Celebrating Rosh Hashanah is all about tradition (similar to other Jewish holidays like Hanukkah and Passover). 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, to make sure are on your holiday plate. Our list of 53 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 or get creative with your flavors, like chocolate orange). 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!).
