O.K. - the title is from Fiddler on the Roof....
This is a "heritage" dish that everyone loves that tries it.
But - this "side dish" is my favorite of the Pesach ( Passover ) foods. It is called Charoset ( hu-row-set) - which means "mortar" or "clay", as it stands for the mortar used to hold the bricks together that were being made for Pharaoh.... In some regions - it is pounded/ground to make a smooth paste. Still tasty - but not as interesting to look at.
This is my favorite way to do it, and using the things I like. It is a combination of Ashkenazi ( Eastern European) and Sephardic ( Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece) ingredients. But you can make it with what you like.
Because I never had a recipe - I make this from what I re-call having watched it being made. Thus the "non-recipe"
1- apple - peeled and diced
2 - handfuls of pecans, coarse chopped
2- handfuls of walnuts, coarse chopped
2- handfuls of pistachios, coarse chopped
2- handfuls of dried cranberries
2- handfuls of raisins
2- handfuls of dried figs - diced
2- handfuls of dried persimmon - diced
Add 1/4 - 1/2 cup of orange juice - as needed to moisturize and soften dried fruits
1 - pinch of salt
cinnamon, honey and all spice to taste.
Mix well and allow to rest at least 2 hours - preferably overnite in the fridge.
I absolutely love this as a summer side dish ( anytime of the year
) served with chicken or fish - it is great. It is also great on ice cream.
