21 Classic & Creative Rosh Hashanah Recipes To Celebrate The Jewish New Year
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Just like other Jewish holidays like Hanukkah and Passover, celebrating Rosh Hashanah is all about tradition. The Jewish New Year is celebrated by eating foods that represent reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the new one. Unlike the secular New Year's Eve, Rosh Hashanah is a bit more solemn, though is still full of celebration (so don't forget the kosher wine!). Whether you’ve been celebrating your whole life or are new to the Jewish holiday, there are some long-established simamin, or foods, that symbolize good luck in the year ahead. Our list of 63 Rosh Hashanah recipes includes these foods in both classic and innovative preparations so you can truly make the holiday your own. “Shanah tovah!”
The foods eaten on Rosh Hashanah are largely symbolic, and keeping track of their origins can be complicated. Some are religiously symbolic, like serving a “head,” because Rosh Hashanah translates to “head of the year," or serving apples and honey, because apple trees and bees are both hardy and strong, while still producing something sweet and delicate. Try one of our apple recipes, any of our honey recipes, or our whole roasted trout, or our whole roasted cabbage to make your meal extra meaningful. Brisket is often found on Jewish menus because it's a large kosher cut of meat, and Rosh Hashanah is no different—we’ve got three recipes for you here, including a Korean-inspired one and one made in your slow cooker. Challah is another ceremonial Jewish food, and on Rosh Hashanah, it’s traditional to bake a simple one into a circle to represent the cyclical nature of life (though we won’t judge if you simply braid it, like in our traditional challah, or get creative with your flavors, like in our chocolate orange challah). The Hebrew word for “beets” is similar to the word for “remove,” so eating beets is traditional to symbolize removing all obstacles and negativity from one’s life for the new year. Other ingredients, like leeks, pomegranates, and dates, have similar symbolic translations, so try adding them to your Rosh Hashanah meals. Check out our leek & potato soup, our beet greens, our Parmesan Brussels sprouts salad, or our date and apple chutney for ideas.
It’s traditional to say blessings as you eat certain foods, and we’ll assume that if you’re Jewish, you’ll be aware of these and other religious specifics (like some strict households eliminating nuts for the holiday). For everyone else, we hope these recipes will help broaden your perspective and inspire you to try something new (another Rosh Hashanah New Year tradition!).
Challah Rolls
These rolls are a great alternative to challah bread during the high holidays. Turn them into sandwiches, smother them with butter, or even just snack on them plain. This dough is a bit on the sweeter side, so it lends beautifully for a pre-dinner roll or for pulling apart and eating on its own.
Get the Challah Rolls recipe.
Pot Roast
This slow-cooking dish is the meal to make when you want to impress and satisfy without a crazy amount of effort. The shredded beef meal comes complete with tender potatoes and carrots and a sauce you’ll want to spoon over everything.
Get the Pot Roast recipe.
One-Pot Harissa Beet Soup
The beauty of this one-pot beet soup goes far beyond its vibrant color (if you can believe it!). Antioxidant-rich beets are simmered with starchy potatoes, shallots, garlic, and aromatic harissa paste, which adds a subtle spicy and smoky flavor to the soup. Best of all, it can be served warm, cold, or at room temperature.
Get the One-Pot Harissa Beet Soup recipe.
Salmon En Croute
A cheesy, garlicky, spinach mixture is the perfect balance to a tender salmon fillet. Everything is nestled together in puff pastry dough, and after about 30 minutes in the oven, you’ll have a buttery, flaky crust with perfectly tender salmon inside. Prepare to elevate your holiday dinner game!
Get the Salmon En Croute recipe.
Apple Cranberry Brussels Sprouts Salad
Brussels sprouts just scream holiday time. This salad has all of our favorite seasonal flavors: apples, cider vinegar, cranberries, nuts and sharp cheese. It’s the perfect side dish for all your holiday get-togethers, especially the fancier dinners.
Get the Apple Cranberry Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe.
Cider Glazed Chicken Thighs
Don't let chicken breasts have all the fun! Chicken thighs are super flavorful, easy to cook, and SO delicious with sweet potatoes and apples. Ditch the 1 Tbsp. butter (you won't miss it) and serve this for Rosh Hashanah or any ol' fall weeknight—you won't regret it.
Get the Cider Glazed Chicken Thighs recipe.
Jalapeño Citrus Salmon
This citrus salmon has tons of flavor from simple ingredients. Here we used oranges and limes, but use lemons, grapefruits, and blood oranges if you have them. As the salmon bakes, the juices start to turn into a syrupy sauce thanks to the honey and creates a perfect glaze over the salmon.
Get the Jalapeño Citrus Salmon recipe.
Perfect Honey Cookies
These soft and chewy cookies are traditional for the Jewish New Year, but are also delicious any time of year. They're beloved by all, young and old, and we can't keep a batch around for long!
Get the Honey Cookie recipe.
Air Fryer Moroccan-Spiced Carrots
A combo of spices adds a riot of flavor to those carrots that may or may not have been sitting in the crisper for too long. Serve alongside anything that could use jazzing up, like our baked salmon or our roast chicken.
Get the Air Fryer Moroccan-Spiced Carrots recipe.
Sweet Noodle Kugel
Kugel is basically the Yiddish/Jewish word for casserole. While there are many savory versions (such as this giant-latke-esque potato kugel), we have a soft spot in our hearts for sweet noodle kugel. Not too sweet with a hint of cinnamon, ours is worth making over and over again this holiday season.
Get the Sweet Noodle Kugel recipe.
Miso Roasted Carrots
These sweet-savory carrots are topped with the most delicious mix of crunchy nuts and spices. We like pistachios and black and white sesame seeds, but feel free to swap in your favorites.
Get the Miso Roasted Carrots recipe.
Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples
You may have seen crisp, anise-y fennel bulbs dotting the famers' market stands, nuzzling up alongside sweet delicata squash and tart apples. The three find their way into this healthy side dish that's perfect for elegant dinner party menus, simple weeknight meals, or paired with richer, holiday spreads.
Get the Roasted Fennel With Delicata Squash & Apples recipe.
Brussels Sprouts Salad
Making this salad might seem intimidating, but it doesn't actually require much prep. Tossed with a combo of toasted almonds, shaved Parmesan, and pomegranate seeds, Brussels make a great side for any fall get-together, and especially Rosh Hashanah.
Get the Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe.
Brown Sugar BBQ Whole Roasted Cauliflower
If you love whole roasted cauliflower, then you have to try our brown sugar BBQ version, which is perfect for when you're craving summer BBQ flavors without the meat
Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Whole Roasted Cauliflower recipe.
Chicken Soup
We love each and every chicken soup, from the Greek avgolemono to the Jewish matzo ball soup, but when it came to developing our forever favorite version, we chose to strip it back to focus on the essence of the dish: the tender shredded chicken and that rich golden broth it creates.
Get the Chicken Soup recipe.
Muhammara Dip With Crudites
Muhammara comes together in 30 minutes using jarred roasted red peppers, breadcrumbs, walnuts, a few special ingredients, and a food processor. Trust us—once you've tried it, it'll become a staple on your holiday appetizer roster.
Get the Muhammara Dip With Crudités recipe.
Fennel Salad With Apples & Radishes
When you're looking for a side dish that tastes extremely fresh even in the depth of winter, look no further than fennel salad. It’s crunchy, slightly sweet, and perfectly light and refreshing, especially if you serve it alongside heavier cold weather comfort foods.
Get the Fennel Salad With Apples & Radishes recipe.
Green Bean Salad
if your family dinner doesn’t feature a big bowl of this salad beside the platter of fish or chicken, you’re seriously missing out. Fresh green beans are tossed with cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta in a simple red wine vinaigrette for a Greek-inspired side that’s as light and fresh as it is seasonal.
Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.
Round Challah
This brioche-like loaf is eaten on Rosh Hashanah to represent the circular nature of our year and seasons. It's a delicious way to start the New Year!
Get the Round Challah recipe.
Braised Short Ribs With 40 Cloves of Garlic
Does anything impress quite the way braised short ribs do? They feel truly restaurant fancy, but here's a secret: Short ribs are pretty easy to make at home. This is the ideal dish to make for company when the weather's cold and you want to stay inside.
Get the Braised Short Ribs With 40 Cloves of Garlic recipe.
Perfect Prime Rib
Prime rib, also referred to as standing rib roast, is the beautiful piece of meat we turn to whenever we need a truly show-stopping holiday roast. You'll make your guests think you labored for hours, but it'll be your little secret that really your oven did all the work.
Get the Perfect Prime Rib recipe.
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