450°F.
- In a large bowl, combine gluten-free flour, oat flour, and salt, and mix.
- Add in the water gradually and keep mixing.
- Once you have mixed everything, knead the dough and shape it into a ball.
- Then, flatten it out on a counter.
- Roll the dough until you acquire a cracker-like thickness.
- Ensure you roll it out equally from all sides.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place the rolled-out dough on it.
- Cut it into desired size and shape.
- Lightly prick the top with a fork.
- Spray the crackers with olive oil.
- Next, place the baking sheet with the crackers in the oven.
- Bake the crackers for about 10 minutes or until you see a light-brown color.
- Serve and enjoy!
Final Words
Observing Passover as a gluten-free dieter is incredibly simple since you already refrain from gluten grains throughout the year.
Look out for further restrictions implied by your Jewish group, and you're good to go. Remember, a gluten-free diet isn't difficult.
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