What is there for a wheat gluten allergy sufferer on Passover?

March 23, 2007 11:06 AM

What is a Matzos substitute for someone with a wheat gluten allergy?

Passover is almost upon us, and I'm serving dinner to a group that includes meat eaters, vegetarians, and a meat eater with a wheat gluten allergy. I was veggie for years, so I'm going to wow them with my vegetarian-eggplant-matzos-lasgana and I'm doing baked chicken to satisfy the meat eaters.

However, I am stumped by what to serve the wheat-gluten allergy during the sedar as a substitute for matzos!

I am not super religious, and the fellow with the wheat gluten allergy isn't even Jewish, so I don't think it's worth it to order him a special kosher-for-passover rice cake. However, I am reluctant to serve a regular rice cake, because usually draw my religious line at not having breadlike risen items at Passover dinner. I *will* for an allergy, but only if the hive can't think of something better.

All ideas appreciated!

posted by paddingtonb to food & drink (12 comments total)

Gluten-free mock matzo
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:18 AM on March 23, 2007

Google "celiac matzoh": other people have asked similar questions already.

In particular, there's this recipe. Doesn't sound too complicated or long (ten minutes?)...
posted by suedehead at 11:19 AM on March 23, 2007

Thanks for the suggestions! I was thinking of something a little bit easier, like maybe substituting with romaine lettuce? Something he can use in the place of the matzos to make the charoset and horseradish sammy.

Now you've got me feeling guilty because I don't really want to bake special matzoh. I've got a lot of other things to cook and I don't know that the gluten free matzoh would be really appreciated since the guy's not actually jewish. I just want him to be able to participate.

Any thoughts on vegetable type items that will hold up and taste good with apples and horseradish?
posted by paddingtonb at 12:57 PM on March 23, 2007

how about some potato rounds? cut a russet potato about half an inch thick and fry on each side. i would leave them a little underdone if you need the structural support.
posted by thinkingwoman at 1:03 PM on March 23, 2007

I think lettuce or celery would work fine for matzo substitutes during the seder itself. Or how would you feel about having pappadums at your seder? I'm sure they're technically chametz (leaven), but they're not Wonderbread either. Or kosher for passover potato chips! Salty, but should satisfy everyone's needs.
posted by bassjump at 1:07 PM on March 23, 2007

corn tortillas? (check for 100% corn)

Veggie crisps (I think they're in the potato chip section here at the local Whole Foods store, and that they're made mostly of corn starch and various vegetables for flavor/color)
posted by amtho at 1:17 PM on March 23, 2007

Corn isn't kosher for Passover in the Ashkenazi (Eastern European, which accounts for most American Jews) tradition. It is in the Sephardic tradition, though.

Personally, I think straight-up matzoh is pretty nasty, so I can't imagine what fake matzoh must be like. I like the Romaine idea.
posted by mkultra at 2:01 PM on March 23, 2007

www.glutenfreeoatmatzos.com
for local locations call 732 363 8102
- ad in a local paper
posted by Izzmeister at 2:09 PM on March 23, 2007

mkultra: corn etc. is kosher for passover, except ashkenazic jews do not EAT it (term: kitniyot). however, it is universally accepted as kosher (a vegetable can't be non-kosher...)

but to bring into a kosher home on passover is no problem (corn starch is used on ultra-religious babies on passover during a diaper change...)

:)
posted by Izzmeister at 2:32 PM on March 23, 2007

Interesting, thanks for the clarification.
posted by mkultra at 3:06 PM on March 23, 2007

Clearly, my own personal mores have nothing do do with the actual laws, 'cause I don't want to serve him tortillas even though nothing prevents him from eating them. I'm going to go with celery I think, but I really appreciate all the ideas and comments!
posted by paddingtonb at 10:31 AM on March 24, 2007

There is oat matzoh and spelt matzoh. You can find both here, or in a kosher store in a Jewish neighborhood.

http://www.matzohonline.com
posted by schoenbc at 11:56 AM on March 27, 2007