Russian Food

17 Vintage Jewish Deli Recipes From Matzo Ball Soup to Chopped Liver

A Jewish deli has its own language, and you learn it pretty quickly when you grow up around food that comes with a side of memory.

Matzo ball soup, chopped liver, potato knishes, and all those pickled, smoked, and piled-high deli favorites are more than old-fashioned recipes to me. They’re the kind of foods that bring back crowded tables, familiar flavors, and ordering “just one more thing” because there’s always room for one more bite.

These 17 vintage Jewish deli recipes bring back those classics, from comforting soups to the dishes that make a deli counter feel like home.

Golden baked pastries with a creamy dill dip in the center, served on a tray lined with parchment paper.
Cheese and Onion Knishes. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Chocolate Gluten-Free Rugelach

Chocolate croissants on a plate with a cup of coffee.
Chocolate Gluten-Free Rugelach. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Standing at the counter with flour on my cheeks as my mom rolled out rugelach dough is one of my favorite childhood memories. This gluten-free version wraps rich chocolate into flaky crescents and takes me right back to those sweet Friday afternoons in her kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Chocolate Gluten-Free Rugelach

My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes

A white plate filled with cooked sliced carrots and prunes, with a fork on the side.
My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

My grandmother never measured a single thing, but her pot of honey-simmered carrots and sweet prunes always felt like a giant hug. Root vegetables break down slowly in the sweet broth, filling the entire home with a warm, nostalgic scent that makes me miss her.
Get the Recipe: My Grandma’s Russian Jewish Carrot Tzimmes

Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

A slice of bread pudding on a decorative plate with a fork, topped with whipped cream. A baking dish with more bread pudding and a small bowl of cream with a spoon are in the background. A brown cloth is partially visible on the side.
Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Plump raisins soaked in cognac and folded into warm egg noodles bring back the exact sweet comfort of my family’s holiday table. Creamy farmer’s cheese bakes into every corner of the pan, giving you a rich, soothing slice that instantly feels like home.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Russian-style Borscht

Close-up of a bowl of borscht soup with potatoes, cabbage, and a dollop of sour cream, garnished with herbs.
Russian-style Borscht. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Frozen fingers and cold winter toes vanished the second my mom set a steaming bowl of deep red beet soup in front of us. A generous dollop of cool sour cream stirred into the hot purple broth turns simple root vegetables into pure comfort.
Get the Recipe: Russian-style Borscht

Homemade Matzo Ball Soup

Close up on 3 matzo balls in soup.
Homemade Matzo Ball Soup. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Nothing cured a bad day faster when I was little than finding a huge, fluffy matzo ball floating in my bowl of chicken soup. I love whipping the egg batter into soft dumplings that soak up every bit of savory broth while they simmer under the lid.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Matzo Ball Soup

Slow Cooker Matzo Ball Soup

Bowl of chicken and dumplings soup with shredded chicken, vegetables, and three large dumplings, garnished with herbs.
Slow Cooker Matzo Ball Soup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

If you are exhausted after a stressful workday, letting the slow cooker simmer your soup all afternoon feels like a total gift. Tender matzo dumplings dropped into hot chicken broth deliver a soothing bowl of comfort without any extra hassle.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Matzo Ball Soup

Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe

A white bowl filled with clear chicken soup, containing pieces of chicken and garnished with a sprig of dill offers a modern twist on retro one-pot classics.
Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Whenever anyone in our house felt sick or lonely, the women in my family immediately pulled out the big soup pot to make this broth. Whole chicken and sweet carrots simmer low and slow to create a golden, gentle soup that heals your spirit from the first sip.
Get the Recipe: Classic Jewish Chicken Soup Recipe

Homemade Gefilte Fish Recipe With Beet Chrein

Gefilte fish on plate with beet horseradish.
Homemade Gefilte Fish Recipe With Beet Chrein. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Shaping fish patties by hand for Passover always reminds me of my aunts laughing and gossiping around our noisy kitchen table. These tender fish cakes, served cold with a dab of fiery beet horseradish, bring that same old-world family charm straight to your plate.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Gefilte Fish Recipe With Beet Chrein

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Three homemade bagels with raisins on a white plate, set on a light-colored table.
Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Honestly, the smell of toasted cinnamon bagels in old Jewish delis was one of the first things that made me fall in love with America. Sweet raisins and warm cinnamon baked into chewy rounds make a hot, fresh bagel that makes breakfast feel special again.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Apple Potato Latkes With Curried Yogurt Sauce

Apple potato latkes with curried yogurt sauce and applesauce on a white plate.
Apple Potato Latkes With Curried Yogurt Sauce. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Grating sweet apples directly into our Hanukkah potato batter started as a fun experiment, and my kids now beg for it every year. Hot oil crisps up the shredded edges into crunchy golden pancakes that taste incredible dipped in cool, spiced yogurt.
Get the Recipe: Apple Potato Latkes With Curried Yogurt Sauce

Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel

A plate of pasta with mushrooms and sprigs of dill.
Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Earthy sautéed mushrooms, sweet leeks, and dill baked into egg noodles were my way of bringing fresh, modern comfort to our Sabbath dinner. This golden noodle bake bubbles up rich and fragrant in the oven, filling the whole dining room with a cozy, inviting aroma.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Leek Pasta Kugel

Traditional Russian Blintzes

A plate of crepes with jam and sauce on it.
Traditional Russian Blintzes. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Waking up on lazy Sunday mornings to sweet crepes sizzling in my mother’s skillet was pure heaven. Turns out, folding thin pancakes around sweet farmer’s cheese and crisping the edges in butter creates a melt-in-your-mouth breakfast that feels like love on a plate.
Get the Recipe: Traditional Russian Blintzes

Cheese and Onion Knishes

Golden baked pastries with a creamy dill dip in the center, served on a tray lined with parchment paper.
Cheese and Onion Knishes. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Sweet caramelized onions and soft cheese tucked inside tender dough bring back memories of ducking into cozy deli shops to escape the cold. I bake these golden pastry pockets until the crust turns flaky, creating a warm, savory snack that disappears before it even cools down.
Get the Recipe: Cheese and Onion Knishes

Cottage Cheese Blintzes

Three rolled crepes are served on a white plate, topped with powdered sugar and a generous portion of cooked blueberries in syrup. The dish sits on a light-colored surface.
Cottage Cheese Blintzes. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Soft farmer’s cheese stuffed inside paper-thin crepes and topped with warm blueberry sauce reminds me of bright, happy family holiday brunches. Pan-frying the rolled blintzes in real butter crisps up the outside while keeping the sweet cheese center warm and velvety.
Get the Recipe: Cottage Cheese Blintzes

Gluten-Free Honey Cake

Overhead view of bread pudding.
Gluten-Free Honey Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Honey cake carries all our hopes for a sweet new year, so baking a moist gluten-free bundt version was deeply personal for my family table. Natural honey and warm spices keep the crumb soft and tender, giving everyone a sweet slice of tradition to share together.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Honey Cake

Aruk, Iraqi Style Latkes

A plate of golden-brown fritters topped with creamy dip and chopped green onions, with more dip in the background.
Aruk, Iraqi Style Latkes. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Fresh herbs, warm cumin, and shredded potatoes mixed into a light batter bring a wonderful new tradition to our holiday frying pan. These golden, spiced potato patties fry up crisp and fragrant, filling our home with excitement and joy every single Hanukkah.
Get the Recipe: Aruk, Iraqi Style Latkes

Classic Jewish Chopped Chicken Liver

A bowl filled with a brown, chunky spread garnished with a sprig of parsley. A knife lies beside the bowl and slices of cucumber and crackers are in the background on a light-colored surface.
Classic Jewish Chopped Chicken Liver. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Watching my grandmother mash caramelized onions and chicken liver with rich schmaltz showed me that the simplest ingredients hold the deepest love. Smooth, savory spread slathered over crisp rye bread delivers a rich, soulful bite that takes me right back to her kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Classic Jewish Chopped Chicken Liver

Which Jewish deli classic would you order first if you could build your dream deli plate?

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