Passover Product Watch 2009: Knaidel Mix

Perhaps you've noticed the reappearance in Passover foods in area supermarkets.

Matzoh remains forbidden on a gluten-free diet, as it is still (unleavened) wheat, but there are many Passover products that are also wheat-free, or non-gebrokts. Among those products are some real finds, which I hope to cover in the days ahead. Even though supermarkets pre-ordered Passover foods as early as last autumn, there's little harm in asking your grocer about any of the products that might interest you. Perhaps one day more food purveyors will realize that their finer gluten-free Passover products can be marketed year-round.

One Passover product that actually seems to be increasing in availability is Lieber's Knaidel Mix, which I've covered previously in this blog. Basically made with potatoes, these dumplings can be used as alternatives to matzoh balls. Need I say more?

If you're interested, ask for it!

PASSOVER TIPS

With Passover 2008 starting on the evening of April 19, I thought I'd share some tips.

As my longtime readers might remember, for a "matzoh ball" mix I'm a fan of Lieber's Knaidel Mix (right), which is made from potatoes.

Among the gluten-free products that are suitable for Passover are treats from Shabtai Gourmet, which include old-fashioned bakery sweets such as rainbow cookies. Shabtai, which markets its products at supermarkets and health food stores as well as Amazon and FreshDirect, has been reaching out for years to gluten-free people in the greater metropolitan area and beyond, including this blogger and Mike Eberhart of Gluten Free Blog. So far I've found that, with Shabtai, preferences are surprisingly varied (for instance, Mike and I both like the Meltaway Crumbs, but he and my mom seem to like the layer cakes more than I do, and I once had a very decadent almond pasty marble cakey treat that I'm having trouble identifying at this point), so I think you could do worse than sampling various Shabtai products and judging for yourself. (It's great to have choices, isn't it?)

For the DIY crowd, Gluten-Free Bay offers many Passover recipes. And Ellen Allard at I Am Gluten Free offers her own recipes including one for a matzo substitute using a mix from Breads from Anna. Here is Ellen's accompanying video.



Source (10:15)

KNAIDEL SIGHTING!




















Yes, that's right: The ShopRite of Plainview, Long Island (Woodbury Road near South Oyster Bay Road; 516-938-0329), is carrying Lieber's Knaidel Mix for Passover. [UPDATE MARCH 26, 2007 I've also seen them at the Morton Village ShopRite, on Old Country Road in Plainview.] (As previously mentioned, Lieber's Knaidel Mix makes kosher, gluten-free potato dumplings that make very good substitutes for matzoh balls.) If going to Plainview means a big trip for you, call in advance to make sure the mix is still on the shelves.

Also in the area (along Manetto Hill Road): Fairway, Get Healthy America, and Dr. B. Well Naturally (8 Washington Avenue; 516-932-9355). Each has an well-curated stock of gluten-free foods.

Here's another kind of gf matzoh ball--the very hard kind.



Source (00:17)

ON THE BALL(S)!



















Do you remember my March post about Lieber's Knaidel Mix--said to be the best for making gf matzoh balls?

I finally tried the mix this year. Basically, we're talking potato dumplings. At first I wasn't thrilled but then I became addicted, adding them to my soup (or maybe adding my soup to them) on a daily basis. I think that seasoning (for example, adding parsley flakes) may be the key to making the most of the balls.

You may wonder: Why is today different from all other days? Why wouldn't you post about this matzoh ball mix next year, closer to Passover?

Well, here's the skinny: I understand that now could be the ideal time to request it from your local grocer so that you'll get it in time for next Passover.

THE BEST GF MATZOH BALL?
Passover is a strange holiday in some ways. For centuries, Jewish kids have recited something called The Four Questions, but it's actually one question followed by four answers. Go figure.

Of course, if you get a bunch of celiacs around a seder table, there are bound to be more questions. One would be "Who makes a good gluten-free matzoh ball mix?"

Year after year, I've heard the same answer: Lieber's. I haven't tried Lieber's Knaidel Mix myself, but I look forward to doing so eventually.

You might be able to find Lieber's Knaidel Mix in stores that sell kosher foods. It might also be available via Kosher.com and The Dietary Shoppe.

Good luck!