“Shanah tovah!”
Similar to 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 , 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!).
1
Apple Cider Braised Brisket
Apple cider adds a subtle sweetness to a classic brisket, and after letting it braise low and slow, it will be as tender as possible. Letting the potatoes and carrots cook with the brisket flavors them from the inside out, and the whole dish will be deeply savory.
Get the Apple Cider Braised Brisket recipe.
2
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 .
3
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.
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4
Parmesan 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 Parmesan Brussels Sprouts Salad recipe.
5
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.
6
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.
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7
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.
8
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.
9
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.
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10
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.
11
Apple Cider Glazed Chicken
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. Try it for Rosh Hashanah or any ol' fall weeknight—you won't regret it.
Get the Apple Cider Glazed Chicken recipe.
12
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.
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13
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.
14
Challah
Slightly sweet with a pillowy-soft interior that has a slight satisfying chew to it, a challah loaf is impressive by taste alone, but the true wow factor is in its presentation. If you decide to switch the traditional round for a loaf at Rosh Hashanah, this is THE recipe to try.
Get the Challah recipe.
15
Couscous
The abundance of couscous grains represents the amount of blessings you hope to have in the Jewish new year, so check out our guide for how to cook this little pasta to make yours the absolute best. A simple drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice is our favorite way to serve it, but the possibilities are endless.
Get the Couscous recipe.
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16
Slow-Cooker Brisket
Eating a perfectly cooked, tender brisket is basically the food equivalent of someone giving you a warm hug. Unfortunately, many people have been convinced that making brisket is a labor-intensive endeavor. This recipe is here to prove that that's just not true! The trick? Let your slow cooker do all the work.
Get the Slow-Cooker Brisket recipe.
17
Apple Crisp
When butter, brown sugar, and oats are combined, something incredible happens in a way that apple pie just can’t match. You'll almost forget the apples are the second layer beneath.
Get the Apple Crisp recipe.
18
Roasted Beet Goat Cheese Salad
Beet lovers rejoice! This is the ideal Rosh Hashanah salad: creamy goat cheese (sub feta if you prefer it), roasted beets, avocado, and arugula. The secret is that instead of buying precooked beets, you simply wrap them in foil and bake them like a baked potato.
Get the Roasted Beet Goat Cheese Salad recipe.
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19
Honey Mustard Chicken
Chicken thighs are certainly the juiciest and most flavorful part of the chicken, but they also take the longest to cook. Here we trimming them and sear the skin before roasting to help speed up the cooking, meaning you can have this one-skillet meal on your high holiday dinner table in no time.
Get the Honey Mustard Chicken recipe.
20
Air Fryer Green Beans
Quick, easy, and made with the simplest ingredients, air fryer green beans give you tender, crispy results without having to turn on your oven or light up your stove. This rendition comes with a treat too: eight cloves of creamy, buttery garlic that get air-fried alongside the green beans for delicious bites of roasted garlic.
Get the Air Fryer Green Beans recipe.
