This post was written by Delicious Israel Guide and content marketer extraordinaire Nikki Fig, who inspires us to quarantine better and stay balanced with her morning yoga, meditation, and Bloody Marys.

Passover is a wine lover’s dream. I mean, when else is four glasses of vino not only allowed, but actually mandated by holiday law? But as much of a fermented grape enthusiast as I am, even I must admit that sometimes I need to switch things up a bit. When seder night is over and I’m left with six chametz-free nights ahead, it’s the promise of a fun cocktail that lifts my spirits again. Silly puns aside, can’t we all agree that mixing, shaking, meddling and eventually sipping can be oh-so-therapeutic in times like these?

And while we often get lost in what’s forbidden, there’s actually a lot behind the bar that’s totally kosher. So in honor of our mass exodus, consider making one (or all) of these Israel-inspired, kosher for Passover cocktails.

Ground Rules

Before you start pulling bottles out of the liquor cabinet, use this helpful (and newly created) commandment to guide you: Thou shall not imbibe anything grain-based.

In other words, most varieties of beer, scotch, whiskey and gin will be sidelined for the next seven days, but stock up on that tequila, brandy, Arak and potato-based vodka (hello, Tito’s!) because they are now your new best friends.

Note: some of the recipes below include kitnyot (legumes). If you don’t eat kitnyot on Passover, you may need to omit a few of the ingredients.

Za’atar Paloma

The Paloma doesn’t get as much attention as her more famous cousin, the margarita. That’s a shame, because she gets the party started just as effectively without the risk of becoming obnoxiously sweet, a not uncommon occurrence for margaritas. This Paloma recipe gets an Israeli twist thanks to our beloved za’atar. And bonus, it requires just four ingredients: tequila, grapefruit juice, sugar and za’atar-- plus a lime, if you’re feeling extra fancy.

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz. Patrón silver tequila
1 oz. fresh grapefruit juice
1 oz. homemade za'atar simple syrup
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Lime wheel (to garnish)

Directions: Add all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until well combined. Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice and garnish with a slice of lime.

Recipe adapted from Liquor.com

The Green-Tox

While Californians may take all the credit, insiders know that freshly squeezed juice shakes were a morning staple long before the fad infiltrated the West Coast. Green juice typically refers to any combination of green veggies and fruit mixed or blended together to create a super healthy, savory-sweet beverage. This is the perfect time to experiment with making your own, but you can also find at your local juice shop or even ready-to-go varieties at the supermarket.

This cocktail calls for nearly equal parts green juice and potato vodka. In the age of coronavirus quarantining, this means it’s perfect for either day or night. The results? A refreshing cocktail that can almost pass as “healthy” - it counts in our books!

Ingredients:

2 ½ oz. green juice - any homemade or store bought variety you love is great

2 oz. kosher for Passover Vodka (Tito’s is great!)

Lime slice and fresh mint sprig for garnish

Directions: Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Serve in a glass, garnished with a slice of lime and a sprig of mint.

Recipe adapted from Organic Authority

Brandy Alexander with Hawaij

Here at Delicious Israel, we have long touted the benefits of Hawaij for Coffee (and Hawaij for Soup, but that’s a story for another time!) to spice up just about anything, from your morning coffee to essentially any baked good. Hawaij for Coffee is a spice blend popularized in Israel by Yemenite Jews and is typically used to deepen the flavors of strong black coffee. It varies from vendor to vendor, but expect to taste some warm, comforting variety of cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and nutmeg. Read more about it in our recipe for Hawaij Hot Chocolate.

This dessert cocktail is no exception to our rule that if you can eat it, it can be made better with hawaij! The combination of brandy, chocolate liqueur, cream and the warm spices of Hawaij for Coffee is all but addictive, making it the perfect indulgence that’s still totally within the rules.

Ingredients:

1 oz. brandy (most brandies are inherently kosher, but if you’re being stringent, then check in advance)
1 oz. chocolate liqueur (here’s one that’s kosher for Passover)
1 oz. heavy cream
Hawaij for Coffee, to taste

Directions: Shake brandy, chocolate liqueur and heavy cream with ice. Strain into a coupe glass if you have - if not, any cocktail glass of your choice. Sprinkle with Hawaij for Coffee spice to taste.

Recipe adapted from NYT Cooking

Spiked Limonana (aka Limonarak)

There’s no beverage more classic Israeli than limonana (lemonade with mint leaves), and Arak is Israel’s national liquor of choice. So combining the two really is a match made in Israeli heaven. This recipe is not only easy to make, but the Arak can also be easily omitted if kids want in on the action - let’s face it, quarantine has been tough for them too!

Ingedients:

1 ½ oz. homemade mint simple syrup
1 ½ cups roughly torn or chopped mint (yes, go nuts here!)
3 oz. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Seltzer
Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

Directions: Combine the lemon juice and mint simple syrup. Stir to combine. Top with seltzer to taste, add a handful of ice and garnish with mint leaves.

Recipe adapted from Food52

Nikki Fig and the whole team at Delicious Israel wish you a Happy Passover / Chag Sameach! Show us (@deliciousisrael) your cocktail creations on Instagram or in our brand-new Delicious Israel Community group on Facebook!