Passover is a beautiful time to gather around the table and share meaningful traditions that tell the story of the holiday. Along with classic Passover foods, the bright flavors of the Mediterranean, like olive oil, fresh herbs, citrus, and warm spices, fit right in with the spirit of the celebration.
This Mediterranean-inspired Passover menu includes festive mains, vibrant sides, and simple desserts, with options for meat, fish, vegetarian dishes, and both dairy and parve recipes so you can build a menu that works for your table and traditions.
🫒 Appetizers
Apple Walnut Charoset (Parve): A classic Passover mixture of apples, walnuts and wine that symbolizes the mortar used by the Israelites in Egypt. It’s sweet, crunchy, and a staple on the Seder plate.
Chicken Liver Pâté (Meat Option): This version has an Italian spin for a fresh bite, with capers, herbs and lemon. Chop it fine or blend it smooth and spread on matzo.
Smoked Trout Dip (Dairy Option): This creamy smoked trout dip is a flavorful dip made with fresh herbs and lemon and perfect with matzo or crisp vegetables.
🥣 Soups and Side Dishes
Cumin Roasted Carrots with Tahini (Parve Option): Sweet roasted carrots and onions are seasoned with cumin and served on top of creamy tahini sauce. Garnish with a pistachio gremolata for a bright and flavorful side dish.
Matzo Stuffed Tomatoes Provencal (Dairy Option): Inspired by the popular French, sweet tomatoes are stuffed with a flavorful matzo and herbes de Provence mixture.
Lemon Saffron Matzo Ball Soup (Meat Option): What makes these matzo balls pop with flavor is the addition of saffron, herbs and fresh lemon zest. It's a favorite and always on the Passover dinner table got 10 years and counting.
🍗 Main Course Options
Beef Mains
Sweet and Sour Brisket: This classic holiday brisket is slowly braised in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce and always the centerpiece of Passover dinner.
Pomegranate Braised Short Ribs: Rich beef short ribs braise in a decadent sauce with red wine, pomegranate molasses and warm spices. This recipe is a true show stopper!
Seafood Mains
Citrus and Herb Roasted Salmon: This is our got-to salmon recpe for both weeknights and dinner parties. Loads of fresh herbs and citrus zest are pressed on top of salmon filets and roasted in a bright mix of fresh lemon juice, white wine and olive oil.
Whole Branzino with Citrus and Herbs: This recipe is for grilled branzino but roasting works great! Place the whole fish on a foil lined baking sheet and roast in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven for 15-20 minutes.
Vegetarian Main
Roasted Eggplant with Tahini: If you love eggplant, this is the one to try! Wedges of eggplant are seasoned with warm spices and roasted until slightly caramelized and perfectly tender. Garnish with creamy tahini sauce and crispy chickpeas for a delightful vegetarian main dish.
🍦 Desserts
Matzo Toffee: This is always a Passover favorite, or really anytime of the year. Crisp matzo is topped with buttery caramel, chocolate and sprinkle of salt for the perfect sweet and crunchy bite.
Matzo Crisp with Pears and Pistachios: Tender baked pears are topped with a sweet matzo crumble and crunchy pistachios for a simple dessert that's sweet, lightly spiced and perfect for Passover. You could also serve with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.
🗓️ Make Ahead Tips
Many of these dishes can be prepared ahead of time, which makes hosting much easier.
- Brisket and short ribs can be made 1 to 2 days in advance and reheated before serving.
- Matzo ball soup can be prepared ahead and gently reheated on the stove. Keep the matzo balls separate.
- Roasted carrots and stuffed tomatoes can be assembled earlier in the day and baked before dinner.
- Matzo toffee keeps well for several days and is perfect to make ahead.
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