Jewish households celebrate Passover to commemorate the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. We mark Passover with a change in diet – as we can’t eat specific foods and ingredients during this time, I’m helping you plan ahead with 28 kosher Passover recipes plus a guide to kosher Passover recipes.

Collage of four Passover dishes with title text over the top.

Which Foods Are Kosher for Passover?

Many foods can’t be eaten if observing Passover. The following kosher ingredients for Passover, so they’re all suitable to have on your menu.

  • All fruits 
  • Most vegetables
  • Fermented vegetables
  • Matzos
  • Beef, turkey, chicken, fish with scales, duck, or goose
  • Dairy (as long as it is not combined with meat)
  • Eggs
  • Herbs and spices
  • Unflavored teas and unflavored coffee
  • Nuts and nut butter (except peanut butter or soy butter)
  • Quinoa, almond, coconut, and quinoa flour
  • Processed and packaged foods marked kosher-for-Passover

Every Passover I make homemade sweetened condensed coconut milk, as the canned variety isn’t kosher. Then, I use it to make homemade coconut macaroons or even to sweeten my tea as a special treat.

Which Foods Are Kitniyot for Passover?

Additional foods are kosher for Passover depending on whether your family is Ashkenazi or Sephardic. I am half Ashkenazi and half Sephardic which has given me the unique opportunity to experience and practice both traditions. 

If you’re Sephardic, you CAN eat foods classed as Kitniyot, as follows:

  • Beans
  • Buckwheat
  • Caraway
  • Cardamom
  • Corn
  • Edamame
  • Fennel Seeds
  • Fenugreek
  • Flaxseed (Linseed)
  • Green Beans
  • Hemp Seeds
  • Lentils
  • Millet
  • Mustard
  • Peas
  • Poppy Seeds
  • Rapeseed
  • Rice
  • Sesame Seeds
  • Soybeans
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Teff

*List sourced from oukosher.org

What Are Examples of Leavened Foods?

For Passover, chametz (foods with wheat, oats, barley, rye, and spelt) are not allowed. Leavened foods (containing a leavening agent to make them rise) are also not allowed. Here are some examples of these foods that are not allowed for Passover:

  • Beer and grain alcohol
  • Bread, cakes, and baked goods
  • Grains including wheat, barley, spelt, oats, and rye
  • Any foods containing baking powder, baking soda, and yeast

Which Beverages are Kosher for Passover?

Grain alcohols are not allowed, but there are still many alcoholic drinks available to you. Here are some permitted alcohols:

  • Wine with kosher certification
  • Prosecco and sparkling wine with kosher certification
  • Whiskey (as long as it’s not derived from a chametz ingredient)  
  • Vodka (as long as it’s not derived from a chametz ingredient) 
  • Gin
  • Rum
  • Tequila, and other agave-derived spirits 
  • Brandy, distilled from kosher wine
  • Unflavored seltzer and sparkling water are good, even without any Kosher certification

Kosher for Passover Recipes for Every Meal

It can feel hard to keep kosher for Passover. Yet, many whole ingredients are allowed and are easily turned into flavor-packed dishes. Here’s a variety of menu inspiration – make sure to read the descriptions for any kosher ingredient switches.

Passover Appetizers

1
Three bowls of matzo ball soup.
Matzo Ball Soup
Matzo ball soup is a comforting Jewish classic, usually enjoyed during Passover. It takes only 5 ingredients and is much easier to make than you think.
See Recipe
2
Shredded potato in a cast iron pan.
Cast-Iron Potato Kugel
Potato kugel is a hearty potato casserole dish with a crispy crunchy baked top, like a hash brown cake. It's mouthwatering on its own or as a side.
See Recipe
3
Fishcakes nested in radicchio.
Salmon Gefilte Fish
Gefilte fish is a classic Jewish dish comprised of a fish cake poached in a broth and has a texture just like matzo balls.
See Recipe
4
Lamb Stuffed Piquillo Peppers
Piquillo peppers stuffed with spiced lamb and roasted perfectly. Make sure to find jarred peppers with a kosher for Passover certification.
See Recipe

Passover Sweets and Desserts

5
Front view of the layers in a matzo icebox cake.
Matzo Icebox Cake
This icebox cake has sweet layers of chocolate-covered matzo and whipped cream, and frozen to make a silky smooth and crunchy treat.
See Recipe
6
A beige square cake with an almond topping sitting on a glass cake display stand.
Almond Banana Cake for Passover
This almond banana cake is a satisfying treat to enjoy over the Jewish holiday and only uses 6 ingredients. It has a moist, pudding-like texture from the over-ripe bananas in the batter and a crunchy topping of slivered almonds.
See Recipe
7
A pile of square pieces of matzo with chocolate and pistachios
Matzo Bark
Make this matzo bark, pop it in the fridge, and you have snacks for the whole of Passover.
See Recipe
8
Mousse and whipped cream in a brown pedestal glass.
4-Ingredient Dark Chocolate Mousse
A 4-ingredient, light, and decadent chocolate mousse. It’s fluffy as a cloud and perfect for Passover if you use kosher for Passover chocolate and don't include the mascarpone topping
See Recipe
9
Strawberry Matcha Semifreddo
A smooth, decadent semifreddo that you can make without an ice cream maker. All it takes is strawberries, matcha, egg, sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream.
See Recipe
10
Baked noodle casserole with cinnamon topping in a cast iron pan.
Cast-Iron Noodle Kugel
Get your cast iron pan for a crispy outside layer on this amazing dessert! Noodle kugel is a sweet, creamy, baked pudding with egg noodles, cream cheese, sugar, and apples.
See Recipe
11
Cookies drizzled with chocolate stacked in a dish.
Coconut Macaroons
An indulgent dessert and Passover classic, these coconut macaroons have a perfectly soft and chewy texture with a subtle sweetness and tropical coconut taste. Make sure to use kosher sweetened condensed milk.
See Recipe

Passover Brisket

12
Shredded meat on a black cutting board.
Slow Cooker Passover Brisket Recipe
Looking for an incredibly simple slow-cooker Passover brisket? This is it – no-fuss, tender, moist, and even better in sandwiches the next day.
See Recipe
13
Sliced brisket on a serving plate with chopped vegetables.
Red Wine & Honey Braised Brisket
A tender and juicy brisket braised in red wine and honey. Not just a Passover and Rosh Hashanah staple, but great for all year round!
See Recipe

Passover Snacks

14
Two squares of matzo pizza.
Easy Matzo Pizza
This is a classic 4-ingredient matzo pizza with rich pizza sauce, mozzarella, and basil. It satisfies all the cravings that I'm having!
See Recipe
15
Persian Tea Eggs
Persian tea eggs are a Sephardic Jewish tradition I grew up with. These eggs are incredibly easy-to-peel and the flavor & color infuse beautifully.
See Recipe
16
Bowl of date dip.
Sepharadic Charoset (Date & Walnut Spread)
Charoset is the sweet snack you're looking for this week: naturally sweet from the dates and apple and perfect for smearing on matzo.
See Recipe
17
Close up of one peanut butter cup.
Nut Butter Cups
If you make these with almond butter or hazelnut butter instead of peanut butter, they are kosher for Passover.
See Recipe

Passover Meat and Salmon Dishes

18
Roasted Chicken with Dried Fruit & Red Wine
This is the most incredibly juicy and tasty roasted chicken. You place all the ingredients in a pot, marinate the chicken overnight to infuse the flavors, and then this dish is ready with ease.
See Recipe
19
Meat patties on a plate.
Kotlet – Persian Meat and Potato Patties
Kotlet are savory, spiced meat patties, the Persian version of meat cutlets. My grandmother’s recipe, this version has a good amount of cumin, and I love it!
See Recipe
20
Stack of roasted chicken next to green sauce.
Peruvian-Style Roasted Chicken
Drop the aji verde sauce and just make this flavorful chicken for an amazing Passover meal.
See Recipe
21
Salmon over pasta.
Citrus Thyme Salmon (Lemon or Orange)
A tasty, easy meal for Passover. This Citrus Thyme Salmon uses barely any additional ingredients to let the natural flavor of the salmon shine.
See Recipe
22
Bowl of beef stew.
Beef Stew with Red Wine
This red wine beef stew uses an entire bottle of red wine, and that magical ingredient both tenderizes the meat and flavors the stew. It tastes incredible!
See Recipe
23
Bowl of dumpling soup.
Koufteh – Persian Meat & Rice Dumpling Soup
This mouthwatering koufteh, a Persian meat & rice dumpling soup, is filled with fresh herbs & spices. It's a heartwarming recipe you'll love!
See Recipe

Passover Vegetables and Sides

24
Roasted kabocha squash on a white plate on a wood table.
Roasted Kabocha Squash
Simple, easy roasted squash that tastes incredible,  All you need is salt, pepper, and oil to roast this squash to perfection.
See Recipe
25
Rice pilaf with gold serving spoons.
Shirin Polo
This special, jeweled rice is usually served at weddings to bring sweetness to the couple. It's a sweet rice pilaf with dried fruit, nuts, and candied orange peel.
See Recipe
26
Blistered Shishito Peppers
The perfect salty bite to satisfy all your junk food cravings, It’s a healthy, plant-based snack, complete with a subtle, salty crunch!
See Recipe
27
Rolled eggplants in red pasta sauce.
Eggplant Rolls in a Spicy Pomodoro
This dish is full of great flavor and can work with both fresh tomatoes and canned, whatever you have handy.
28
Large platter of cucumber tomato salad with gold utensils.
Persian Shirazi Salad
This salad is so good, and found on the table at most meals in Persian homes. It's made with simple ingredients, and the lemon olive oil dressing is incredible.
See Recipe

Prepared Kosher Products for Passover

If you want to stock up on some prepared items and snacks, here are some that I buy during Passover. Always make sure to check for the Kosher for Passover certification.

  • Matzo
  • Cream Cheese
  • Cheese and Deli meats
  • Pizza Sauce 
  • Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Chocolate Chips
  • Wine
  • Pickles and other Fermented Foods

I hope this guide helps you create some fun, satisfying dishes for Passover. Chag Pesach sameach!

Explore More Jewish Recipes

I create Jewish recipes for all holidays and occasions and share them on this blog. You’ll love these throughout the year!

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