Cannot Find Maror Abroad

Urgent!!! Hello, we traveled with the extended family abroad, and we don't have kosher lettuce and celery for maror, only what is sold here in local stores. We wanted to know about maror, is it possible to soak well in water with soap and wash thoroughly, or is there another option? Or should we not eat it at all? Thank you very much.

Hello,

If you can obtain chicory, known as endive in English, it is very common in Europe.

If only lettuce is available, you can eat only the stalk,

Cleaning rules for the stalk:

It is recommended for those who want to use only the stalk, such as for the Passover Seder. Checking the central stalk of the lettuce is simple and easy: peel off the small protrusions left from the leaf veins using a vegetable peeler or knife and wash it thoroughly. Cut the stalk and observe if there are tunnels caused by worms that sometimes penetrate through the root of the lettuce and remove the affected area.

You can also eat the leaf veins, the thick part of each leaf:

Cleaning rules for the leaf veins:

Cleaning is relatively easy and quick: cut off the entire green part of the leaves with a sharp knife so that the veins are straight and smooth.

Rub each vein with a sponge, nylon brush, or cleaning pad like Scotch-Brite, etc. You must rub the vein along its entire length and on both sides, wash the veins under a strong stream of water to check the veins. Anyone who wants to avoid any doubt should, after these actions, check them against a light source or cut the veins with a knife along their entire length.

If there is no choice and you need to use the leaves themselves, the rules are as follows:

Before checking, thoroughly clean the lettuce from the many insects found in it and from the dirt stuck to it, clumps of soil, etc. Thorough cleaning makes checking easier.

The first stage of cleaning can be done in three ways. Method A: thorough cleaning by rubbing and soap. Recommended for lettuce with long and straight leaves, Arabic lettuce. It is advisable to choose lettuce with straight and smooth leaves as much as possible. Tear the leaves from the stalk and soak them in a bowl with water and a little cleaning liquid for about three minutes or a soft sponge dipped in water. Rub each leaf on both sides. During cleaning, make sure to rub the entire surface of the leaf, especially the folds. Wash each leaf thoroughly on both sides under a strong stream of water, ensuring that the water stream reaches every fold and corner.

This cleaning removes all insects from the surface of the leaf, and the leaves must be checked against a light source to see if any fly larvae remain within the thickness of the leaf. The check is against a light source as detailed in the second stage. In countries where the leaf miner fly is not found, checking the leaves after thorough cleaning is not mandatory. However, it is recommended to check against a light source at least the first few times cleaning with this method to ensure that the cleaning is done perfectly and leaves no insects. Method B: cleaning by soaking in detergent. Recommended for curly and round lettuce, such as American lettuce, iceberg, etc. Tear the leaves from the stalk and soak them in a bowl with a little cleaning liquid for about three minutes, remove the leaves and wash them thoroughly under a strong stream of water on both sides of the leaf, ensuring that the water stream reaches every fold and corner. To prevent the water from interfering with the check, shake the leaves or allow the water to drip for a few minutes. Check the leaves against a light source as detailed below in the second stage. Although this method cleans the leaves well, insects may remain, so they must be checked after cleaning. Method C: cleaning with vinegar and salt water. This method is less effective than cleaning with detergent, but since this method was customary in the past, we have seen fit to mention it.

As mentioned, cleaning with this method is less effective and does not remove all insects, so the leaves must be checked after this cleaning. Second stage: visual inspection. Lettuce is infested with insects whose color matches the color of the lettuce leaves, making them difficult to notice with regular observation, so the leaf must be checked against a light source. In this way, the leaf becomes transparent, and any foreign body on it can be detected. Hold each leaf with both hands against a light source and systematically scan the entire surface. Make sure to straighten and check every fold and edge on both sides of the leaf. If it is an insect, it should be removed. It is advisable to remove it along with a piece of the leaf or wash it under a strong stream of water. Hold the leaf on a light table. The most effective lighting is a desk lamp or between the eyes of the inspector and a desk lamp directed towards the inspector, or spread the leaf on a light table and scan the surface of the leaf. Checking on a light table is easier. A light table is a box with a white plastic cover inside which a lamp is installed. You can also check in daylight, such as against a well-lit window, but not against the sun itself, which dazzles and interferes with the check. Checking against a ceiling neon is inconvenient because the light coming from the sides interferes with vision, and the hands will quickly tire due to constant lifting. After checking, store the checked leaves in the refrigerator or in a closed plastic bag.