What Are Kitniyot and Gebrokts?

Kitniyot refers to  grains and legumes such as rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, peas, lentils, mustard, sesame seeds and poppy seeds which are traditionally not eaten by Ashkenazic Jews on Passover.

Gebrokts is a yiddish word that refers to matzah that has come in contact with water, many hassidic Jews refrain from eating Gebrokts on Passover.

Coming from a family that has both Kitniyot and Non Kitniyot members on Passover I can honestly say that at times it’s a bit overwhelming. I remember the first Passover spent with my sister and her new husband who didn’t eat Kitniyot or Gebrokts!

My mother printed out lists of foods and spices they couldn’t eat and that holiday we all ate a Kitniyot and Gebrokts free seder.

9 Years later we seem to have mastered the integrated Passover meal. We have two soups, multiple mains, and overall it works flawlessly.

Here are some things we have learned over the years. When preparing for a seder like this we try to separate a few things.

1. Make all your mains without kitniyot or Gebrokts and keep your kitniyot dishes separate so that the mains are able to be eaten by everyone.

Here are some delicious mains you should try kitniyot and gebrokts free, but not a sacrifice:

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Brisket in a Pot with Garlic is a prefect filling main that is full of flavor and has no kitniyot or gebrokts!

Rosemary Walnut Crusted Salmon with Garlic Aioli is another delicious main course option that caters to everyones passover dietary needs.

2. Split Up your Soup!

Since Matzo balls pose an issue for those who refrain from Gabrokts we have found a way to make it simple. Make one large chicken soup. Split it up into two pots one that will have matzo balls and one that won’t. Make sure to fill the one without Matzo balls with loads of vegetables so no one feels like they are missing out.

Try Combining these two Recipes for the ultimate Matzo Ball Soup- Classic Chicken Soup  & Passover Matzo Balls. 

These Passover Matzo Balls have that perfect spongy texture we wait for all year round.

If you are a true matzo ball fan you absolutely must try  this ‘MOD’ Matzo Ball Soup that is packed with delicious vegetables and mouthwatering flavors.

Here are some great side dishes that can be easily separated to accommodate Kitniyot and non Kitniyot eaters!

Wild Rice with Carrots and Beets will brighten up your seder table with delicious flavors and colors.This dish can easily be separated into a vegetable dish and a rice dish. Just make extra vegetables and keep them separate from the vegetables that go into the rice and now you have two great sides!

Caramelized Corn and Red Pepper Salad is a great salad option for your guests who will love these springy flavors. This salad can be made two ways, with and without corn so it is edible for everyone at your table!

Stay tuned for more tips, tricks, menus ideas and Passover tidbits with our daily Passover Countdown articles, sign up to get them in your email here, make sure to check off Passover Countdown.

Check out all of this year’s Passover Countdown posts here.