10 Tested And Perfected Recipes For Rosh Hashanah (2024)

FAQs

What do people cook on Rosh Hashanah? ›

Think: fluffy challah, saucy brisket, and ultra-moist apple cake. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a time to reflect on the past year—and look forward to the coming one.

Of course, the main part of the meal was always traditional Ashkenazi cuisine: raisin challah, matzo ball soup, brisket, kugel, apple cake, cookies, and other Northern European-style foods.

Favorite recipes and sweet foods are popular choices for families on the first and second nights of Rosh Hashanah. Sour foods are usually avoided. Some people avoid nuts during Rosh Hashanah since the numerical value of the Hebrew letters in the word “nu*t” add up to the same number as the word “sin.”

For Jews of Eastern European and Russian descent (Ashkenazi), an old-world-inspired celebratory feast would feature round challahs, chicken soup, a slow-roasted brisket or roast chicken, sweetened roasted root vegetables that always include carrots, and a wide variety of side dishes.

At the start of each Rosh Hashanah dinner, everyone seated at the table dips a piece of apple into honey. This is eaten to symbolize the hope that the new year will be a sweet one. Many other Rosh Hashanah food customs have developed over the centuries, with special symbolic meanings.

Usually lamb with bone and fat is used in cooking. I had lamb shanks which has good fat so this cut worked well. Beef with bone in also works 2.

1st Course: If it's your first time hosting, I recommend choosing a simple first course: soup, salad, or fish. If you're pressed for time, soup is a good option, particularly if you have time to make it in advance.

Two of the most recognisable food staples to be found on the dinner table during Rosh Hashanah are apple and honey, a tradition that has passed down the generations for centuries.

The sweet foods that are eaten during Rosh Hashanah are therefore meant to symbolise the hope for a sweet and happy year ahead. One of the most recognisable food staples that adorns the dinner table during Rosh Hashanah is apple and honey, a traditional combination that has passed down the generations for centuries.

Hence, the custom of eating both apples and honey as food on Rosh Hashanah, not only for their nutritive value but especially because of their value as symbols. Honey, into which we dip apples is an expression of hope that sweetness will mark the lives of Jews in the coming year.

What do I bring to Rosh Hashanah dinner? ›

If you're attending a Rosh Hashanah celebration as a guest, it is customary to bring a gift. Traditional choices include honey, apples, pomegranates, or kosher wine. A sweet dessert or a bouquet of flowers could also be appreciated. It's always best to ask the host if there's anything specific they would prefer.