Edamame Nachos can be Kosher for Passover (or...not)!


I intended to update practically every day this week to chronicle how I was getting through Passover without succumbing to the all-too-common cake-and-matzah diet. I have had several peers express intrigue over my keeping Passover: "Oh, wow! That must be a great detox" because, you know, you're not supposed to eat wheat, barley, oats, rye, and a whole bunch of other things. You tell this to a group of health-conscious Nutrition majors and they hear, "you can't eat refined carbs! No dessert, no bagels, none of that stuff - excellent!" But this, of course, is not the case. Jews would not tolerate a holiday that involved a full week of such deprivation, so we have instead created matzah-derived flours and other such baking mediums. Therefore, the only thing we wind up not being at a loss for is kosher cakes and brownies - I cannot tell you how many servings of flourless chocolate cakes, brownies, apple cake, sponge cake, and other various confections I have consumed over the past week, and that's while making it a point to cut back on the usual Passover dessert consumption. It's just easier to eat a piece of flourless chocolate cake for breakfast than try to fill yourself up on fruit and yogurt, and it certainly takes up less prep time than eggs. You see how easy it is to justify horrendous eating habits during Passover?

However, the end of the academic semester threw a knife into my plans for diligent updates regarding my more laudable (and perhaps somewhat pretentious) approach to Passover. Trying to study for 4 advanced science exams at the same time, in case you didn't know, is unquestionably impossible - not to mention the other end-of-year responsibilities falling down on Us Collegians this time of year. So, forgive me. I hope everyone had a fantastic Passover and Easter, and that I'm not the only one enjoying a sudden and dramatic climatic shift into Summer (finally)! 

So, without further adieu, I bring to you the Passover-Friendly Edamame Nachos, which is a wonderful way to mask matzah (or, since tonight ushers in the chametz-eating period again, a perfect way to enhance a tortilla chip!) and get some nice protein in while you're at it. I'm always looking for fun, healthier ways of enjoying what is, essentially, bar food, and I think it's safe to say that this is a very tasty alternative to what would normally be a very heavy appetizer drenched in a whole lot of flavor, but not enough nutrients to meet my criteria for an actual dinner recipe. It comes together in practically negative seconds, and has this beautiful blend of sweet and savory, creamy and crunchy. I think using some sort of smoky spice (smoked paprika, curry powder, etc.) and a touch of sea salt to the finished product would take this dish to a whole new level (these additions are reflected in the recipe below), perfect for your next I-need-a-quick-dinner situation or sports-viewing party alike.

One Year Ago: Lamingtons

Edamame Nachos, adapted from Dixie Chik Cooks
Yield: 1 main dish serving, 2 appetizer servings

The Ingredients
1/2 cup cooked/thawed, shelled edamame beans
1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon curry powder or smoked paprika
1 clove garlic
1 layer of onion
1-2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 piece of matzah, broken into chip-size pieces, or a handful of tortilla chips
shredded cheese of choice, to taste
kosher/sea salt, to taste


The Method
Preheat the oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease with either cooking spray or a scant amount of oil or butter. Spread the matzah or chips over the foil and set aside.

Place all of the ingredients except the matzah, cheese and salt into a food processor and pulse until well mixed but still a little chunky (adjust according to personal preference). Spread the edamame mixture over the matzah/chips, sprinkle with the cheese, and place in the oven to cook for 5-7 minutes, or just until the cheese has melted and chips/matzah has browned ever so slightly (this happens very quickly). Remove from the oven and sprinkle with a small amount of salt, and serve.

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