11 Essential Passover Recipes

Passover — the Jewish spring holiday that commemorates the miraculous liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt — is a multiple-day celebration rich in tradition. The Passover Seder is the ceremonial meal that marks the beginning of the observance.

As we mentioned above, tradition and ceremony play an important part in the Passover celebration — the Seder, which begins after sundown, is certainly no exception. It includes a retelling of the story of the liberation. Those who celebrate use a Haggadah to lead them through the ceremonies of the Seder, which include singing, reading, drinking ceremonial wine and discussing the symbolism of the foods arranged on a Seder plate.

Matzo, a special type of unleavened bread, is one food commonly associated with Passover. The absence of any leavened bread at the table serves as a reminder of the haste with which the Israelites fled — so quickly that they did not have time to wait for any dough to rise. The matzo eaten during Passover symbolizes freedom and hope and also reminds one to be humble, since leavened bread, with all its puffiness and hot air, is associated during this time with pride and corruption.

Bitter herbs, known as maror, are another aspect of the Seder meal, with their bitterness symbolizing the bitterness of the enslavement in Egypt. Charoset, a traditional mixture of fruit, nuts and other sweet ingredients and spices, evokes the mud bricks or mortar used in the building work the enslaved Israelites were forced to do.

After the ceremonial meal, most enjoy a modest feast among friends and family, and there are plenty of tasty dishes that can complement cherished traditions. We searched The Daily Meal recipe archives high and low to find some of our most delicious (kosher!) recipes — from slow-roasted salmon and classic braised brisket (with a speedy twist) to matzo ball soup and more — to try this Passover, so scroll onward for the 11 essential Passover recipes.

Lemon and orange juices add a bright citrus note to roasted carrots. The honey glaze brings out the natural sweetness in carrots.

For the Citrus Glazed Roasted Carrots recipe, click here.

This take on gefilte fish may stray a bit from tradition by using white wine infused with herbs instead of the usual fish broth, but it is sure to be delicious nonetheless.

For the Gefilte Fish in White Wine-Herb Broth recipe, click here.

Duck fat gives these matzo balls a richness, and the homemade stock for the soup makes this classic wholesome matzo ball soup recipe a cut above the rest.

For the Matzo Ball Soup recipe, click here.

Start your morning right with this delicious granola that pairs wonderfully with yogurt and fresh fruit!

For the Nutty and Sweet Matzo Granola recipe, click here.

This unleavened pastry dish is a take on the Greek classic spanakopita and uses matzo crackers in place of the usual phyllo dough.

For the Spinach and Feta Matzo Pie recipe, click here.