Passover is one of the most important Jewish holidays, commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Celebrated in the spring, Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew) is an 8 day festival with specific dietary restrictions as part of the ritual observance. During Passover, Jews abstain from consuming leavened bread or grains and eat only unleavened bread called matzo. This commemorates the biblical story of Exodus, when the Israelites left Egypt in a hurry and did not have enough time to allow their bread to rise before baking. The avoidance of leavened food products is central to Passover observance. This brings up the question – can you eat flour tortillas during Passover? Let’s find out.
What are the Passover dietary restrictions?
According to Jewish law, during the week of Passover, Jews are prohibited from consuming chametz, which refers to grains or food products such as bread, pasta, cereal, cake, biscuits and more. These items are made from five species of grain – wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt. Additionally, Jews also avoid rice, corn, beans and other legumes during Passover. The avoidance of chametz commemorates the fact that the Israelites left Egypt in a hurry and did not have enough time to allow their bread to rise before baking.
Specifically, Ashkenazi Jews also avoid kitniyot which refers to corn, beans, rice, millet and certain other legumes. Sephardic Jews do however consume kitniyot during Passover. To determine if a food item is kosher for Passover, ashkenazic Jews read the labels looking for five types of forbidden grains, while sephardic Jews look for only the presence of leavening agents.
Are flour tortillas chametz?
Flour tortillas are made from wheat flour, which is one of the five forbidden grains. Most flour tortilla varieties also contain leavening agents like yeast and baking powder to make them puffy and soft. This means that flour tortillas are considered chametz and are not kosher for Passover for both ashkenazic and sephardic Jews.
Since wheat is prohibited on Passover, flour made from wheat would also be forbidden. And flour tortillas by definition contain wheat flour as the main ingredient. The presence of leavening agents further confirms their status as chametz.
Ingredients in flour tortillas
Here are some common ingredients found in flour tortillas:
- Wheat flour – forbidden grain
- Water
- Oil – canola, vegetable or olive oil
- Salt
- Leavening agents – yeast, baking powder (makes it rise)
- Preservatives
- Emulsifiers
- Stabilizers
- Anti-caking agents
- Flavor
- Color
As you can see, flour tortillas contain wheat flour and leavening agents, both prohibited on Passover.
What are some Passover-friendly alternatives?
While traditional flour tortillas are forbidden on Passover, there are some acceptable alternatives that allow observant Jews to enjoy tortilla-style flatbreads during the holiday:
Matzo Tortillas
As matzo is the acceptable unleavened bread for Passover, it can be utilized to prepare tortilla-like flatbreads. Matzo tortillas are made by blending matzo crackers into a meal along with non-grain ingredients. This matzo meal dough is then rolled into thin rounds and cooked like tortillas.
Lettuce or Cabbage “Tortillas”
Using lettuce or cabbage leaves in place of tortillas allows you to wrap savory or sweet Passover-friendly fillings into vegetable-based wraps. Romaine lettuce and cabbage leaves can be washed, patted dry and used as veggie tortilla replacements.
Almond Flour Tortillas
Replacing regular wheat flour with finely ground almond flour makes it possible to create Passover-safe tortillas. The batter is made using almond flour, oil, eggs and seasoning. Baking powder helps them rise just like traditional tortillas.
Coconut Flour Tortillas
Coconut flour is naturally free of leavening and does not contain prohibited grains, making it an ideal substitute for wheat flour. Mixing coconut flour with eggs and oil allows you to fry coconut tortillas on a skillet for Passover.
| Passover-Friendly Tortilla Alternatives | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Matzo Tortillas | Matzo meal, oil, eggs, water |
| Lettuce or Cabbage Wraps | Romaine lettuce leaves or cabbage leaves |
| Almond Flour Tortillas | Almond flour, oil, eggs, baking powder |
| Coconut Flour Tortillas | Coconut flour, oil, eggs |
Are corn and flour tortillas different for Passover?
Yes, corn and flour tortillas have different kosher status for Passover:
Flour Tortillas
– Contain wheat flour which is prohibited
– Leavened product with yeast/baking powder
– Considered chametz
– Not kosher for Passover
Corn Tortillas
– Made from corn which is kitniyot
– Unleavened flatbread without yeast
– Not considered chametz
– Permitted on Passover by Sephardic Jews
– Forbidden by Ashkenazi Jews
So while corn tortillas made of just corn flour and water avoid the issue of leavening, they fall under the definition of kitniyot which is prohibited by Ashkenazic Jews. Sephardic Jews do permit corn tortillas since they allow the consumption of kitniyot.
What do labels indicate for Passover?
When shopping for Passover, observing Jews look for special labeling on packaged foods that indicate suitability for the holiday:
Kosher for Passover – Indicates the item does not contain prohibited grains or leavening agents. Usually marked with “KFP”.
Kosher for Passover for Sephardic Use – Special labeling that highlights acceptability for Sephardic Jews who eat kitniyot like corn, rice and beans.
No Kitniyot – Useful for Ashkenazi consumers, this shows that while kitniyot may be present, the five prohibited grains are not included.
Passover Supervision – Shows a rabbi has inspected and approved the production of the food item to ensure adherence to Passover rules.
Reading labels carefully enables observant Jewish consumers to identify and purchase foods that meet the dietary restrictions of Passover.
What bread products are acceptable for Passover?
Since leavened breads and grains are forbidden on Passover, the only “bread” product that is permissible is unleavened matzo. Here are some matzo products kosher for Passover:
- Matzo crackers – plain, whole wheat, egg and onion varieties
- Matzo meal
- Matzo farfel – cracked matzo pieces
- Matzo brei – French toast made with matzo instead of bread
Additionally, the following non-grain flour products can be used to prepare Passover breads and baked goods:
- Potato starch
- Potato flour
- Tapioca flour
- Nut flours – almond, coconut
Observant Jews avoid any leavened bread, crackers or flour products during Passover unless they are labeled kosher for Passover. Matzo is the only bread consumed, along with unleavened baked goods prepared from nut and vegetable flours.
What about tortillas made with spelt or barley flour?
Spelt and barley flour are two of the five grains that are forbidden on Passover. Since spelt and barley are considered chametz, any products made from them would also be prohibited during the holiday. This includes spelt flour tortillas and barley flour tortillas.
Even though spelt and barley flour don’t contain gluten, they are still off limits for Passover. Ashkenazi Jews avoid all five grains – wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt. So tortillas made with spelt or barley flour would not be permissible.
The only exception would be if the packaging is specially marked ‘Kosher for Passover’. Sometimes spelt flour is permitted if processed in a manner that removes any leavening concern. But otherwise, tortillas with spelt or barley flour are considered chametz and should be avoided on Passover.
What about oat flour tortillas?
Oats are also one of the prohibited grains for Passover. This means that oat flour, along with any products containing or made with oat flour are chametz and not kosher for Passover. While oat flour doesn’t contain gluten, it falls under the forbidden grains for ashkenazi Jews during the holiday. Even if the oat flour is not rye, barley or wheat, it would still be considered chametz and needs to be avoided by observant Jews. So oat flour tortillas are not permissible.
Can you eat quinoa, soy or other grain-like seeds?
While quinoa and soy are not considered true grains, Jewish religious authorities differ on whether they can be consumed on Passover:
Quinoa
Most kosher authorities allow quinoa since it is not a true grain but rather a “pseudocereal” seed unrelated to prohibited grains. Some rabbis forbid quinoa due to concerns about cross-contamination with grains. Check for Passover certification to be sure.
Soy
Soy is typically permitted on Passover and products like tofu, edamame and soy flour may be consumed by most Jews. However, some prohibit soy out of concerns over kitniyot or grain production techniques.
String Beans
String beans are kitniyot and prohibited by Ashkenazi Jews on Passover. Sephardic Jews allow them since they eat kitniyot. Check labeling to confirm no grains are present.
Rice
Rice is kitniyot and not eaten by Ashkenazic Jews. Sephardic Jews do eat rice during the holiday. Ensure no mixing with forbidden grains.
So the consensus is that quinoa is permitted, while soy, string beans and rice depend on your custom. When in doubt, look for Kosher for Passover certification.
Conclusion
In summary, flour tortillas are not permissible for Passover because:
- They contain wheat flour which is prohibited
- The presence of leavening makes them chametz
- Flour tortilla ingredients like wheat, yeast, are forbidden on Passover
However, acceptable substitutions can be made using:
- Matzo meal
- Nut flours – almond, coconut
- Lettuce or cabbage leaves
While corn tortillas avoid the issue of grains, they fall under kitniyot which is prohibited for Ashkenazi Jews. Careful label reading helps identify foods that comply with the dietary laws of Passover. With some creativity, Jewish food traditions can be maintained while still enjoying some tortilla-style flatbreads during the holiday.