The 10 Best Foods To Eat During Passover

Every year in early Spring, Jewish communities around the world celebrate Passover (Pesach) - the 8-day celebration of the biblical story of Exodus, where the Jews were liberated from slavery in Egypt. The celebration not only commemorates the liberation, but it gets its name from the final plague, where the angel of death "passed over" the homes of Jews sparing their firstborns.

During this celebration, Jews abstain from consuming any leavened products (chametz) and replacing them with matzah - an unleavened flatbread to remind us that the Jews left Egypt quickly and without time to allow their bread to rise. Leavened products made from wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt include breads, cakes, pastas, cookies, pizza, and fermented drinks such as beer, whiskey, bourbon, and scotch. Some Jewish communities, mainly Ashkenazi, also abstain from consuming rice, legumes, seeds, tofu, and corn products.

Traditionally, you also have a Seder meals which feature symbolic foods to represent the Passover story. Typically, Seders are observed on the first two nights and are a fifteen-step traditional feast containing matzah, bitter herbs, four cups of wine or grape juice, and the recitation of the Haggadah. The Haggadah is the fulfillment of the biblical obligation to recount to our families the story of Exodus.

We've already covered what to not consume during Passover, but what are the best foods to eat during Passover? This list gives you some great survival foods to endure the 8-day absence of leavened products.

10. Gefilte Fish

Gefilte fish is definitely a love-hate even among Jews, but it's something that is traditionally served during Passover as a representation of resilience and resourcefulness. While you can buy gefilte fish in the grocery store, you can also prepare it yourself by combining coarsely ground whitefish, yellow pike, and carp fillets with onion, carrots, eggs, salt, pepper, sugar, club soda, and matzo meal.

9. Tzimmes

This traditional Ashkenazi dish is a Yiddish expression for "making a fuss" over something. While this is often served for Rosh Hashanah, it's still a welcome and delicious dish for any Passover Seder. Combine diced sweet potatoes, carrots, dried apples, dried cranberries, pitted prunes, orange juice, honey, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and your choice of chicken or vegetable broth. Simply simmer on the stove until the root vegetables are tender and the dried fruits are rehydrated.

8. Potatoes

Whether it's roasting, mashing, or slicing, potatoes are a versatile ingredient that opens numerous doors for a side dish to bring to the table. Just be cautious about mixing in any dairy or flour!

7. Roasted Chicken

A simple staple addition to the Seder, a roasted chicken is something that is versatile and can be catered to whatever flavor profile you want to go with. Typically, a whole chicken is roasted with olive oil, lemon, garlic, and herbs to create a crispy skin and moist meat. Typical Passover flavor pairings include honey-horseradish, honey-herb, or date-syrup.

Hot tip: for the crispiest skin, roast at 475F for 20 minutes and then lower the heat to 425F and roast for another hour, or until an internal temperature of 165F.

6. Kugel

Kugel is another traditional dish that can go in either a sweet or savory direction. For this list, we're going with a sweet "noodle" kugel that is appropriate to consume during Passover. Simply soak matzo sheets in hot water for 3-4 minutes to create a noodle-like consistency. Then combine brown sugar, canned pineapple, raisins eggs, oil, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and lemon juice and pour into a baking dish with your "noodles."

Hot tip: if you don't want to use pineapple and raisins, you can use apples, peaches, strawberries, or apricots.

5. Matzo Fried Chicken

If you want something other than roasted chicken and want to utilize matzo in a different way, try this version of fried chicken! Breaking down either a whole chicken or using your own desired parts, simply combine matzo meal with spices of your choice, coat the chicken, and fry in vegetable oil.

4. Pizzarelle

Pizzarelle is a delicious Roman Jewish dessert that is welcome at any Passover Seder. Combining matzo sheets, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, red raisins, pine nuts (optional), orange zest, and salt, create an oval-shaped fritter and fry in vegetable oil until crispy. The best way to enjoy is to serve warm drizzled with honey.

3. Flourless Chocolate Cake

A classic from cookbook author Claudia Roden, this flourless cake is a Passover favorite. Combine dark chocolate, unsalted butter, eggs, sugar, salt, and almond flour for a decadent, appropriate cake. Dust with powdered sugar and you have a great addition to the table.

2. Matzo Ball Soup

Matzo ball soup is a Jewish classic you can enjoy any day, any time of year, but it's a great way to celebrate the story of Passover with the matzo-centric key ingredient. If you're unfamiliar, it's basically chicken noodle soup full of shredded chicken, carrots, onion, celery, and garlic, but instead of noodles you have dumplings made of matzo meal, spices, and eggs. Matzo ball soup is easily one of my favorite dishes, but it's extra special during Passover.

1. Braised Beef Brisket

Beef brisket is a quintessential Passover dish, deeply rooted in Ashkenazi tradition. The meat is celebratory, Kosher-compliant, and economical. The slow braising process symbolizes patience and tradition, as well as being a centerpiece of joy during the celebration of the Exodus story. Like roasted chicken, there are an abundance of Passover brisket recipes, but you can get started by braising the beef with broth, red wine, carrots, onions, celery, and spices.

What are your favorite foods to eat during Passover? Let us know in the comments!