Jewish and Israeli Food

Delicious & Creative Seven Species Recipes for Tu BiShvat

Tu BiShvat 2023, honoring nature and the Land of Israel, starts at sundown on Sunday, February 5.

And we’ve got the most delicious twist on Tu BiShvat traditions with these creative recipes featuring the Seven Species!

The Jewish holiday of Tu BiShvat celebrates the natural bounty of the Land of Israel, and there is a common tradition to eat from the Seven Species which are described in the Hebrew Bible and indigenous to Israel: wheat, barley, grapes (or wine), figs, pomegranates, olives (or olive oil), and dates (or date honey).

You can read more about Tu BiShvat traditions here and about the meanings of the Seven Species here. And make your Tu BiShvat the best ever with these 7 creative and scrumptious holiday recipes, each featuring one or more of the Seven Species!

Sweet Challah with Fig Filling

Challah for Tu BiShvat made with Olive Oil, Honey, and a Fig Filling (Photo: Smitten Kitchen)

Species: wheat, figs, olives

Challah is a Jewish holiday staple, and this fabulous and unique version is just perfect for Tu BiShvat. In addition to the wheat flour it incorporates olive oil and a delicious fig filling for that Seven Species connection, as well as honey for another nod to the Land of Israel. Your holiday table will look gorgeous with this challah as its centerpiece, and your whole family is sure to love it!

Click here to get the recipe!

Meaty Mushroom Barley Soup

Meaty Mushroom Barley Soup (Photo: Chavi Feldman/Kosher.com)

Species: barley

If you’re looking for a rich and hearty winter soup that will also satisfy meat eaters and use one of the most underrated of the Seven Species, look no further than this delicious meaty soup! It has delicious veggies and mushrooms, as well as the Seven Species staple food barley. A yummy comfort food, this soup is great not just for the holiday but the rest of the winter season as well.

Click here to get the recipe!

3. Goat Cheese, Fig, Silan, and Olive Galette

Goat Cheese, Fig, Silan and Olive Galette (Photo: The Nosher)

Species: wheat, figs, dates, olives

For the vegetarian family who prefers to have a dairy meal for Tu BiShvat, or anyone looking for a creative breakfast food, you can’t go wrong with this yummy holiday galette! The exquisite blend of cheeses and several of the Seven Species will satisfy your family and friends while reminding everyone of the natural bounty of the Land of Israel.

Click here to get the recipe!

4. Tu BiShvat Seven Species Salad

Tu BiShvat Salad featuring several of the Seven Species (Photo: Kosher.com)

Species: pomegranates, figs, grapes, dates, olives

This salad may seem simple, but it packs a punch with fresh versions of several of the Seven Species fruits. Make sure to use good-quality olive oil for the dressing (such as Israeli olive oil that you can order here), and a good goat cheese or feta to complement the figs, grapes, dates, and pomegranate seeds. Even your kids will love this colorful and tasty way of getting in their fruits and veggies!

Click here to get the recipe!

5. Za'atar Chicken and Barley with Tu BiShvat Fruits

Za'atar Chicken and Barley with common Fruits for Tu BiShvat (Photo: Chabad.org)

Species: barley, dates, pomegranates

This vibrant main dish will not only make your holiday table look impressive, but it’s jam-packed full of Israeli flavors and Tu BiShvat themes! The chicken is marinated in the famous Israeli spices za’atar and sumac along with silan date honey, and then baked with barley and garnished with pomegranate seeds (another one of the Seven Species and a symbol of abundance) and dried apricots (also commonly eaten on Tu BiShvat, especially in Israel).

Click here to get the recipe!

6. Fruit and Wine Compote

Fruit and Wine Compote (Photo: Armando Rafael/Jewish Food Society)

Species: grapes

This versatile treat from Ashkenazi Jewish tradition can be enjoyed warm or chilled, and is sure to become your new favorite holiday go-to. The grapes of the Seven Species are prominently featured in the form of wine and raisins, and cooked together with other dried fruits that will make all your guests thankful for nature's bounty and abundance. It’s also delicious served with ice cream, for some extra-special sweetness and holiday joy!

Click here to get the recipe!

7. Seven Species Babka

Tu BiShvat Babka made with the Seven Species (Photo: The Nosher)

Species: all! - wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, dates

And for the grand finale and the ultimate treat for every Jewish foodie, we have a classic Ashkenazi cake with a yummy Tu BiShvat twist: a babka made with all Seven Species! Your guests will be talking about this creative dessert for months, and you’ll love both its rich taste and the special connection to the Land of Israel.

Click here to get the recipe!

Enjoy, and Happy Tu BiShvat!

Shop our site for all your Tu BiShvat needs and Seven Species gifts - and don't forget that you can have your own tree planted in Israel in your name with every order $120 and up on our site through February 7!