Rushing to Prepare for Rosh Hashanah

If you celebrate the Jewish New Year, here are Rosh Hashanah food ideas including menu inspiration for main course, desserts, sides and more. Even if you are rushing around at the last minute, there are lots of tips and tricks to help you make food the center of your celebration.

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Rosh Hashanah Food Planning and Preparation

Despite lofty aspirations to have all menu planning, shopping and some cooking completed early, I usually rush around at the last minute to prepare for our annual Jewish New Year gathering.

Guessing that I am not the only who finds herself in this situation, I’ve put together recipes, tips, and tricks to make your last-minute rush to prepare a little less frantic.

Rosh Hashanah Main Courses

Jewish Brisket Recipes

If brisket is part of your Rosh Hashanah menu, my recipes are tried and true methods that easily feed hungry, temple-weary eaters. And remember, you can prepare brisket several days in advance or freeze it for several weeks.

Jewish Brisket Recipe with a Sweet and Sour Braising Sauce

This Jewish brisket recipe, courtesy of my mom, is our family's tried and true sweet and sour brisket recipe. It's perfect for Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Hanukkah but is comforting and delicious anytime of the year.

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Slow Cooker Brisket

My mom's classic recipe re-imagined for the slow cooker. Different cooking method, same delicious results.

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Instant Pot Brisket – Sandy’s Sweet and Sour Recipe in Half the Time

A tried and true classic – sweet and sour brisket – updated for the Instant Pot or any pressure cooker. 

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Braised Brisket with Tsimmes

This wonderful version, adapted from a Gourmet recipe, delivers fantastic flavor and a terrific side dish of tsimmes with dried fruit and sweet potato!

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Pressure Cooker Brisket with Pomegranate Molasses

Tart and tangy and ready in half the time as a traditional braise!

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Jewish New Year Chicken Recipes

Rather serve chicken? Chicken also can be made ahead of time and frozen or you can prep your chicken in the roasting pan in the morning or a day ahead, and just cook it right before dinner. Here are several recipes to try:

Roasted Chicken with Clementines, Onion, Fennel, and Vermouth

Amazingly flavorful and colorful resulting in a comforting, delectable dish that would be perfect for a buffet, large group, or just a quick weeknight meal.

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Apricot Jam Chicken

Apricot jam chicken with lemon and Dijon mustard is a wonderful blend of sweet, tart and savory flavors. And it’s so easy to prepare for a simple weeknight meal or a special holiday dinner.

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Harissa Chicken with Preserved Lemons

This sheet pan dinner is easy but a real flavor show-stopper.

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Roasted Chicken with Jerusalem Artichoke & Lemon

The combination of saffron and whole lemon slices not only makes for a beautiful-looking dish but also goes exceptionally well with the nutty earthiness of the artichokes. 

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Roast a whole chicken as described in this fun post:

Mad-Dash Last-Minute Weeknight Roasted Chicken

If my son could do this with directions from my texts, you can do it too!

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OR try this variation using roasted grapes and shallots. I have prepared this recipe many times with both chicken pieces and a whole chicken. The flavor of the grapes, shallots and thyme mingled with the chicken juices is intoxicating. Grapes are still front and center in the early fall so it’s a wonderful seasonal option.

Vegetarian Options for Rosh Hashanah Dinner

Offer hummus (homemade or store-bought) with fresh salads – perhaps one leafy, one vegetable based and one grain-based. All of these dishes do double duty as sides for your meat eaters as well. Want to serve something hot? How about a hearty soup or vegetable wellington — both are always a huge hit at Thanksgiving but work anytime of the year.

Preserved Lemon Hummus

This recipe is a flavor bomb – it uses canned beans but the extra punch of preserved lemon creates a wonderful depth of flavor.

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White Bean Hummus Style Dip with Basil, Pine Nuts and Meyer Lemon

This hummus-style dip is like a burst of sunshine in the winter and a perfect celebration of the season in warmer months. 

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Arugula and Fig Salad with Pomegranate Molasses Dressing

An elegant but super simple salad that will take you through the season for midweek meals or weekend entertaining.

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Pomegranate Molasses Salad Dressing

Pomegranate molasses dressing is simple yet sophisticated, with the tart, tangy pomegranate punch, subtle savory shallots and bright acidity of the balsamic. You'll want to double or even triple this recipe!

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Cucumber Tomato Salad

Chop a salad and serve it with preserved lemon hummus and you’ll be eating an incredibly tasty and healthy meal, without turning on the stove or oven.

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Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Pomegranate Molasses

This soup has a hidden ingredient: hummus. It is in the background, adding to the texture and protein content. The hummus also replaces the garlic in the recipe. You can make it a vegan dish by using vegetable stock instead of chicken.

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Vegetable Wellington

This puff-pastry wrapped vegetarian entrée will not only please your vegetarian guests, but your meat-eating diners as well. Filled with savory mushrooms, roasted butternut squash and creamy goat cheese, this vegetable wellington will become a staple in your holiday and dinner party meals.

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Traditional Matzo Ball Soup Recipe

The matzo balls are light floaters, not dense sinkers. Substitute in vegetable stock for the chicken stock to create a vegetarian version.

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Rosh Hashanah Round Challah Recipes

Challah in the round is the traditional bread during Rosh Hashanah – the circular loaf symbolizes the cycle of the seasons and life. You can make your regular challah recipe and just prepare it in the round. You can also augment with a touch of honey or some raisins and cinnamon. Here are three recipes – one is traditional, the other is a no-rise method that you can prepare even when you are short on time and the third is a challah roll recipe I developed during the pandemic and is included in my new book!

Round Challah for Rosh Hashanah

Round challah is the perfect shape for celebrating the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah). Using my dear friend Lonni's tried and true traditional challah recipe, you'll be baking your own round challahs with confidence all year round.

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Easy Challah Recipe with a Hint of Citrus

This easy challah recipe scented with orange and anise requires virtually no rise time, unlike traditional challah recipes! You can make this on a busy day and it cooks up in the round beautifully for your Rosh Hashanah celebrations.

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Challah Rolls with Apple Currant Filling

Challah rolls filled with apples and currants are perfect for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur BUT why limit yourself? These little gems are perfect individual servings for breakfast, lunch and dinner all year round.

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Challah Braiding Tutorial

Challah braiding demystified with verbal and visual instructions for a 3-strand, 4-strand, challah roll and more!

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But if baking is just not an option, Trader Joe’s usually carries some excellent challah. Check other local stores like Whole Foods or your nearest bakery — you might find they are carrying the special round loaves as well.

Kugels – Sweet and Savory – for the High Holidays

Want a savory kugel? My potato kugel, freshened up with some za’atar (or thyme) and fresh carrots and parsley will feed a crowd easily. The year I developed this recipe and served it at our annual dinner, not a morsel was left.

Crispy Potato Kugel

This potato kugel is perfect for any Jewish holiday meal. I’ve added a few elements to brighten and lighten the flavor while still delivering a traditional crispy potato onion flavor profile.

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Traditional sweet noodle kugels with or without cheese (depending on your desire to keep the meal strictly kosher) are often served at Rosh Hashanah or for break the fast at the end of Yom Kippur. They are also a big hit with picky kid eaters in the mix.

Dana’s Ultimate Sweet Noodle Kugel

Here is a wonderful rendition by my friend Dana of Dana's Table LA – it's so good I included it in my Essential Jewish Baking Cookbook!

Check out this recipe

Apples and Honey for a Sweet New Year

Apples and honey are traditionally eaten as a symbol of a sweet new year. They are also the simplest of appetizers or desserts to offer your guests. Add some extra interest to your platter by trying a new variety of apple from the farmers’ market or a local raw honey. Still just as simple to serve but a chance to experience some new flavors and textures.

Side Dishes for Rosh Hashana Meals

Pomegranates are a fall fruit and also symbolize good deeds. They are a wonderful addition to your Rosh Hashanah meal – from a decoration on your table to all the delicious dishes you can create using the seeds, the juice, and the derivatives you can make from the juice – like syrup and molasses. Check out my pomegranate molasses page and Family Spice’s pomegranate page for lots and lots of ideas for seasonal pomegranates.

Figs are also in season in late summer and fall – don’t forget the figs! And they pair well with pomegranate.

Roasted Delicata Squash with Pomegranate Molasses and Date Syrup

Roasted Delicata Squash will become your go-to fall, winter, and holiday side dish. Take it to the next level with pomegranate molasses and date syrup but no fear – you can sub in balsamic vinegar and maple syrup if you don’t have or can’t easily find pomegranate molasses and date syrup.

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Roasted Green Cauliflower (or any color!)

Roast your way to a delicious side dish with this simple preparation – versatile enough to use with many other vegetables as well. Don't forget to sprinkle on some pomegranate arils!

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Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Pomegranate Molasses

This roasted vegetable dish with the yogurt topping could easily serve as the centerpiece of a meatless meal and depending on how you plate it, it could also serve as the visual centerpiece of your holiday buffet!

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Homemade Pomegranate Molasses

How to make pomegranate molasses? It's as easy as boiling your pomegranate juice to a syrupy consistency, and—voilà!—you have pomegranate molasses.

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Rosh Hashanah Desserts

The classic choice is a honey cake or an apple cake. Figs and pomegranates are also stars at this holiday. But since I am all about learning the tradition and then riffing from it, I developed a pear cake recipe.

Pear Cake with Olive Oil

This pear cake, a close cousin to a traditional Rosh Hashanah apple cake, is simple to make but will wow your guests with its unique twists and flavor profile. Sure to become a fall favorite!

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Chocolate Rugelach with Apricot Jam and Currants

Who doesn't love a good piece of rugelach. Make a double batch and freeze some for Hanukkah as well!

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Chocolate Babka Minis with Cream Cheese Glaze

Chocolate Babka minis or baby babkas are filled with chocolate and topped with streusel and cream cheese glaze. These individual portions are the perfect excuse not to share your babka.

Check out this recipe

Or just slice up some figs and drizzle a bit of honey on them and call it dessert – no one will complain!

And think about short cuts – poached or baked apples would be an easy make ahead option. Sprinkle them with some pomegranate seeds and they’ll be gorgeous! Or throw together an apple strudel by using puff pastry – a quick and easy way to prepare a hot-out-of-the-oven dessert without much advanced preparation (see the recipe in my book, pg. 52).

I hope these ideas turn your rush into Rosh Hashanah into a calmer, peaceful, sweet start to the new year.

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