Skip to content

Top Navigation

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Recipes
  • Cooking 101
  • Eating Smart
  • Healthy Living
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Email Preferences

Manage Your Subscription

  • All Access Subscribers
  • Magazine Subscribers
  • Cooking Light Diet Subscribers
Login
Logout
SUBSCRIBE
Pin FB

Explore Cooking Light

Cooking Light Cooking Light
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 31-Day Healthy Meal Plan

      Our 31-day calendar of meals and tips shows you how to cook more and love it with fun, family-friendly meals that come together quickly and deliciously. Read More
    • Dinner Tonight: Quick and Healthy Menus in 45 Minutes (or Less)

      Hundreds of delicious recipes, paired with simple sides, that can be on your table in 45 minutes or less. Read More
    • Our Favorite Healthy Air Fryer Recipes

      Who ever said that chicken wings, doughnuts, and pizza couldn't be healthy? Read More
  • Recipes

    Recipes

    See All Recipes
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Drinks
    • Recipe Makeovers
    • Quick & Healthy
    • Diabetic
    • Gluten-Free
    • Vegetarian
    • Cooking Light Live
  • Cooking 101

    Cooking 101

    See All Cooking 101
    • Essential Ingredients
    • Cooking Techniques
    • Meet the Chef
    • Cooking Resources
    • Budget Friendly
    • Smart Choices
  • Eating Smart
  • Healthy Living

    Healthy Living

    See All Healthy Living
    • Weight-Loss
    • Health
    • Fitness
    • Home
    • Travel
    • Nutrition 101
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Email Preferences

Manage Your Subscription

  • All Access Subscribers
  • Magazine Subscribers
  • Cooking Light Diet Subscribers
Login
Logout
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. entertaining
  3. Crowd-Pleasing Passover Recipes for Your Family's Seder

Crowd-Pleasing Passover Recipes for Your Family's Seder

March 12, 2018
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
Passover is a time for friends, family, and food. Just like Thanksgiving, it falls to the host to get the balance of dishes just right. Think of the seder like you would any major holiday meal and look for a balance of hearty dishes with colorful and fresh ones. Use these recipes as a guide, or mix and match with your own favorite family recipes. We follow a basic interpretation of the Passover requirements; be sure to adjust accordingly if you adhere to additional restrictions.
Start Slideshow

1 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Strawberry, Basil, and Balsamic “Slablova”

Credit: Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Strawberry, Basil, and Balsamic “Slablova”

Inspired by a pavlova-for-a-crowd “slablova” recipe on Food52, we created our own Passover version of the fruit-topped dessert. The meringue slowly bakes to achieve a crackly crust and an irresistibly soft, melt-in-your-mouth interior texture somewhere between a marshmallow and angel food cake. We like the look of white balsamic in the berry topping, but red balsamic will taste just as delicious (it will just have a darker color). Though potato starch is a common go-to for Passover baked goods, we did not have good success with it here; tapioca starch works better. For a non-Passover occasion, cornstarch or arrowroot starch makes a beautiful pavlova

1 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Orange-Almond Cake

Credit: Greg DuPree
Get Recipe: Orange-Almond Cake

Surprisingly moist, light, and springy, this almond cake is a delicious departure from the dense, rustic ones you might be accustomed to. We use six beaten egg whites to give the cake lots of lift—without the use of leavening agents, which are forbidden on Passover. Because traditional versions of almond extract and powdered sugar can contain spirits and cornstarch (respectively), be sure to seek out kosher-for-Passover versions. 

2 of 16

3 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Matzo Ball Soup

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Matzo Ball Soup

This staple Passover food can be enjoyed whether you're celebrating a Jewish holiday or not. Cookbook author Amelia Saltzman shares her recipe for simple mazto ball soup in an incredibly rich and well-balanced broth, a lighter note to balance the other dishes of the seder. Featuring soft, dumpling-like matzo balls made from matzo meal and eggs, this soup is the ultimate comfort food. While requiring a bit more effort than a jarred version, this homemade alternative is easy and definitely worth the results. Enjoy it as is, or garnish with parsley leaves. If you're making this for a crowd, make sure to start the day before so that it's served fresh and hot, and double the recipe to make sure everyone gets seconds.

3 of 16

Advertisement

4 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smoked Salmon Salad in Cucumber Cups

Credit: Photo: Justin Walker
View Recipe: Smoked Salmon Salad in Cucumber Cups

Skip the cracker and serve this creamy smoked salmon and caper mixture in hollowed cucumber cups—crisp, refreshing, and kosher for Passover. Substitute gravlax or even flaked canned salmon if you prefer salmon that has not been smoked. Wasabi mayonnaise is available in the condiment section of most supermarkets. Or make your own by blending 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 1 tablespoon wasabi paste, or more wasabi to taste.

4 of 16

5 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Haricots Verts with Shallots and Pine Nuts

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Haricots Verts with Shallots and Pine Nuts

A simple side of crisp-tender, slender green beans is a kid and adult favorite, and goes well with many dishes. Instead of pine nuts, you could use sliced toasted almonds or just omit them.

5 of 16

6 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Arugula, Tomato, and Almond Salad

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell
View Recipe: Arugula, Tomato, and Almond Salad

Fresh salads are a great way to break up the heavier dishes of a holiday seder. Juicy tomatoes and tangy-sweet balsamic vinegar do just that.

6 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Spanish-Style Roasted Potatoes

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Spanish-Style Roasted Potatoes

Paprika, fresh oregano, and olives turn everyday roasted potatoes into a spectacular side. Serve with a chorizo-flecked frittata or pan-grilled steak or chicken.

7 of 16

8 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Shiitake-and-Sesame Bok Choy

Credit: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Shiitake-and-Sesame Bok Choy

Shiitake mushrooms are thinner and denser than cremini or button mushrooms; they’ll brown quickly in the pan without releasing too much liquid. These mushrooms also have a rich, meaty flavor that boosts the bok choy and marries well with the toasted sesame oil.

8 of 16

9 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Classic Beef Pot Roast

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Classic Beef Pot Roast

This dish is our most popular recipe ever. It has kept that distinction since it was first published in October 2006, probably because it’s such a crowd-pleaser. To serve, carve the roast into large pieces, ladle the rich broth over the top, and sprinkle with fresh flat-leaf parsley.

9 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Crispy Chicken Thighs With Schmaltzy Vinaigrette

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Crispy Chicken Thighs With Schmaltzy Vinaigrette

You'll get all the deliciousness of a roast chicken in a fraction of the time when you opt for bone-in thighs as opposed to a whole bird. Schmaltz, a Yiddish word for chicken fat, is the base for a bright pan sauce that's drizzled over the vegetables and crispy chicken thighs. A cast-iron skillet will maintain an even heat so the hot drippings don't smoke or scorch. Plan out your moves, like steps in a dance, so you can cook efficiently without losing focus. Prep vegetables while the oven preheats, sear chicken while the potatoes roast, and make the sauce just as the chicken finishes baking.

10 of 16

11 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Apricot-Sage Chicken with Carrots

Credit: Greg DuPree
View Recipe: Apricot-Sage Chicken with Carrots

Dinner doesn't get much easier than this eight-ingredient, one-pan dish. The secret is jarred apricot preserves; much more than a spread for toast, it balances the earthy sage and pungent mustard in the pan sauce and gives everything a glossy coat. You can also thin the preserves in a small saucepan over medium heat and brush over roasted pork tenderloin, salmon fillets, or a rustic apple tart. A little butter stirred in at the end adds body to the sauce.

11 of 16

12 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Red Wine-Marinated Steak With Balsamic Onions and Slaw

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Red Wine-Marinated Steak With Balsamic Onions and Slaw

Cook this with either hanger or flank steak, whichever you prefer. The onions add a hit of umami, but feel free to omit them.

12 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chicken Thighs With Harissa Vegetables

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio
View Recipe: Chicken Thighs With Harissa Vegetables

Home cooks often complain that their slow cooker meals always end up as soup, and they wonder where all the liquid comes from. Anything you put in the slow cooker will release liquid as it cooks, and there's no way for that liquid to evaporate. If you're not careful, you will indeed end up with soup. Sometimes, it's best to add no liquid to the cooker.

Here, we toss onion wedges, baby potatoes, and large carrot chunks with oil and harissa (look for it with the hot sauces or in the global foods section). We then arrange seared chicken thighs on top and cook the mixture with no liquid added. Over the long cooking period, the chicken releases juices that baste the veggies underneath and create just enough sauce.

13 of 16

14 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sumac Chicken with Caulifower and Carrots

Credit: Photo: Caitlin Bensel
View Recipe: Sumac Chicken with Caulifower and Carrots

This sheet-pan dinner made chicken a winner in January 2017, with a ground sumac and brown sugar rub. You can also use sumac on roasted vegetables, stir it into vinaigrette, or try it in our Maple-Sumac Roasted Walnuts recipe.

14 of 16

15 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cantaloupe-White Balsamic Sorbet

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey
View Recipe: Cantaloupe-White Balsamic Sorbet

This sorbet is refreshing with an almost creamy texture. The white balsamic vinegar is subtle, but it adds depth of flavor that enhances the melon.

15 of 16

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 16

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Coconut Macaroons with Bittersweet Chocolate and Pistachios

Credit: Photo: Courtesy of Oxmoor House
View Recipe: Coconut Macaroons with Bittersweet Chocolate and Pistachios

Macaroons are a traditional Passover dessert. You won't believe how easy it is to make them at home. The extra chocolate dip and pistachio garnish takes these cookies over the top.

16 of 16

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 16 Strawberry, Basil, and Balsamic “Slablova”
    2 of 16 Orange-Almond Cake
    3 of 16 Matzo Ball Soup
    4 of 16 Smoked Salmon Salad in Cucumber Cups
    5 of 16 Haricots Verts with Shallots and Pine Nuts
    6 of 16 Arugula, Tomato, and Almond Salad
    7 of 16 Spanish-Style Roasted Potatoes
    8 of 16 Shiitake-and-Sesame Bok Choy
    9 of 16 Classic Beef Pot Roast
    10 of 16 Crispy Chicken Thighs With Schmaltzy Vinaigrette
    11 of 16 Apricot-Sage Chicken with Carrots
    12 of 16 Red Wine-Marinated Steak With Balsamic Onions and Slaw
    13 of 16 Chicken Thighs With Harissa Vegetables
    14 of 16 Sumac Chicken with Caulifower and Carrots
    15 of 16 Cantaloupe-White Balsamic Sorbet
    16 of 16 Coconut Macaroons with Bittersweet Chocolate and Pistachios

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Cooking Light

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    MeredithCooking Light is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Cooking Light may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Cooking Light. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.cookinglight.com

    View image

    Crowd-Pleasing Passover Recipes for Your Family's Seder
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.