EST. 2011 BY LIZ RUEVEN
Make your Passover Seders Easier with these Simplified Menus
Photo: Liz Rueven

Make your Passover Seders Easier with these Simplified Menus

No way to stop the calendar, huh?

Passover is indeed approaching and nobody wants COVID-19 as an uninvited visitor. Small family gatherings and limited access to ingredients means re-thinking seder preparations. Let’s chose to simplify menus and keep the holiday joyful but not exhausting.

Passover table Kosher Like Me
Head outside with clippers instead of buying arrangements this year.

With these new conditions in mind, here are two seder menus that will get you going with some basic ingredients. Remember to order groceries for home delivery, contact free of course.

Really, who imagined this?

I fully expect that these recipes will contain ingredients you won’t have in your kitchens. DO reach out to me at Liz at KosherLikeMe dot com if you’re stumped on what to substitute for missing ingredients or if you simply need other ideas. The more we share, the easier and more delicious this holiday will be.

If you are celebrating alone or as a twosome:

I’ve been blown away by the creative ideas and practical advice being offered by food writers I love to follow, many of whom I call my friends. Before getting to menus, please know that if you are a twosome or making seder for the first time, be sure to read Tamar Genger‘s practical guide, Passover Seder for Two.

If you know anyone who will be alone, suggest that they RSVP for Amy Kritzer’s virtual seder here. In classic What Jew Wanna Eat style, Amy also gives suggestions and instructions on how to host a virtual seder so that your families can join  together via technology. If you steer clear of tech usage during the holy days, turn to Tamar’s suggestions via the link above.

Passover fruit Kosher Like Me
Photo: Jerri Graham

 

♥♥♥ First Seder, April 8, 2020 ♥♥♥

Classic Chicken Soup Keep seasoning basic and traditional. Prepare enough for second night, too.

Matzah Balls from scratch. See you if you can score the boxed mixes, though. I shamelessly confess to loving them.

Gefilte fish doctored up from frozen log or Slow Roasted Salmon (order frozen salmon filets and defrost to prepare. Or skip it cause it’s so “non-essential” :)))

Roasted Salmon Kosher Like Me Passover
Photo: Kate Sears; I Heart Kosher: Beautiful Recipes from my Kitchen by Kim Kushner

If you skip the Slow Roasted Salmon as a starter, consider this super easy Roasted Salmon with Squash and Zucchini Crunchies as your entree. The seasoning is simply salt, pepper and paprika so you’re all set. You can opt for squash or zucchini spirals if you can’t find both veggies.

 

dairy free Kosher Like Me roasted potatoes
Photo: Liz Rueven

Simply roasted potatoes:  Cube and toss potatoes with S & P and olive oil. Roast at 375 degrees until crispy and golden. Season cooked taters with chopped fresh dill, scallions or parley. You’ll have 2/3 of these greens already in action in your soup and on the Seder plate. Season with fresh herbs right before serving.

OR

mini potato kugels Passover
Photo: Amy Kritzer

Kugelettes; Adorable mini potato kugels with grated zucchini sneaked in.

Passover Chocolate Walnut Torte
Photo: Jerri Graham

Hungarian Chocolate Walnut Torte via Jayne Cohen: THAT traditional chocolatey Pesach cake but more moist and delicious.

 

♥♥♥ Second Seder, April 9, 2020 ♥♥♥

Classic chicken soup and matzah balls; leftover from first night (and better for it).

Texas Style Brisket with Apricot Honey Glaze via Ronnie Fein; love the yin/yang of strong brewed coffee with sweet elements. Don’t have brisket? Grill steak or burgers.

Kosher for passover potatoes
Photo: May I Have that Recipe blog

Tortilla de Patates via May I Have that Recipe; four ingredients if you don’t count salt. You can call it a kugel if you like, but it’s really the authentic recipe for kosher keepers’ fave dish while traveling in Spain. If you have leftover roasted potatoes or kugelettes from first seder, use here or enjoy for breakfast any time during Pesach week.

Roasted carrots or broccoli florets; Toss in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, roast at 375 degrees until tender (carrots) or crispy (broccoli). Season with fresh lemon zest before serving.

Quinoa Salad with Crisp Spring Veggies; Omit the cheese and substitute EVOO and fresh lemon juice for buttermilk dressing. Substitute parsley (rescued from your seder plate) for tarragon. 

Passover Matzah bark
photo: Liz Rueven

Chocolate Matzah Bark with Nuts and Dried Fruit, adapted from Marcy Goldman’s Matzoh Buttercrunch from A Treasury of Jewish Holiday Baking, 1998 (often referred to as Matzah “crack”). See post for a myriad of substitutions based on whichever nuts and dried fruit you have hanging around.

CT spring buds
Photo: Liz Rueven

Hang in there, friends. There are themes of freedom, renewal, family and redemption to celebrate. Remember to focus on those sitting around the table and to be in touch with those who can’t join you. This too will pass.

Watch for one of my favorite chicken recipes coming up early next week. Leah Koenig’s recipe is juicy and fragrant and takes no more than 15 minutes to prepare.

AND, there’s always more inspiration on Instagram @kosherlikeme.

Hag Sameah and ♥

Liz

 

6 Comments

  3. There’s something so inspiring yet comforting about your blog posts. It’s almost as if you were there…in my kitchen…cheering me on.
    I actually feel like cooking!

    Reply to this comment

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SIDE DISH
Photo by Jerri Graham Photography

Hi. I’m Liz and I welcome you to Kosher Like Me.

When I’m not caressing fruits and veggies at my local farmers’ market you’ll likely find me chatting with like-minded eaters, probing the scene in NYC or seeking inspiration in my spice cabinet. Life outside of this blog is all about my family, tasty travel adventures and power walks deep in the CT woods or along the shore.

Please brew a fragrant cup of tea, grab a nosh and stay a while.