Top 10 Rosh Hashanah Dishes

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Dishes are sugared to help make the year sweeter and more prosperous. Pomegranates, Chickpeas, Bread, Dates and Beets are superstitiously used to bring affluence. As such, here are the top 10 dishes traditionally made of Rosh Hashanah.

1. Apple & Honey:

Traditionally, before anyone starts eating, they must take a piece of apple and dip it into honey. Additionally, they must make a toast with others using the apple. The eating of the sweetened apple superstitiously ensures a sweet and happy upcoming new year.

2. Tzimmes:

This is another dish served traditionally at an Ashkenazi New Year’s dinner as an appetizer. It is basically cooked vegetables, including carrots and chickpeas and beans. Honey and sugar are then added to make this dish sweet, which makes it perfect for Rosh Hashanah and its sweet theme.

3. Gefilte Fish:

This dish comprises of poached fish (mixed with onions, carrots and matzo meal) stuffed into fish skin. It is traditionally made with pike fish, white fish, mullet and/or carp. Many people serve the fish like patties with carrots and/or horseradish on top. During Rosh Hashanah, the dish is served to everyone, but the fish head is given to the head of the household. All in all, the dish is kosher and can be served with both dairy and meat meals.

4. Kugel:

This is an Ashkenazi dish traditionally served with main course dinners. It is a casserole dish made with egg noodles or potatoes. It is widely known to bring spiritual blessings, especially on Shabbats.

5. Matzo Ball Soup:

Matzah ball soup is a chicken broth with little balls made from matzo meal. The broth is traditionally cooked with chicken, onions, carrots, celery and parsnip, in addition to matzo balls.

 

6. Ktzitzot:

Ktzitzot are kebobs made from ground beef and are long like sausages and hotdogs. They are traditionally made by Sephardic Jews and Moroccans and can be served hot and cold.

7. Challah (Round Challah for Ashkenazi)

This commemorates the Manna that was given to the Jews by G-d when they were wondering the desert after their exodus from Israel. It should be made into a round ball during Rosh Hashanah to symbolize the year’s cycle. The challah is made with raisins and topped with honey to make it as sweet as the upcoming year.

8. Spinach and Chickpeas

This is a Sephardic tradition to put on the New Year’s celebration table. The Sephardic Jews take dry chickpeas and soak and cook them with spinach, onions and tomato paste. The round chickpeas represent hope for fulfillment in the New Year.

9. Salad with Strawberries & Pomegranates:

Salad could be a traditional one, with strawberries and pomegranates added. The pomegranates are of importance as they bring mitzvah (blessings). During New Year’s, the Jewish people hope to have as much mitzvah as there are seeds.

10. Chicken with Dates and Roasted Garlic:

This is traditionally served as the main course on New Year’s. This fulfills the need to have dates, which asks for more peace and less enemies.

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