7 Shavuot Foods from Around the World

We have to include a classic Shavuot cheesecake, of course - and what better way to celebrate the holiday than with a traditional cheesecake recipe from Israel!

This recipe uses the soft, white, creamy cheese that's a staple in every Israeli home known as gvina levana or literally "white cheese," though if you're outside Israel, quark cheese is a good substitute. Another component of this Israeli cheesecake is a crumbly crust, providing a delicious balance to the creamy inside and rounding out this delectable treat that's not to be missed.

Click here to get the recipe!

Bonus. Romania: Burnished Cheesecake

Why not try multiple cheesecakes this year?

This recipe featuring a deeply browned top and rich filling has been passed on from generation to generation and can be traced back to the Jewish community of Romania, so you'll be part of a long chain of Jewish history by making it in your own home.

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The filled pastry known as borekas is a common holiday and shabbat meal staple in Israel and in many Jewish homes around the world. But you'll really impress your Shavuot guests with this special version that originated in the Jewish community of Turkey and has been kept alive in Israel, known as borekitas! While some make them for every shabbat, the cheese filling is especially fitting for Shavuot.

Make it with either eggplant stuffing or cheese - or one batch of each to please all tastes! - and you'll have a filling holiday appetizer or side dish that you'll love making and serving.

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The pudding-like desert known as basundi is not an exclusively Jewish food - it is enjoyed by Indians of every faith across the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. However, Jewish communities in these regions often made basundi especially for the Biblical holiday of Shavuot because of its milky base and sweet taste.

Try it for yourself to impress your family and guests with a unique holiday dish that has both taste and flair!

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The term “Mexican food” may remind you of quesadillas and tacos, but the Jews of Mexico actually often eat foods similar to Eastern European Ashkenazi cuisine, like gefilte fish and brisket. However, at the same time, Mexican Jewish communities often incorporate local ingredients and flavors that are more readily available to them, creating their own twists on classic Ashkenazi fare.

Mexican Chocolate Cinnamon Babka is a perfect example of this tradition - and an ideal sweet treat for the holiday of Shavuot. It also uses butter, making it a rich, dairy dessert your family will adore.

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Atayef are a blintz-meets-pancake delicacy that has been enjoyed by Jews (and non-Jews) in Syria for hundreds of years. Stuffed with a sweet, creamy ricotta mixture, these pastries are fried (making them a traditional treat for Hanukkah, too) and then drenched in rosewater syrup.

Whether your family has Syrian roots or not, you won't be able to get enough of Syrian atayef once you try them this Shavuot and serve them on your holiday table!

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While you may be familiar with vareniki as the Russian word for dumpling, Lenivie Vareniki refers to specific type of dumpling popular in Ukraine. Rather than being filled like a traditional dumping, this scrumptious version has cheese and butter worked right into the dough itself - making them particularly fitting for Shavuot but also delicious on any other holiday, shabbat, or special occasion.

Get super-traditional and Shavuot-appropriate by topping them with sour cream, and you'll have a yummy main dish that even the kids will love!

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Malawach is a flatbread that's commonly eaten in Israel, after being introduced to the country by Yemenite Jewish immigrants. However, it's typically pareve and dairy-free, often served alongside meat. Yemenite Jewish communities did not traditionally eat dairy during Shavuot, and made malawach instead.

Nonetheless, some families in Israel today choose to eat this versatile flatbread with dairy dips and dishes on Shavuot to have the best of both worlds - so you can serve it with whatever you like to fit your family's preferences and customs.

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Enjoy, and Happy Shavuot from the entire Judaica Webstore team in Jerusalem!