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Very Veggie Pesach 2015: Zucchini Alfredo


My friend Polina sent me a link to The Joy of Kosher's recipe for Zucchini Noodle Alfredo last week. I made it over the weekend, and it was a tasty and pretty easy to prepare vegetarian kosher-for-Passover option. Thanks, Polina! I won't presume to do a better job of presenting the recipe than the original creator, so you can follow the link above, but I thought I'd add a few comments and suggestions from my own experience with it, and also run down the kashrut issues to watch out for.

I cut the zucchini using a Veggetti device that I got at Bed, Bath and Beyond a few months ago. It's really great for cutting zucchini or yellow squash into spaghetti-like strands (not so great for cutting anything firmer, but I eat a lot of zucchini). My friend Rachel also pointed out that you could simply cut it into thin slices with a carrot peeler.

I wasn't patient enough to wait 4 hours to start cooking. I made it after drying only 2 hours, and I think it would have benefitted from the recommended drying time.

The recipe is a bit low in protein for a vegetarian main course, though not as low as I initially feared: about 5 grams per serving. Still, I'd be inclined to add some slivered almonds or chopped cashews over the top, or even a side of quinoa, to bump up the protein.

Kashrut Notes:


  • Star K's website confirms that fresh supermarket produce is not a Passover problem, which covers the zucchini, garlic, lemon peel, and parsley
  • OU's website currently states that all the extra virgin olive oils they certify year-round are kosher for Passover without any special Passover certification. Many olive oils are marked for Passover all year round.
  • Milk does not require Passover certification if it is purchased before the holiday begins. Stock up before the holiday begins!
  • Butter, cream cheese, parmesan and romano cheeses: require kosher for Passover (KFP) certification. Philadelphia cream cheese and Breakstone's butter are commonly found in regular grocery stores marked Kosher for Passover. Parmesan and romano are found in stores with a reasonable year-round kosher section. Miller's brand is certified for Passover all year round.
  • Manischewitz makes a kosher-for-Passover potato starch that is available in better Passover aisles. It is also available on Amazon.com, but only in packs of four.
  • If you decide to add nuts, be aware that nuts are a Passover problem. Nuts are normally packaged with preservatives BHA and BHT, suspended in corn oil. Make sure the cashews you use are marked kosher for Passover. These will normally be in the Passover section of stores with a better selection. If you can't find them locally, online vendor Oh! Nuts has a nice selection.
  • If you decide to add quinoa... quinoa is increasingly accepted as a Passover option, but now that it is accepted, the major certification agencies require KFP certification!
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