Celebrate a Healthier Passover with Nutritious Recipes from Stop & Shop

QUINCY, Mass., March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Monday at sundown, Jewish families around the world will begin to celebrate the season of Passover.  Because food is such a central part of this eight-day holiday, Stop & Shop's Consumer Advisor, Andrea Astrachan is offering customers simple ways to infuse healthy variations to traditional recipes without sacrificing the taste ... or the matzoh balls.  

"We know healthy eating is important to our shoppers, but during the holidays it's easy to overindulge," said Astrachan. "It's simple to serve your loved ones healthy options at your Seder meal, without sacrificing familiar flavors they've come to love by making small adjustments to the way you prepare your food."

As the Haggadah states, "Let all who are hungry come and eat."  Following are a few tips from Andrea's kitchen that will lighten-up Bubbe's calorie-laden recipes:

• Add whole grains. Incorporate healthy whole grains into your Seder meal.  To avoid filling up on excess starch, serve kosher whole-wheat matzo.  You can even add whole grains into your matzo balls by mixing white matzo meal with whole-wheat matzo.
• Serve plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. By the time the Haggadah has closed, everyone is ready to eat. Fruits and veggies will help your family avoid overeating high-calorie foods and add bright colors to your table.  A simple to prepare side veggie to serve at your Seder is sauteed asparagus.
• Hold the eggs. Limit the use of egg yolks in your menu items where possible. You can make your matzo balls extra fluffy by using only the egg whites, for example.
• Spice it up. Instead of relying on oil, butter and fat, serve poultry without skin and flavor with fresh herbs and spices for a delicious, low-fat option for your main dish.

Here are a few simple Passover recipes from Stop & Shop to serve your family. For more recipes like these, visit www.stopandshop.com.

Fluffiest Matzoh Balls  

Yields: 6 servings (Serving size is 2 balls per person)

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs beaten
• 1/4 cup kosher for Passover oil (Safflower, cottonseed oil)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Pinch of black pepper
• 1/2 cup seltzer
• 1 cup matzoh meal

Steps:

Beat eggs. Combine eggs, oil, salt, pepper and seltzer in large bowl and mix. Add matzoh meal and mix to get a thick consistency. Refrigerate mixture for 1-3 hours. After mixture has settled, prepare a pot of boiling water. Shape matzoh meal mixture into multiple golf size balls and drop into boiling water. Cook uncovered for 30 minutes. Transfer to bowl, or add to your favorite chicken soup, and serve.

Simple Charoset  

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients:

• 3 medium apples
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 tablespoons Passover Concord Grape Wine

Steps:

Peel, core and grate apple. Chop nuts. Add cinnamon and wine. Variation: Try adding 1/4 cup chopped almonds, 1/4 cup walnuts for variety; add 1/4 cup chopped pitted dates.

Sauteed Asparagus

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup pareve margarine
• 2 tablespoons kosher for Passover oil
• 1 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound fresh asparagus spears, trimmed

Steps:

Melt margarine in a skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in the oil, salt, and pepper. Cook garlic in margarine for a minute, but do not brown. Add asparagus, and cook for 10 minutes, turning asparagus to ensure even cooking. Tip: Add a squeeze of lemon to enhance flavor.

About Stop & Shop

The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company employs more than 59,000 associates and operates stores throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, New York, and New Jersey. The company is a member of the US Green Building Council and has been awarded LEED (EB) certifications for 50 of its existing stores. Stop & Shop has been recognized by the EPA for the superior energy management of its stores and is also a member of the EPA's Smart Way program.

SOURCE Stop & Shop