Wow, Rosh Hashana starts a week from today! I just finished making my menu plan and grocery list — a little behind this year, but not too bad.
Long-time readers know that I’ve been sharing my menus with you guys for over a decade now and the only year I didn’t post was last year in 2024.
I truly can’t believe we are going into yet another yomtov without our hostages home. My heart is so pained for them and their loved ones.
May all of our prayers in shul — and all of our preparations in our kitchens — merit for the immediate release and return to their loved ones of our surviving hostages and for a dignified buried for those who were murdered.
With that most important thing stated first and foremost, I do want to share with you what I’m planning to cook and bake this year, and I hope you will share your menus in the comments as well.
Rosh Hashana 2025
1st night dinner – Monday night, September 22 (Family Only, 6 people)
As long-time readers probably know by now, our first night dinner is an expanded simanim seder — all dishes are based on the simanim and we do not eat meat (salmon only).
- Sweet challah
- Apples & Honey
- Pomegranate spritzers (I mix bubbly white wine and pomegranate juice and float ice cubes with pomegranate seeds and lime zest on top)
- Orange soup
- Simanim salad – I’ve been sharing the link this salad for several years as it is absolutely scrumptious (prep all your veggies ahead and store them in the fridge in glass containers; mix everything together right before serving)
- Salmon with honey mustard sauce
- Spiced acorn squash rings
- Leek patties (my goal is to share my recipe with you if not before RH, then right after)
- Mini pumpkin muffins (I use this recipe but leave off the crumb topping and adjust down the baking time)
- Apple cinnamon babka (I’ll use my challah dough recipe)
- “Snickers dates” (I made these two years ago and my husband is obsessed!)
1st day lunch – Tuesday, September 23 (13 people)
I’m still debating an appetizer for this meal – fish course? Not sure…. any suggestions?
- Sweet challah
- Breaded chicken cutlets with sticky apricot sauce (Tofu prepared the same for two vegetarian guests)
- White rice
- Honey Balsamic roasted carrots
- Simple stir-fry veggies
- Carrot cake with pareve cream cheese glaze
- Honey cookies (these are a MUST!)
2nd day dinner – Tuesday night, September 23 (10 people)
Another “tradition” at my house is that we have a low(er) key meal for the second night dinner (who needs a third heavy meal in 25 hours?)
- Pumpkin soup with kale chips (I used to make this every year but haven’t made it in quite some time; it is so perfectly creamy and comforting)
- Giant Salad “Bar” – I’m going to set up all the fixings on my kitchen island and let people make their own salads; I think I will grill up some chicken cutlets for added protein and make a few different dressing options (eg. an apple & honey vinaigrette and maybe a poppyseed dressing, too)
- Apple cake
- Fresh fruit
2nd day lunch – Wednesday, September 24 (13 people)
- Challah – sweet and non sweet
- Carrot dip
- Leek dip
- Brisket
- Jeweled rice (this Instagram recipe is in Hebrew, but you can use the translate function – or let me know if you have any questions)
- Roasted sweet potatoes w/ sage
- Roasted fennel
- Kale Asian slaw
- Do I really have to serve dessert again?
I would love to hear what’s on your Rosh Hashana menu plan! Please share below in the comments.
Shana Tova!
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