Laurie467's Charoset Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ pound pitted dates
- ½ pound dark raisins
- 2 apples
- ¼ cup chopped almonds and/or ½ cup chopped walnuts
- cinnamon and allspice to taste (figure on about a ½ teaspoon of each to begin)
- ½ cup (about) of sweet red wine – either one of the traditional Passover wines or a Madeira or Marsala
Method
Finely chop the dates and raisins. Soak them in a bowl of hot water for several hours – or overnight. Pour the bowl’s contents – water and all – into a saucepan or kettle, peel and grate the apples and add to the pan, bringing the contents to a boil. Once the pan has come to a boil, cut the heat the a low simmer, stir occasionally (with a wooden spoon) and, as you do, mash the contents against the sides of the pan to thoroughly squash it, and to process it into a smooth, thick paste. (An electric blender may also be used, but that yields a very smooth paste – some individuals prefer it, some do not). Add about half of the almonds and/or walnuts, stir into the paste and allow the mixture to cool. Just before serving, stir in the wine.
Traditionally, this is served in a footed glass bowl. Sprinkle the remaining nuts over the top before serving.