Last year, I decided I really wanted to inject more spirituality and realized I didn’t have to sacrifice so much of it — I could put it into what I was already doing. One of the most special and unique parts of Rosh Hashanah is the service that identifies different simanim, or symbols, which are foods eaten to help ensure a good new year. Some have customs to eat each one before the meal starts while others intersperse them in different courses throughout the meal. Even if the custom is to eat them at the start though, it’s also fun to continue integrating them throughout to keep the spirit of the holiday going.

A beautiful explanation of the simanim comes from The Meiri, a medieval commentator on the Talmud. He says, “The purpose of simanim is to simply awaken our hearts and inspire us to direct our goals for the new year along the proper path.” So you’ll see that each symbol has a specific prayer associated with it that correlates to the meaning of the Hebrew or Yiddush word, or the nature of the food itself.

To help uplift your Rosh Hashanah prep experience and meal, we’ve got a breakdown of the simanim as well as delicious recipes to turn them into. Do you have a go-to way you make simanim? Comment below!

Simanim Carpaccio

I love combining all the Simanim when guests come in — in the past, I’ve done it in a salad, but my mouth is watering at these new ideas. Combining them is a stunning way to present all of these delicious, symbolic foods, plus you get a bunch in on one plate! Of course, Chani Apfelbaum of Busy in Brooklyn does it beautifully with her Simanim Carpaccio:

Simanim Ribbons

Leave it to my girl, Danielle, at Peas Love n Carrots for a beautiful and fresh idea for the simanim. Her simanim ribbons are actually easy to make yet look so professional. I’m so tempted to try it out this year!

Rosh Hashanah Envelopes

I’m kind of freaking out over these — so much fruity sweetness in one perfect puff pastry bite? What could be better. They’re cute, easy to make, and combine so many simanim in one. Yes, yes and yes!

Apples in Honey

This one is pretty straightforward. Apples are abundant this time of year and they’re round which is a symbol of renewal. The honey is to ensure our year is sweet! A fun way to do this is to get a special honey dish that really elevates the dipping. You can also get apples in a variety of colors and slice them to make a rainbow apples and honey board. Link here for inspo!

For dessert, try this healthy apple honey cake from Kosher.com. My mouth is already watering.

Fish, Pomegranate and Leeks

We often have a fish head or sheep head on the table to symbolize the desire to be heads and not tails, or leaders and not followers but fish in general is also its own symbol. We eat fish as a blessing to be fruitful and multiply like fish. We eat pomegranate seeds in the hopes that our merits increase like the seeds of a pomegranate. Leeks, in Hebrew, are called karet which means “to cut.” We eat them in the hopes that our enemies will be decimated.

This delicious salmon recipe combines all three!

Beets

The Hebrew word for beets is selek, similar to the word meaning “to remove.” So similar to the leeks, we eat beets in the hopes that our adversaries and prosecutors be removed this year. This caramelized beets recipe will for sure be a crowd pleaser.

Butternut squash

Gourds in Hebrew, are called “kra” which means “to tear.” So we eat a member of the gourd family in the hopes that any bad decrees are torn up. This roast is a perfect main course and incorporates butternut squash so it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Carrots

In Yiddush, the word for carrots is “meren” which also means “to increase.” We eat carrots to symbolize our merits increasing in the coming year and that we have bountiful good decrees bestowed upon us.

This roasted carrot recipe has an unexpected twist with the zaatar and is the perfect fall side dish.

Dates

Dates in Hebrew are called tamarim which is similar to the word that means, “to end.” With dates, we pray that our enemies will be consumed. This chicken recipe from Jamie Geller is another delicious main course which has a perfect tangy sweetness. You’ll be obsessed!

What are your favorite ways to incorporate simanim? Let us know in the comments!

Now we all know that when a festival arrives, there is a need for physical preparation as well as the spiritual. On Shavuot, they really combine as the seudah is the main mitzvah of the holiday! While many festivals are filled with lavish meals, this one gives dairy a little time to shine. One of the many reasons we eat dairy on Shavuot is because the laws of kashrut were given at Mount Sinai. Because it was Shabbat, no meat could be slaughtered and no utensils could be kashered in celebration, so we ate dairy. (Chabad.org)

That being said, some nevertheless have the custom to eat a meat meal because it is a festive holiday. Those that do often opt to have a dairy kiddush before the meal, usually after a whole night of staying up to learn Torah. So here we have options for everyone. Whether you indulge in meat or dairy on Shavuot, these recipes will ensure that your table is festive and your food delicious. Wishing everyone a sweet Shavout—one that allows you to accept the Torah again and see all the beauty in your life.

Dairy Ideas:

Creamy Cauliflower Soup (Mara Strom at Kosheronabudget.com)

Spinach and Feta Stuffed Salmon (Esty Wolbe at Kosher.com)

Cauliflower and Butternut Squash “Risotto” (Vera Newman at Kosher.com)

Fettuccine Alfredo with Chestnuts and Mushrooms (Chaia Frishman at Kosher.com)

Hash Brown and Tomato Pie (Eileen Goltz at Kosher.com)

Cheesecake Brownie Bars (Kitchen Art at Kosher.com)

No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake (Sweet Moments: Rega Matok at Kosher.com)

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes (Jewlish by Jamie at JamieGeller.com)

Meat Ideas:

Non-Dairy Cream of Broccoli Soup (Tamar Genger at JamieGeller.com)

Sweet and Smoky Brisket (Ariella Lazaros at Kosher.com)

One-Pan Tomato Basil Chicken (Ally Mawhirter at Kosher.com)

Sweet Potato and Carrot Bake (Jamie Geller at JamieGeller.com)

Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes (Jamie Geller at JamieGeller.com)

Rainbow Veggie Platter (Naomi Hazan at JamieGeller.com)

Vegan No-Bake Cheesecake (Jamie Geller at JamieGeller.com)

No Bake Fudge Balls (Naomi Hazan at Kosher.com)

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For more meal ideas, click here!

It can be daunting to figure out what to serve, especially if you’re already prepping and laying out a big lunch. And the third meal is meant to remain relatively simple: a meal for our bodies, but also for our souls. We’re meant to savor the time we have left of the holy day—singing songs and connecting to it—feeling closer to Hashem and the people around us.

So, we’re taking some extra thinking off your hands. This collection of recipes and ideas are the go-to classics that many people serve for seudat shlishit—with a fresh spin to liven things up! Whether it’s just your family or you’re having guests, these are crowd-pleasers with a lot of customization potential. Plus, with a few staple ingredients and steps, they won’t add so much extra work to your Shabbat prep.

Classics with a Twist

Cold Sesame Noodles (Tamar Genger, MA, RD at jamiegeller.com)

Black Bean & Quinoa Salad (Mara Strom at kosheronabudget.com)

High-Protein Guacamole Recipe (Bat-El Gershowitz at kosher.com)

No-Mayo Potato Salad (Dalya Rubin at kosher.com)

Crunch Ramen Red Cabbage Slaw (Jamie Geller at jamiegeller.com)

Classic Summer BBQ Salad (Rivki Rabinowitz at kosher.com)

Other Creative Alternatives

Cereal Bar

My family and I eat Shabbat lunch early enough (we wait six hours after eating meat to have dairy) that we can enjoy dairy by third meal in the summer. If this isn’t the case for you, then don’t worry, there are plenty of milk alternatives that will still allow you to live out your childhood dreams. My friend Esti gave me this idea to just serve cereal for third meal—no prep required, super delicious and you can get creative with different fruit or yogurt toppings if you wish! Just wash and then eat the cereal and milk of your choice.

At-home Falafel Stand

This will take your third meal to the next level. Here’s an awesome recipe from Lauren Allen (@laurenallennutrition) for delicious and healthy oven-baked, crispy falafel balls. You can also totally pick up a pack from the freezer section to make things even easier! You can include a pita station with dips like hummus and techina. Then make a quick Israeli salad or other chopped veggies to stuff it with. This will be a super-filling (and tasty!) meal and will make you feel like you actually just had a real, amazing dinner.

DIY Poke Bowls

This is really a classic because poke bowls are basically a sushi salad! For the base, use sushi rice, quinoa, brown rice or even a bed of lettuce. Add some sort of protein like cooked salmon or kani or splurge on sushi-grade salmon or tuna.

Then the fun begins! Add in avocado, cucumber and carrots—you can cut them however you choose: sliced, diced, julienned—and then mix in any other veggies you want on top, like chopped, roasted sweet potatoes. Last but definitely not least, top it with the sauces! Soy sauce, spicy mayo and/or a sweet sauce like they have at Japanese restaurants really make the dish. Spicy mayo is really easy to make—just mix mayo and sriracha and a quick sweet sauce recipe can be found here! (Natural Earth Products also makes a kosher one you can buy). Of course, you can always embellish with sauces you have at home that you love. Finally, garnish with sesame seeds (black and/or white) on top, if you like, and boom: a delicious poke bowl in minutes.

What’s your go-to third-meal idea? Let us know in the comments!

While we’ve designated these for different meals, you can of course mix and match to your liking.

Seder Night Two:

Caramelized French Roast (By Leah Schapira at BetweenCarpools.com)

This is another great stovetop roast recipe. If you want a sweeter taste, this is the roast for your Seder! 

Maple-Cinnamon Carrots (By Erin Grunstein at Kosher.com)

I guarantee there will not be one single carrot left.

Sweet-and-Smoky Sweet Potatoes (By Erin Grunstein at Kosher.com)

Here, another twist on potatoes that is super delish.

Chocolate Cake (By Renee Muller at BetweenCarpools.com) 

This Pesach chocolate cake is so good, you will forget it’s chametz-free.

Day Two: 

Baked Gefilte Fish (By OU Kosher at Kosher.com)

You can’t go wrong with this classic.

Jalapeño Dip (By Yussi Weisz at BetweenCarpools.com)

If you like a little kick, this is the best dip in the entire world.

Roasted Tomato Dip (By Esti Waldman at BetweenCarpools.com)

This dip is low-maintenance and so delicious.

Purple Cabbage and Carrot Salad (jamiegeller.com)

Cabbage salad is so refreshing at lunch. 

Balsamic Chicken (Ashira Mirsky-Kosher.com)

This is an easy, low-carb chicken dish that will make the whole table happy.

Orange Beets With Almonds (By Judy Bart Kancigor at Kosher.com)

This might be a new way for you to serve beets. I guarantee you will only want to serve them like this in the future!

Overnight Shtreimel Kugel (By Leah Schapira at BetweenCarpools.com)

This is best way to cook kugel!

No-Mixer Pesach Chocolate-Chip Squares (By Leah Schapira at BetweenCarpools.com)

You only need a 9×13 pan to make these—not even a bowl! So, it’s a no-brainer. One less thing to clean! 

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For more recipe ideas, click here!

The first thing to keep in mind for Pesach is to make sure you have all the ceremonial food prepared for the seder plate. This awesome article (s/o to Chabad!) can be your go-to guide for that so you don’t forget a thing and have the basics covered.

Here, I gathered some of my favorite recipes that are all simple to prepare and really delicious, both for seder night and a day meal. Once you choose your favorites, whether it’s using these or others, write down every ingredient you need on a shopping list (here’s a printable planner that could be super helpful), so you won’t be freaking out at the last minute. Have other recipes you love? Let us know in the comments!

Seder Night:

Chicken Soup With Matzo Balls (Jamiegeller.com)

There is nothing better than that first taste of matzo ball soup after a build-up from the Seder — you have to make it classic! This one is unreal.

Seder Pot Roast (By Naomi Nachman at Kosher.com)

Everyone stresses out over not being able to use their ovens for meat and chicken on Seder night*. We got your back! Here’s a great juicy roast you’ll fall in love with. 

Skillet Chicken (By OU Kosher at Kosher.com)

Here’s an easy chicken recipe that will be sure to please the non-meat-lovers at your meal! 

Simplest Roasted Veggies (By Sylvia Fallas at Kosher.com)

These roasted veggies taste absolutely amazing and require very little prep. I highly recommend whipping up a batch! I serve them both hot and cold. 

Rosemary Baby Potatoes (By Tamar Teitelbaum at Kosher.com) 

Let’s get real, potatoes step onto center stage during Pesach. These classic baby potatoes are also super easy and sooo delicious.

Almond Blondies (By Shifra Klein at JamieGeller.com)

Don’t worry about feeling deprived dessert-wise on Pesach — these blondies will hit the spot! 

Day Meal:

Don’t worry, you can totally do leftovers for day one, but to mix it up and have some lighter alternatives for the day, these recipes will hit the spot.  

Honey-Dill Salmon (By Debby Segura at Kosher.com)

You’ll fall in love with this salmon recipe—it’s both healthy and refreshing!

Eggplant Spread (By Estee Kafra at Kosher.com)

Dips can often be time-consuming, so they often get the boot because they’re not a priority. This dip will make it back on the list. It will add something special to your Yom Tov meal, tastes great on matzo and is so easy to prepare.

Carmelized Onion Dip (jamiegeller.com)

Because caramelized onions are always a yes please!

Avocado Salad (By Shifrah Devorah and Zipporah Malka at JamieGeller.com)

A classic avocado salad is always a crowd-pleaser.

Unstuffed Cabbage Soup (jamiegeller.com)

If you want to change it up from your normal meat dish at lunch, this soup/stew is super easy and can be kept in a Crock-Pot!

Pesto Chicken (By Bracha Serle at BetweenCarpools.com) 

This is a simple and easy pesto recipe you can use on any type of chicken. Marinating some chicken breast in it and then grilling would be so delicious on a salad.

Zucchini Kugel (By Tamar Ansh at Kosher.com)

If you’re looking for a kugel that’s a bit lighter than the traditional potato, try zucchini!

Chocolate Avocado Mousse (jamiegeller.com)

After a big meal, something light and healthy (yet still totally yum) is perfect!

What are your favorite recipes? Tell us in the comments! Then, for more Pesach tips, click here!

_{*The custom not to eat roasted meat at the Seder is an ancient one, mentioned in the Talmud (MishnaPesachim 4:4). The reason is because since the Paschal Lamb was roasted (Exodus 12:8), eating roasted meat gives the appearance of eating a sacrifice which was not properly offered in the Temple. In Talmudic times the custom existed but was not universal, but today it is universal among Ashkenazi Jews as well as most Sephardim (Aish).}