Israeli Charoset With Mixed Nuts

By
Giora Shimoni
Giora Shimoni
A kosher food enthusiast and home cook with hundreds of published recipes, Giora Shimoni has worked in online publishing for over 20 years.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 07/3/20
Israeli Charoset With Mixed Nuts in a bowl, served with crackers

The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
322 Calories
13g Fat
49g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 322
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 1g 7%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 49g 18%
Dietary Fiber 7g 26%
Protein 6g
Calcium 56mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Charoset—a mix of fruit, nuts, and wine meant to remind us of the mortar the enslaved Israelites used in their building—is one of the essential symbolic foods eaten at the Passover Seder. This charoset is like a crossover between Ashkenazi and Sephardi-style recipes. It mixes the apples and walnuts often found in Eastern European charoset with bananas, raisins, almonds, and pistachios—ingredients that show up in various Sephardi or Mizrachi versions. Customize the texture to suit your taste. 

Ingredients

  • 4 to 5 medium apples (green Granny Smith, peeled and cored)
  • 2 bananas
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/4 cup almonds
  • 1/4 cup pistachios
  • 1/4 cup pecans
  • 2-4 tablespoons red wine
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Optional: 1/2 teaspoon sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Israeli Charoset With Mixed Nuts ingredients in bowls

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  2. In the work bowl of a food processor fitted with an "S" blade, combine the apples, bananas, raisins and nuts. Pulse several times, scraping down the sides of the work bowl if necessary, until the charoset reaches a lumpy-like paster, or until your desired consistency. 

    Apples, bananas, raisins and nuts in a food processor

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  3. Transfer the fruit-nut mixture to a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of wine, the orange juice, and cinnamon, and stir well to combine. Taste the mixture, and add sugar if desired to sweeten the charoset. Add more wine, a tablespoon at a time, if you'd like to moisten the mixture and intensify the wine flavor. 

    Israeli Charoset With Mixed Nuts in a glass bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

  4. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. 

    Israeli Charoset With Mixed Nuts in a bowl with a spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Maxwell Cozzi

Tips

  • Leftover charoset will keep, covered in the refrigerator, for 5 to 7 days. 
  • If you prefer a more textured charoset, you can skip the food processor and make the recipe by hand. Finely chop all of the ingredients with a large, sharp knife or a mezzaluna. 
  • Many charoset recipes specify the use of a sweet wine, such as Manischewitz. But thanks to the natural sweetness of the bananas and raisins, this one works nicely with a dry red. 
  • Not sure what to do with leftover charoset after the seders? It's a surprisingly versatile condiment. Try it with leftover turkey or meat, dolloped on fish, or spooned over quinoa for breakfast. If you set some aside to keep pareve, it's also great with toasted cheese on matzo or mixed into yogurt.