Millions of Jewish families all over the globe are prepping for Passover — an eight-day religious festival that, once a year, turns matzo into one of the most popular commodities at certain grocery stores.
In 2022, Passover starts the evening of Friday, April 15 and ends at sundown on Saturday, April 23. Those observing Passover will celebrate by eating matzo and holding Seder meals, while sticking to common kosher practices — which means they’ll be avoiding certain foods, specifically leavened breads. But what does keeping kosher even mean — and do foods like rice, corn and oatmeal count as unleavened bread?
Keeping kosher requires that observers — among following other religious practices — refrain from eating pork or shellfish and to only eat meat that has been slaughtered according to specific rules, which includes a rabbi supervising to make sure the meat is kosher. Kosher food rules also extend to the way foods are prepared and served — for example, those who keep kosher can’t eat dairy and meat at the same time.
But during Passover, there’s an additional rule — for those who keep kosher and those just observing the annual Jewish holiday. For eight days, observers are basically on a gluten-free diet as well and have to avoid all leavened breads. It can be tough to tell which foods are and aren’t kosher for Passover, especially common items like rice, corn, beans and oatmeal. And it turns out the answers vary, and typically depend on a person’s Jewish ancestry.
Ashkenazi Jews, who are of European descent, have historically avoided rice, beans, corn and other foods like lentils and edamame at Passover. The tradition goes back to the 13th century, when custom dictated a prohibition against wheat, barley, oats, rice, rye and spelt, Rabbi Amy Levin said on NPR in 2016. Because rice and legumes were sometimes mixed with wheat — which is avoided during Passover unless it’s in its unleavened form, matzo — those items were avoided, too, according to the Times of Israel.
The kosher food rules have been controversial for about as long as Passover has existed, Levin said, “simply because the custom prohibits foods that are, according to Torah law, which is like the Jewish Constitution, permitted to be eaten.” According to the rabbi, the rule was “geographically limited.”
But the kosher food rules have since changed. In 2015, the Rabbinical Assembly, a global group of Conservative Jewish rabbis, ruled that rice, corn, beans, popcorn and other similar items that were previously prohibited would be allowed at Passover Seders, NPR reported.
These new kosher foods have always been a part of the diet of Sephardic Jews, whose ancestry goes back to the Middle East, North Africa and other areas around the Mediterranean Sea. Legumes and grains are considered kosher, and rice, bean and lentil dishes have long been served at Passover.
So, if you’re hosting a Seder dinner this year, feel free to add a rice and beans dish to the table.
Correction, April 14
The original version of this story misstated the nature of Passover-related dietary restrictions. Observers avoid eating leavened breads, not unleavened breads.
FAQs
Most major kosher certifying agencies place a “P” next to their seal on such products. The kosher for Passover symbol indicates that the item is kosher for Passover. The only grain product that is ever kosher for Passover is matzah, and it must be certified as such.
What foods can you not eat for Passover? ›
Justine Sterling is a New York-based writer and editor specializing in food, wine, and spirits. During Passover, Ashkenazi Jews traditionally stay away from not only leavened foods like bread, namely barley, oats, rye, spelt, and wheat, but also legumes, rice, seeds, and corn.
What are the 6 Passover foods? ›
There are at least five foods that go on the seder plate: shank bone (zeroa), egg (beitzah), bitter herbs (maror), vegetable (karpas) and a sweet paste called haroset. Many seder plates also have room for a sixth, hazeret (another form of the bitter herbs).
Is pasta ok for Passover? ›
The matzah (a thin, cracker-like flatbread) that we eat on Passover is baked under controlled conditions that do not permit the thin bread to become leavened. The pasta we eat year round is made from wheat flour and is not baked under those conditions. For this reason we do not eat it on Passover.
Are potatoes OK for Passover? ›
Potatoes may be the most common ingredient because there are so many varieties, and it is the ubiquitous food when it comes to Passover. No need to use the plain-old white potato; vary your mash.
What vegetables are not kosher for Passover? ›
Produce which cannot be peeled, such as berries or peppers, are not eaten by these people. There are also a few vegetables — such as garlic, ginger, and radish — which certain communities don't eat for various reasons.
Is rice ok for Passover? ›
These new kosher foods have always been a part of the diet of Sephardic Jews, whose ancestry goes back to the Middle East, North Africa and other areas around the Mediterranean Sea. Legumes and grains are considered kosher, and rice, bean and lentil dishes have long been served at Passover.
What does כרפס mean? ›
Haggadah Section: Karpas. The word karpas [כרפס] appears only once in the Bible, in the phrase ותכלת כרפס חור u'tekhelet karpas hur, that is found in the Book of Esther. In this context it means "a fine linen," using a word borrowed from the Sanskrit or Persian kirpas.
What are Passover food rules? ›
For eight days (seven in Israel), Jews traditionally avoid eating food made from leavened grain. Most significantly, this means avoiding any bread or bread products, with some Jews additionally abstaining from any grain product, including beer, pasta, oatmeal and most liquors.
What did Jesus eat on Passover? ›
If the Last Supper was a Passover dinner, held by Jews then as now to commemorate the exodus from Egypt, the meal would have likely included lamb. Scripture provides us with another clue: unleavened bread and wine were also on the menu.
Additionally, it should only contain ingredients that are specifically designated as kosher for Passover, like 100% peanuts that have been processed solely through pasteurization. By following these guidelines, you will be able to eat peanut butter during the Passover holiday.
Can you eat potatoes during Passover? ›
Vegetables: Fresh vegetables, such as carrots, potatoes, green beans, broccoli, and lettuce, are all kosher for Passover. It's important to thoroughly wash them to remove any traces of chametz (leavened grains).
Are eggs kosher for Passover? ›
Eggs. It is preferable to purchase eggs before Pesach. Egg whites and pasteurized eggs are available with an OU-P. Please refer to the product search or the OU Passover guide for a complete list.
Is bacon kosher for Passover? ›
The laws of kashrut always apply, but not all Jews keep kosher. Non-kosher foods include bacon and shrimp, among many others. Soybeans are also considered kitniyot. For vegetarians who do not eat it, getting through Passover can be difficult without a plant-based protein like tofu.
