A Curated Roundup of the Absolute Best Passover Recipes
There are thousands of Passover recipes on the internet and many more hidden deep in the pages of classic Jewish cookbooks. So many of these recipes look absolutely delectable; it’s hard to choose between them all and decide what to serve for seder!
Passover isn’t the easiest holiday to cook for. There are required foods like gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, and charoset that need to be served even before the seder meal begins. Plus, you’ll need kosher for Passover meal options for the entire week.
That is why I’ve created this curated roundup of some of the best Passover recipes on the internet. Some of these recipes date back to 2003 and 2009, and others are actually from classic cookbooks that were published in the 80s and 90s and have been posted online. Credit to the author and the cookbook is given, of course. I’m in a lot of Jewish groups on Facebook, and these were the recipes that were give the highest praise by the men and women in these groups. I’ve also included my family’s personal Passover favorites as well.
It’s important that you check the ingredients in each of these Passover recipes because some of these recipes include foods which are kitniyot -legumes including rice, corn, soy beans, string beans, lentils, etc.
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Charoset Recipe
Moroccan-Style Charoset by Read the Spirit
Gloria Kaufer Greene’s published her second and final edition of the fabulous Jewish Holiday Cookbook in 1999. So as I am sure you can imagine, her recipes are hard to come by on the internet. And she really is the queen of charoset. We have been making her Ashkenazic-Style charoset in my family for over 30 years. But, I wanted to call your attention to the moroccan-style charoset because it’s a great way to spice up a traditional apples and nuts recipe and use figs and dates and pistachios and walnuts and apricots and prunes instead.
Matzo Ball Soup Recipe
Joan Nathan’s Chosen Matzo Ball Soup by Food52
In my mind, matzo ball soup is the most important food of the evening, the star of the show, which means that the recipe has to be perfect. Most of the top matzo ball soup recipes are passed down from generation to generation and are typically scribbled down on a slightly yellowed piece of crumpled paper and therefore, not on the internet. Luckily, Joan Nathan’s matzo ball soup is much-loved and it’s linked just above for you to serve on Passover.
Passover Entrée Recipes
Brisket in Tahina Sauce by Jamie Geller
I had to include this unique brisket recipe because people all over the globe rave about it. However, tahini does contain sesame, so it isn’t kosher for Passover for many Ashkenazi Jews and potentially some Sephardic Jews as well. The brand Galil does sell Kosher for Passover tahini, but they only have a six pack on Amazon for $39.99, so you’d really have to like tahini. If you prefer a more traditional-style brisket, check out Tori Avey’s Holiday Brisket.
The Silver Palate’s Chicken Marbella by the New York Times
This recipe is both extremely beloved and incredibly popular. The Chicken Marbella recipe was originally written in “The Silver Palate Cookbook” in 1982 and has been adapted by Christine Muhlke for this New York Times article. Because this is such a nostalgic recipe for so many, the comments on the article are gold! Make sure that you read through some to get some good ideas on how to make this dish taste even better than it already would have if you just followed the recipe.
Spiced Beef Matzo Pie by My Name is Yeh
This recipe is unique, so it is a fun one to include. Mina is a Passover pie from Sephardic tradition that uses matzo instead of pie dough and is often layered with beef and vegetables. Molly was interested in this tradition and found a mina dish in Michael Solomonov’s cookbook Zahav which was made in a round pie pan and flipped onto a plate. This spiced beef matzo pie by My Name is Yeh is the result of all of this inspiration.
“Tzimmes” Chicken with Apricots, Prunes, and Carrots by Epicurious
This traditional Jewish dish is beloved by seder guests. Tzimmes is an Ashkenazi Jewish stew typically made from carrots and dried fruits such as prunes and this recipe adds chicken into the mix! Be sure to read the reviews for some suggestions and modifications; many people chose to reduce the amount of honey based on feedback.
Passover Mock Chopped Liver by VegKitchen
It’s a Jewish classic! Personally, I am not sure why, but people love their chopped liver on Passover, so I had to include this vegan option. Make it for your seder or include it on your matzah sandwiches for lunches during the week!
Tunisian Fish Cakes with Lemon and Paprika Aïoli by Epicurious
If you’re looking to add something unique to your seder table, perhaps with a North African influence, then these delicious Tunisian fish cakes are perfect. They are easy to make and even non-fish fans seem to like it which is a difficult feat!
Unstuffed Cabbage by Tori Avey
It’s a deconstructed version of stuffed cabbage and has almost exclusively 5 star reviews. Plus, it’s incredibly simple to make. You’ll place a bed of cabbage onto the pot, make the filling into meatballs, cover the whole thing with sauce, and cook.
Persian Pomegranate Chicken by Simply Recipes
Pomegranates are quite symbolic in Judaism; it is one of the seven species and the seeds are meant to symbolize the 613 mitzvot in the Torah. So, what could be more appropriate for Passover than this Persian Pomegranate Chicken dish? If you are looking to change things up a bit with some Persian cooking, this sweet chicken stew will be a hit!
Passover Recipes: Kugel + Side Dishes
Potato Kugel by Smitten Kitchen
Potato kugel is a classic Passover dish because potatoes are kosher for Passover. Thank g-d because I don’t know how I would get through the week without hash browns and French fries and potato kugel. Everything that Smitten Kitchen does is great and this potato kugel is no exception. This dish, which is cleverly nicknamed “lazy latkes,” is great if you don’t want a sweet matzo kugel and are looking to get your savory fix!
Pear Pineapple Matzo Kugel by Astray Recipes
This is one of the kugels that my family makes annually for Passover. The recipe is originally from Harriet Roth’s Deliciously Healthy Jewish Cooking cookbook. Not only is the kugel delicious, but it uses egg substitute instead of eggs. Since we tend to overload on eggs during Passover, it’s nice to use the substitute as an alternative. The pineapple gives this kugel a really nice tart flavor.
Creamy Matzo-Apple Kugel by Food Network
This matzah apple kugel was originally featured in the Second Ave Deli Cookbook which was published in 1999. It’s one of those recipes where you will find yourself grabbing a fork and eating it out of the pan for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because the flavors make it appetizing for every meal of the day.
Better Broccoli Casserole by Cookie and Kate
This particular broccoli casserole has 384 reviews and a 4.9 rating out of 5 so you know it’s gotta be good. It’s also quite a healthy alternative because it isn’t made with mayonnaise, cream of mushroom soup, or Béchamel sauce. The casserole is made with roasted broccoli, milk, sharp cheddar, and quinoa instead. The recipe does include bread crumbs so you will have to make it without, of course; but, it’s still great without!
Sweet & Crunchy Quinoa Salad with Sweet Potatoes, Pine Nuts and Cranberries by kitchn
It’s a perfect side dish for dinner and possibly even better for a lunchtime meal, since quinoa is such a great plant-based protein. This sweet and crunchy quinoa recipe is perfect for springtime which is conveniently when the Passover holiday falls each year.
Skillet Broccolini by Life is but a Dish
If you’re looking for a super simple side dish to complement your Passover entrée, then this skillet broccolini is perfect. It’s a regular in our dinner rotation because it’s so yummy but also because it only takes 6 minutes to make. There are so many moving pieces when it comes to the Passover meal; this recipe will make an easy side dish easy for you and your guests will love the taste.
Potato Starch Blintzes by OU Kosher
This simple recipe is the perfect warm side dish at your seder, but probably an even better breakfast treat in the morning during Passover week!
Eggplant Casserole by Mayim Bialik’s recipe on Facebook
Thank you Mayim for sharing this vegan eggplant casserole recipe to your Facebook page in 2017! Her printout has food stains all over it, so you know that she must truly love this dish.
Passover Desserts Recipes
Chocolate Caramel Crackers by Smitten Kitchen
This is probably one of the most popular Passover desserts of all time and for good reason…it tastes like heaven. Some people prefer to call it crack because it is so addictive. Smitten Kitchen’s recipe is adapted from David Lebovitz who adapted the recipe from Macy Goldman of Better Baking. We are perfecting this thing one adaptation at a time. At this point, you should probably just stop reading about it and go and make it. Your seder guests will thank you.
Lemon Berry Tart by Country Living
This lemon berry tart is the perfect complement to a decadent chocolate dessert of which there are typically many to choose from on Passover!
Almond Cake with Strawberry-Rhubarb Compote by Smitten Kitchen
If you have any rhubarb or marzipan fans coming to Passover seder, this Passover dessert recipe should be strongly considered. Substitute matzo meal for all-purpose flour, as instructed in the recipe which was actually adapted from Thomas Keller’s cookbook, Bouchon.
Chocolate Nemesis Cake by Food52
For true decadence, try the chocolate nemesis. This recipe was originally found in Ruth Rodger’s cookbook, “River Cafe London: Thirty Years of Recipes and the Story of a Much-Loved Restaurant” and is one of the most famous chocolate cakes out there. It tastes like a baked chocolate mousse. This adapted recipe is quite large and of course, insanely rich, so many people in the comments recommend halving the recipe.
Triple Chocolate Biscotti by The Kosher Baker
We have a whole week to eat Kosher for Passover and we don’t always want to have a super rich flourless chocolate cake or lemon meringue after every meal. That’s why I love the idea of biscotti for a Passover dessert option during the week. You can make the biscotti ahead of time since they can be frozen, and the recipe makes a ton 24-36 biscotti so you’ll have plenty for the whole family. The biscotti is gluten-free.
Nana José’s Chocolate Pecan Cake from the New York Times
This chocolate pecan cake was adapted by Patricia Janich for the New York Times and it’s…wait for it, made in a blender! There are some fun fruits that are added to the top as a garnish which serve as a great counterpoint to the richness of the cake. Don’t forget to top it all off with some whipped cream!
Grandma’s Raspberry Squares by Cara’s Cravings
If you’re looking for a chocolate alternative, these gluten-free raspberry squares could be the ones. The only major problem I foresee is that your guests will reach for a second and a third and you won’t have leftovers for the rest of the week!
Were your favorite Passover recipes included in this list? If not, please share your most loved recipes with us in the comments below! And if you are looking for more Passover content, be sure to check out these other Passover posts on the BMA blog!
Passover Table Decorations: Beautiful Seder Decor
11 Fun Passover Seder Ideas to Enrich Your Pesach Meal
Which Passover Matzo Brand is Best? Ultimate Taste Test