11 Passover Recipes

Original recipe by David Leite

Matzo Ball Soup

This light, yet comforting matzo ball soup is the perfect addition to your Passover table, or as a cure to whatever ails you.

I made this matzo ball soup tonight with a whole rooster and a pound of chicken feet (basically doubled the stock, and it was exactly the right proportion for the matzah balls) because I couldn’t find necks.

I also made Jack’s Wife Freda’s hot sauce and served that alongside, the way they do at the restaurant. It was great, and even my 8-year-old had seconds.
Jennifer i.

John Tavares

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With the final addition of za’atar, a Middle Eastern spice mixture, this sweet carrot dish becomes another perfect combination of East meets West—a great mix of Ashkenazi tradition with Middle Eastern flavors.

A whole simple roast chicken in a skillet, surrounded by grapes.

Becky Rosenthal

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Simple Roast Chicken

This simple roast chicken recipe, as the name implies, is ridiculously easy and turns out a superlative bird with shatteringly crisp skin and surprisingly juicy meat. No surprise that it’s the same technique that Thomas Keller uses.

I made this roasted chicken yesterday. Perfect. Juicy and tasty. We had some today, and equally great, even cold. This is a keeper. Thanks so much for making it so simple.
suzie m.

French onion brisket in an oval enamel casserole dish on a white background.

Matt Taylor-Gross

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French Onion Brisket

This recipe is my way of taking poetic license with brisket, drawing inspiration from French onion soup for a braising liquid of caramelized onions and garlic, deglazed with apple brandy.

An oval platter filled with cubed roasted potatoes, garnished with fresh dill.

David Leite

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Roasted Potatoes with Dill

These roasted potatoes with dill and garlic require only a handful of ingredients and a little patience while they roast to crispy-edged, tender-throughout perfection.

These potatoes! Perfect. The texture and flavor were great. Dill made these a great accompaniment to roast salmon. I will repeat for sure
janet s.

A parchment lined deep baking pan filled with baked ricotta.

Simon Griffiths

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Baked Ricotta

This rich and indulgent baked ricotta is easy to make and supremely satisfying, making it perfect for entertaining.

This baked ricotta dish is amazing…I served it for dinner with homemade focaccia…yum!! Both my husband and I thought it would make a delicious brunch dish…reminds us of a decadent soufflé.
tammy

A skillet with three pieces of pan fried fish and lemon slices

Eva Kolenko

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Pan Fried Fish

Pan fried fish has never been as easy or as enticing as with these seared fish fillets with crisp skin. Easy and works with halibut, snapper, salmon, trout, and virtually any other fish.

Two glass jars of homemade chrain with a silver spoon lying beside them.

Isobel Wield

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Homemade Chrain

Homemade chrain is a simple but transformative side for gefilte fish, rich meats like brisket and nearly anything else that needs a kick.

Chrain is a new thing for me. I made it tonight following this recipe. It’s powerful stuff. I cannot say how authentic my chrain was, but my Jewish friend said, “That chrain is the nuts!” (I think that means she liked it).

I tried some with a sprinkling of caraway seeds…no idea if that’s an authentic thing to do, but I liked it!
erica

Three Passover brownies stacked on top of each other on a white plate.

Katherine Martinelli

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Passover Brownies

Passover brownies are almost always disappointing. Not these. How could they be with matzo meal for Pesach, bittersweet chocolate, sugar, butter, eggs, brandy, and nuts? They’re slightly crumbly outside and splendiferously fudgy inside.

LOVE these brownies. I added day-old coffee instead of the chocolate liqueur because it’s what I had. My stepson said they were good, and I love the flavor and texture! Thanks so much!!
charity

A square of Passover apple cake on a green plate.

Cenk Sönmezsoy

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Passover Apple Cake

Passover apple cake. A classic from the astoundingly awesome cookbook author, Arthur Schwartz. Kosher for Passover yet still tastes like any traditional apple cake. Talk about a godsend.

I made this Passover apple cake yesterday. It’s delicious. Instead of raisins, I added 1/2 can of drained tart cherries. (Something my Hungarian mom always used to do when she made an apple cake). It added some wonderful “tartness.” I’ll make this cake again next Passover.
sherry

A flourless chocolate cloud cake topped with billows of whipped cream on a metal platter.

David Leite

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Flourless Chocolate Cloud Cake

This flourless chocolate cloud cake is a wickedly elegant dessert that’s deceptively easy to make. Just four ingredients–chocolate, eggs, butter, and sugar–come together for a crunchy-on-the-outside, airy-on-the-inside cake.

I made this cake tonight and it was AMAZING! I love how light it was compared to an average flourless chocolate cake. THANK YOU!
Daniela

Passover Food FAQs

Which foods are traditionally served during Passover?

Traditionally, Passover meals include matzo ball soup, brisket, chicken, potatoes, and gelfite fish.

Which foods are avoided during Passover?

During Passover, foods made with wheat, barley, oats, spelt, and rye are not consumed. Those adhering to Ashkenazic tradition also avoid rice, corn, millet, and all legumes.

We’ve given you a sampling of our favorites, but if you’re looking for more, check out our entire collection of Passover recipes. If dessert is what you’re after, we also have an impressive selection of Passover-approved desserts.