15 Passover recipes for a meaningful and delicious holiday

Passover is a big food event. First, there are the traditional Seder meals typically held the first two nights of the week-long Jewish holiday, starting on April 22, commemorating the exodus of ancient Israelites from Egypt as they escaped slavery and wandered the desert for 40 years. The dietary restrictions required for Passover — including avoiding leavened bread and certain baked goods — mean extra thought has to go into menu planning.

To help you figure out what to serve at your Seders and for the rest of the week, I’ve collected some enticing options from our archives.

1. Fluffy Matzoh Balls

15 Passover recipes for a meaningful and delicious holiday

Club soda or seltzer helps these tender matzoh balls float, and schmaltz (chicken fat) lends lots of savory flavor. Get the recipe.

2. Matzoh Ball Soup With Vegetables, Chickpeas and Herbs

You don’t need chicken to make a satisfying matzoh ball soup. This recipe uses chickpeas, which only some Jews will eat for Passover, so check with your guests first. (Need a vegan option? We have you covered.) Get the recipe.

3. High Holiday Brisket

A brisket recipe is welcome at any important Jewish holiday. Make sure you buy ketchup with a kosher-for-Passover label. Get the recipe.

4. Brisket With Leeks and Pomegranate Molasses

This brisket comes together in a slow-cooker for supremely tender meat without a lot of babysitting. Get the recipe.

5. Savory Spring Leek Matzoh Kugel

Serve this casserole at a Seder or for another Passover week dinner. You can make it vegetarian by skipping the chicken skin garnish and using olive oil instead of the schmaltz. Get the recipe.

6. Apple and Nut Haroset

American Apple and Nut Haroset. See link to recipe, below.

Haroset is part of the Seder meal, representing the mortar used by enslaved Israelites in ancient Egypt. This is a rendition from cookbook author Joan Nathan with apples, wine, nuts and cinnamon. Get the recipe.

7. Dried Fruit Haroset With Cardamom and Lemon

For a different texture, try haroset made with dried fruit. Cardamom, with its complex aroma, is a nice change of pace from the expected cinnamon. Get the recipe.

8. Parsley Salad

Parsley Salad

Parsley is part of the Seder plate and dinner, but inevitably you end up with an entire bunch you need to use up. Here, it gets to shine in a bright green salad along with onion, tomatoes, cucumber and bell pepper. Get the recipe.

9. Potato Kugel

Serve this crisp kugel — made gluten-free thanks to potato starch — as a light breakfast or lunch, or as a Seder side. Get the recipe.

10. Matzoh Pizza

Matzoh Pizza.

Weeknight Passover dinners can sometimes feel like a challenge. Have a little fun with an upgraded version of this crowd-pleasing dish. Get the recipe.

11. Matzoh Brittle

You won’t be able to put down this dessert, featuring layers of matzoh, butterscotch and glossy chocolate. Get the recipe.

12. Saffron and Ginger Macaroons

Store-bought macaroons are a Passover staple. They’re pretty simple to make from scratch, though, and this recipe pops with floral saffron and sharp, sweet crystallized ginger. Get the recipe.

13. Chocolate, Pistachio and Cardamom Cake

Gluten-free cakes often appear on Passover tables. This flourless treat uses eggs, butter (or margarine), nuts and lots of dark chocolate for a truly luxurious result. Get the recipe.

14. Pizzarelle con Miele (Honey-Soaked Matzoh Fritters)

Made from softened, crumbled matzoh mixed with beaten eggs, pine nuts and raisins, these fritters from Rome are deep-fried until light and crispy on the outside and custardy on the inside. Get the recipe.

15. Mushroom Matzoh Brei With Lemon-Herb Sauce

Anyone who’s had leftover matzoh has probably made matzoh brei. Here’s a recipe that can stand up as a main course for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Get the recipe.