There’s nothing quite like fresh horseradish for Passover.
My most vivid childhood memory of the various Passover rituals is my father coming
in from the porch, crying like a baby. It was his job to grate the horseradish.
Every year I salute his efforts by making ‘chrain’ for my own family (and often enough to
give to friends). I use a processor, but cry anyway. Though the window is open, there’s
no escaping the angry fumes. Like a nuclear cloud, they suck up all the oxygen. So be
advised: when you remove the processor lid (to stir, to taste), stand back, breathe
through your mouth, and if you have them, wear goggles.
Sydney and Ida’ s Horseradish
Makes 355 to 473 ml (1 ½ to 2 cups)
355 ml (1 ½ cups, packed) .7 cm (1/3-inch) dice peeled horseradish root (about 198 grams/7 ounces)
60 ml (1/4 cup) sugar
4 ml (¾ teaspoon) Morton’s coarse kosher salt or 6-7 ml (1 ¼ -1½ teaspoons) Diamond Crystal
177 ml (¾ cup) distilled white vinegar
118 ml (½ cup) finely grated fresh beet (optional)
Blend the first 3 ingredients in a processor until very finely ground, scraping down the
sides of the bowl once or twice. Add the vinegar. Blend until the horseradish is thick and
fluffy. If desired, blend in the grated beet (the texture will be looser). Adjust to taste with
salt and/or sugar by 1/4 teaspoonfuls, and with vinegar by tablespoonfuls. Refrigerate
tightly closed in a glass container for up to 2 weeks.
Now that you’ve made fresh horseradish for Passover, use leftovers after Passover in Skirt Steak with Horseradish Potato Salad.