Get ready for shabbat in 2023 and impress your family and guests with this delicious menu full of traditional and modern recipes!
The Hanukkah holiday season may be over, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on festive meals with family and friends, full of delicious foods and fancy tableware – we have shabbat every week!
Warm up this winter and make every weekend memorable for your family with this menu of 7 scrumptious shabbat recipes:
Ashkenazi Eggless Vegan Challah
Every traditional shabbat meal starts with two loaves of bread following the kiddush blessing said over wine, and for many families that means challah! This iconic Jewish braided bread comes in many variations and is often glazed with an egg wash - but this particular Ashkenazi recipe from Eastern Europe is vegan-friendly without sacrificing on taste, by using a sweet syrup for the glaze instead.
Your entire family will love beginning their meal with this tasty challah, and it'll please every guest no matter their diet.
Vegetarian Version of Classic Jewish Chicken Soup
Of course, we can't have a winter recipe compilation without some hearty, warming soup - and you can't go wrong with the ultimate comfort food made by Jewish moms and grandmas all over the world for generations: chicken soup! Naturally, countless recipes and variations abound, but we’re particularly smitten with this vegetarian version that’ll be sure to please everyone at your shabbat table regardless of dietary preferences.
The oil and spices give it the traditional savory depth, so you won’t even miss the lack of meat! (And check out our other favorite Jewish winter soup recipes right here.)
Roasted Eggplant with Dill and Tehina
Roasted eggplant is a beloved Israeli and Middle Eastern dish that's filling, easy to make, and sure to be a crowd pleaser! This version really brings out the exquisite taste of the eggplant with garlic and dill, along with plenty of olive oil and tehina that'll make your whole family think of the Land of Israel.
Eastern European Cabbage Schnitzel
Another delicious, warm veggie option that your shabbat guests will love is this cabbage schnitzel from Russian and Eastern European Jewish tradition. The vitamin-rich cabbage has been a winter staple for many Jewish families for generations, and this fried, breaded recipe is a scrumptious comfort food to add to any cold-weather shabbat!
Fish Escabeche for Shabbat
Many Jewish families traditionally eat at least one fish dish on shabbat, and it just doesn't feel like a holy day without it. One explanation commonly given for fish's popularity on the day of rest is that the gematria of the Hebrew word for fish, "dag", is seven - corresponding to the seventh day of the week.
This wonderful fried fish dish from the Moroccan Jewish community in Brazil will be the perfect addition to your shabbat menu! It can even be marinated up to overnight after cooking and served at room temperature, making it great for anytime on Friday night or Saturday without having to cook during the holy day.
Beef-Stuffed Potatoes in Tomato Sauce, aka Mafrum
This dish, called mafrum, is a hearty and delicious shabbat winter comfort food that your family will fall in love with! Hailing from the Libyan-Jewish community, it features potatoes stuffed with richly seasoned ground beef and simmered in tomato sauce. If you have a tradition of eating meat on shabbat to honor and enjoy the day, this recipe is sure to become your go-to in 2023.
Making Moroccan Cinnamon Cookies
Lastly, it's time for dessert! Our favorite are these easy-to-make, traditional Moroccan cookies spiced with cinnamon. They can be prepared ahead of time and will be the perfect ending to any shabbat meal - whether alone or with tea or coffee. And, they're so tasty your guests won't believe they're also vegan and protein-rich!
Happy cooking and Shabbat Shalom!
Don't forget to get all your shabbat essentials from Judaica WebStore, and stock up on kosher food and wine straight from Israel.
Owned by JWG Ltd, maintains its offices and warehouse in Jerusalem, Israel. © 1999-2022 JWG Judaica and Dead Sea Cosmetics