Is quinoa allowed on Pesach for Sephardim?
Quinoa on Pesach for Sephardim
Question
Answer
Yes, quinoa is allowed on Pesach for Sephardim, but buy it kosher for Passover.
Sources
The Gemara and the Rambam establish that only the five grains (wheat, spelt, barley, oats and rye) can become chametz. Rice, millet and other kitniyot do not leaven; they only decay. The Shulchan Aruch rules accordingly that rice and other kitniyot “do not come to be leavened, and it is permitted to make a cooked food from them.” The Rema adds that the custom in Ashkenaz is to be strict. That is an Ashkenazi custom, so Sephardim, who follow the Shulchan Aruch, may eat quinoa, which is not one of the five grains.
- Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 453:1 — rice and other kitniyot do not become chametz and may be cooked on Pesach; the Rema notes that Ashkenazim are strict.
- Rambam Hilchot Chametz uMatzah 5:1 — the prohibition of chametz applies only to the five species of grain; kitniyot such as rice and millet cannot become chametz.
- Gemara Pesachim 35a — only things that can leaven count for matzah; rice and millet are excluded because they do not leaven but only decay.
Author
Rabbi Shay Tahan
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