Passover: History, Traditions, Seders and Food
Passover, or Pesach, celebrates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, where they were slaves. The holiday has also come to symbolize and commemorate various types of individual, political and social freedom in modern times. Although there are basic laws and traditions, Passover can be a personalized celebration. The veritable cornucopia of Haggadahs available indicates the many ways to observe the holiday; every family celebrates in their own fashion. Learn about the basic traditions and choose some new ones to spice up your holiday.
Expand All Guide SectionsHistory and Traditions of Passover
Passover primarily celebrates the Jews’ exodus from Egypt, but it’s also a celebration ... read more »
The Passover Seder
Although Passover is observed for eight days, only the first two days are celebrated with a ... read more »
Kosher for Passover Foods
Passover is one of the most important holidays on the Jewish calendar, and a joyous celebration of freedom and spring. Why, then, you might ask, am I forbidden to eat something delicious, like bread? If you read the sections above, you know the religious significance of giving up chametz, but your stomach may not be as understanding. Below, find a collection of kosher for Passover recipes you can use for your seder and for the duration of the eight-day holiday.
Dulcinea's Insight
- You’ll find more specifics on the seder meal and seder plate in “The Passover Seder” section of this guide.
- Congregation Beth Yeshurun provides a general overview of Passover Food restrictions and laws for Ashkenazi Jews. Judaism 101 explains how Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews differ, including the traditions they observe on Passover.
- Consider investing in “The New York Times Passover Cookbook.” It includes more than 200 recipes from top chefs, all of which might make you forget how much you miss bread!
Dulcinea's Picks
For the seder meal …
Aish.com
shares recipes for what it calls a “(Mostly) Traditional Seder.” That means a series of Old World recipes that you probably ate when you were a kid, as did your grandmother. The recipes are drawn from Aish.com’s Passover Cookbook, a mix of traditional seder-type foods and recipes that replicate the food you eat year-round. Aish has even more Passover recipes on another page.
GoodHousekeeping.com
supplies 20 Passover recipes that enable you to be a good cook and a good Jew at the same time. The magazine offers a twist on old recipes, such as Sweet and Sour Brisket as well as more alternative choices like Striped Bass with Lemons, White Wine, and Capers. Don’t forget to investigate the site’s gourmet dessert offerings.
New York Magazine
asked four top New York City chefs to devise a seder meal that was a semi-exotic break from the ordinary fare. The group combined Ashkenazi and Sephardic traditions to produce recipes that give a nod to old-world staples while embodying modern flavor and gourmet tastes. The recipes are all available on the site.
For Sephardic recipes …
Boston.com
, the online home of The Boston Globe, did a feature last year on a Turkish woman living in America and celebrating Passover in the Sephardic tradition; recipes are included.
The New York Times
shares the story of a Jewish woman born in Cuba and offers two of her Sephardic Passover dessert recipes.
For Passover desserts …
Cooking Light
explains some of the complications involved with making Passover desserts and meals. Read about six dessert recipes that adhere to kosher dietary restrictions, and are also suitable for those with gluten allergies.
Beliefnet
posts several user-submitted Passover dessert recipes. Click though the collection to see if anything from the wide variety of choices strikes your fancy. If not, submit your own.
To modify your year-round recipes …
Gourmania
has the scoop on how many scoops of potato starch to use instead of regular flour when baking and cooking during the holiday. Expand your horizons with ample suggestions for Passover substitutions.
For vegan and vegetarian suggestions …
University of Massachusetts
student Zahava Koren has a substantial collection of vegetarian Passover recipes on her homepage. Even nonvegetarians may wish to sample these creative and healthy alternatives.
VegCooking
offers recipes for a complete vegan Passover dinner.
Passover Wine
During the Passover seder, one of the rituals involves drinking four cups of wine. Even people who ... read more »
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