Menu
Following are traditional recipes for Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. This menu would be well suited to break the fast of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, as well. Symbolic foods at Rosh Hashanah would include pomegranates, honey, apples, carrots, sweet flavors, and whole fish including the head. The meaning will be explained next to relevant recipes.
Appetizer
Chicken Liver Pate
Serve with traditionally prepared bread, crackers or vegetables
Main Dishes
Paprika Roast Chicken
Roast chicken is a classic main dish at Rosh Hashanah. This easy recipe features a paprika spice rub which adds extra flavor and color to the crisply browned bird.
Rosh Hashanah Chicken with Cinnamon and Apples from Metz. Read comments for hints.
Braised Brisket With Pomegranate Juice, Chestnuts and Turnips – substitute alternative for vegetable oil
Braised Flanken With Pomegranate
Whole Roasted Fish – helpful hint — The recipe calls for cooking the fish in aluminum. I lined the aluminum foil with parchment paper so that the fish didn’t touch the aluminum, however the juice spilled out – so I recommend to put the fish with the lined aluminum as the recipe indicates yet place it within a pyrex baking pan or other pan with sides so that it catches the juice. I didn’t have a pan large enough for the 8 pound fish I cooked. Also, be sure to buy wild caught.
The symbolism of a whole fish: Rosh HaShana means the “Head of the Year” in Hebrew. As such, fish is traditionally served with its head. Why fish? A fish’s eyes never close and God’s eyes are said to always stay open as well.
Lamb tagine sweetened with dried fruit
Side Dishes
Tzimmes
Tzimmes is a sweet and savory stew served at many Jewish holiday meals. This meatless recipe includes carrots, sweet potatoes, prunes, and dried apricots. Serve this as a side dish with roast chicken or brisket.
Glazed Carrots with Orange and Ginger
Sweet foods, such as carrots, are traditional for the Rosh Hashanah holiday. Here, they’re dressed with an orange-and-ginger glaze for an extra-tasty side dish that enhances any menu. The symbolism of this vegetable is based on the fact that in Yiddish, the word for carrots is “merren,” having the additional connotation of “more.” We want to have more of the blessings of life.
Honey Roasted Red Potatoes
Read comments for hints! Honey represents the sweetness hoped for during the coming year.
Beet and Pomegranate Salad
It is traditional to consume pomegranates on Rosh Hashanah because the pomegranate, with its numerous seeds, symbolizes fruitfulness. Also, it is said to have 613 seeds, which corresponds with the 613 mitzvot or commandments of the Torah.
Pomegranate and Herb Salad
It is recommend that the cup of mixed herb leaves, such as parsley, cilantro, mint, or any combination herbs be finely cut.
Roasted Vegetables for Rosh Hashanah
I recommend that one leave out the sugar
Ferments
Dessert
Flourless Honey-Almond Cake – recommend crispy almonds to make almond flour. This is another recipe for the same cake!
Honey-Coconut Milk Ice Cream – One of my guests doubled the recipe and many of us found it too sweet — so reduce honey. Organic Berries for the ice cream were a lovely addition.
Homemade Raw Milk Ice Cream – Honey
Coolers
Ritual
The Jewish New Year is a time when it is traditional to reflect on the year behind us and consider our vision for the next. It is common to say to one another, “May you be inscribed in the book of life for another year.”
I envision this traditional holiday ritual may be of value to all of us because it invites us to “cast off” that which we want to release.
Consider the ways in which you may have “missed the mark” in the last year. Write down that which you would like to cast away – and throw stones into a body of water that flows/moves — such as the ocean, a stream, a river – to symbolically release it.
Some do this with bread or other food but, bread and/or other food is likely not of value to the animals that may live within the water, so it is my tradition to use stones.
I also add this part:
Consider what you would like to hold onto, develop, and evolve within yourself and your life. Keep a rock or rocks that represent those items as a symbolic way to embrace them.
I think this ritual has therapeutic value for all of us, regardless of religious beliefs.
Nourishing Ourselves 
8 Responses to Nourishing Traditions for Rosh HaShanah
Awesome. I am not having company this year, but am doing food for my family. My favorite Brisket Recipe is http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/MY-MOTHERS-BRISKET-13482
It is so good. I don’t use vegetable oil, obviously, but substitute olive oil.
Lisa Imerman
Thanks, Lisa! I love brisket – I will have to try this one!
YUM! We had brisket and tzimmes.. my favourite! Looking forward to going through your site.. i just stumbled upon it today. Amy
Hi Amy,
Would love your recipes! It was a grain free meal we had …
Not being Jewish, I found the extra information interesting and thought provoking. There is beauty in every religion and so many traditions involving food. Thank you very much for this post. I am very much looking forward to trying some of these recipes. May you be inscribed in the book of life for another year!
Your comment was very touching to me! Than you for taking a moment to let me know your experience of the article!
Sandrine,
I love it! This last week for no reason, I have been emptying rooms/areas into category piles, cleaning the area and putting back only what I want or need for the future. And adding a touch of décor even in a purely functional area. I am artistically challenged and rather practical so it surprises and humors everyone, especially me! For example; My tack room (horse stuff in the barn) was so jammed and dirty we started just throwing things in there. It had been that way for years. After emptying it out I hung a piece of fabric on the wall, a mirror, moved some cabinets from the front porch that only collected misc. stuff, and a small woodstove looking heater, radio and 2 lawn chairs. That was last Saturday. I have had some most wonderful relaxing moments alone in there and beautiful intimate 1 on 1 conversations with dear friends just stopping by and my children. Decluttered, organized and thought about, it is spacious and lovely. It is only 10×10 feet! Today 4 of my 6 kids at home are doing the same thing to their rooms totally on their own. My girls are sleeping in the tack room because they are even painting their room!
Doing this is so not me at all. But it’s almost spontaneous and feels really great! The old me is leaving and I am embracing with amusement the new me. The old me would have thought it to death and only saw the hard physical work. Not the new me. This is fun and play. I don’t need permission and only those who want to come play with me get to help!
God is doing an amazing work inside me that is being reflected in my environment. And apparently it is contagious!
Abundant blessing to you, Sandrine!
Deanne Yoder
Hi Deanne,
I was sincerely touched to read your experience of casting away that which you want to let go of and inspiring others to do the same! Thank you so much for taking the time to share the details of what this season has been like for you!