21 Rosh Hashanah Recipes Worth Making for the Jewish New Year

I’ve cooked enough holiday meals to know that the dishes people remember aren’t always the ones that took the most work. They’re the ones that make everyone linger at the table, reach for seconds, or ask when you’re making that dish again. That’s how I think about Rosh Hashanah too.

Start with the traditions, bring in the sweetness of apples and honey, then choose recipes that make the whole meal feel abundant without turning you into a full-time kitchen staff. These are the dishes I’d make when I want the Jewish New Year to feel special from the first bite to the last.

A close-up image of a slow-cooked meat dish garnished with fresh parsley and pomegranate seeds served in a rustic pot.
Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Poached Quince With Yogurt

A bowl of yogurt topped with two peach slices, chopped nuts, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. The food is served in a dark bowl, placed on a light-colored surface.
Poached Quince With Yogurt. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Quince is a hard, sour autumn fruit, but when you simmer slices on the stove in a honey vanilla syrup, something magical happens-they turn a deep pink and get super soft. Spooning the warm, sweet fruit over cold, thick yogurt is my favorite light trick for a festive meal.
Get the Recipe: Poached Quince With Yogurt

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.

Whenever I make this for family gatherings, it vanishes before dinner even starts. Slowly cooking onions in chicken fat until sweet and mixing them with soft chicken livers creates a smooth spread that feels like home on a piece of fresh challah.
Get the Recipe: Classic Jewish Chopped Chicken Liver

Almond Apple Cake with Apple Roses

Almond apple cake topped with thinly sliced apples arranged in swirls, on a white cake stand.
Almond Apple Cake with Apple Roses. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

You can make your dessert table look like a bakery display simply by rolling thin apple slices into rose shapes across the top of this cake. Baking sweet apples over a nutty almond base creates a treat that feels extra special for your meal.
Get the Recipe: Almond Apple Cake with Apple Roses

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 Immigrants Table.

Mixing wide egg noodles with sweet cheese, cinnamon, and raisins soaked in cognac makes a baked casserole that smells incredible. The top layer gets crisp and golden in the oven, giving you a cozy side dish that works just as well for dessert.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Noodle Kugel with Cognac-Soaked Raisins

Easy Instant Pot Brisket

A white oval plate holds several slices of cooked, tender beef roast topped with sprigs of fresh thyme on a light marble surface.
Easy Instant Pot Brisket. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Brisket usually takes hours in the oven, but pressure cooking it with a rub of warm spices gets the meat juicy and tender in just ninety minutes. Pouring the savory pan juices right back over the sliced beef gives you a stress-free main course that lets you enjoy your guests.
Get the Recipe: Easy Instant Pot Brisket

Moroccan Salmon with Peppers

Chicken stew with herbs and whole red chilies cooking in a white pot.
Moroccan Salmon with Peppers. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Whenever I cook salmon for the holiday, I like nesting the fillets in a rich tomato sauce with sweet peppers and garlic. The fish steams in the warm, spiced tomato juices right on the stovetop, giving you a comforting main dish that brings something vibrant and welcoming to your new year dinner.
Get the Recipe: Moroccan Salmon with Peppers

Apple Olive Oil Cake

Apple cinnamon bundt cake.
Apple Olive Oil Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

This simple cake stays soft for days because olive oil and fresh apple purée keep the slice from drying out. Whisking fresh apples with ground ginger gives you a sweet, fragrant treat that takes just ten minutes of prep on a busy morning.
Get the Recipe: Apple Olive Oil Cake

Marinated Beet Salad With Dill

Close up on marinate beets with dill.
Marinated Beet Salad With Dill. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Beets, fresh dill, and sweet onions are three classic ingredients that always belong on a holiday table. Tossing cooked beets in a light oil-and-vinegar dressing creates a cool, refreshing salad you can make a day ahead to save time.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Beet Salad With Dill

Chicken Marbella Ottolenghi

Close up on ottolenghi chicken marbella on plate.
Chicken Marbella Ottolenghi. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

This classic main dish lets chicken thighs rest overnight with sweet prunes, salty capers, green olives, and oregano. When you bake it all together, the juices mix into a tangy glaze that makes your dinner feel like a festive event.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Marbella Ottolenghi

Carrot Tzimmes

A white plate filled with cooked sliced carrots and prunes, with a fork on the side.
Carrot Tzimmes. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

My grandma used to simmer sliced carrots with dried apricots, prunes, and honey on the stove until the pan turned into a thick, sweet syrup. It is a classic holiday dish passed down through generations to bring sweet wishes to your dinner table.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Tzimmes

Jerusalem Kugel

A hand scoops baked kugel from a round dish on marble, beside an empty plate, fork, orange napkin, and cinnamon sticks.
Jerusalem Kugel. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

If you want a side dish that gets everyone talking, this peppery noodle dish is it. You melt sugar in hot oil until it caramelizes, then toss in cooked egg noodles and black pepper before baking it into a sliceable cake. The sweet and peppery contrast brings a fun twist to your feast.
Get the Recipe: Jerusalem Kugel

Gluten-Free Apple Cake

A plate of apple pie with a slice taken out of it.
Gluten-Free Apple Cake. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

When friends ask me for a light holiday dessert, I tell them about this old-school sponge cake trick where you whip eggs until fluffy. Tossing fresh apple slices right into the batter keeps the cake moist and tender without needing butter or flour.
Get the Recipe: Gluten-Free Apple Cake

Carrot Kugel

A carrot kugel slice topped with a dollop of cream sits on an ornate patterned white plate with a fork beside it.
Carrot Kugel. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Carrots are eaten for good luck at the new year, and grating them straight into a simple egg batter is my favorite way to serve them. As it bakes, the carrots release their natural sweetness into a soft, golden casserole that comes together in under an hour.
Get the Recipe: Carrot Kugel

Roasted Salmon on Apples and Potatoes

A plate featuring a serving of potatoes alongside cooked salmon, arranged appetizingly.
Roasted Salmon on Apples and Potatoes. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Baking salmon fillets right on top of thin potato and apple slices lets the fruit juices soak into the fish as it cooks. It gives you a complete, colorful main dish on a single pan in under forty minutes.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Salmon on Apples and Potatoes

Honey Cake

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

This traditional honey cake is my favorite bake of the season because honey keeps the spiced loaf soft on your counter for days. Baking it with warm cinnamon and cloves fills your home with cozy smells and sweet new year wishes.
Get the Recipe: Honey Cake

Chicken and Date Casserole

Chicken and date casserole in a white baking dish.
Chicken and Date Casserole. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Simmering chicken thighs in one pan with sweet dates, salty green olives, and capers gives the meat a sweet-and-salty flavor. The dates melt down into a rich sauce as everything cooks together, making your kitchen smell amazing.
Get the Recipe: Chicken and Date Casserole

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.

Making gefilte fish from scratch is easier than you think and tastes so much better than anything from a jar. We grind whitefish and carp, roll the mix into soft patties, and simmer them in homemade fish broth. Serving them cold with spicy beet horseradish brings a nostalgic start to your holiday table.
Get the Recipe: Homemade Gefilte Fish Recipe With Beet Chrein

Pomegranate Glazed Salmon

Pomegranate Glazed Whole Salmon recipe.
Pomegranate Glazed Salmon. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Coating flaky salmon fillets with pomegranate molasses and honey creates a shiny, sweet crust after just a few minutes under the broiler. Top with fresh pomegranate seeds for a quick, colorful dish ready in thirty minutes.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Glazed Salmon

Quince Preserves

A spoonful of fruit sorbet is placed on a white plate with a gold rim. In the background, two blurred brass goblets are visible on a white cloth, next to Granny's Homemade Pickles.
Quince Preserves. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Whenever fall fruit arrives at the market, I simmer hard quince with sugar until it turns into a shiny, ruby-red jam. Keeping a jar in your fridge means you can spread a little sweet holiday joy over warm toast all week long.
Get the Recipe: Quince Preserves

Challah Bread

A braided loaf of seeded bread, partially sliced, on a wooden board.
Challah Bread. Photo credit: At The Immigrants Table.

Braiding egg-rich dough into a round loaf is a special tradition that represents a full, smooth year ahead. Baking it until the crust turns shiny and deep golden gives you a soft, pillow-like bread that everyone will love dipping straight into warm honey.
Get the Recipe: Challah Bread

Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts

A close-up image of a slow-cooked meat dish garnished with fresh parsley and pomegranate seeds served in a rustic pot.
Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts. Photo credit: At the Immigrant’s Table.

Pomegranates are a symbol of abundance for the new year, and roasting chicken thighs in pomegranate molasses creates a sweet, tangy glaze. Toss in toasted walnuts at the end for a rich, crunchy topping over soft, savory meat.
Get the Recipe: Pomegranate Chicken with Walnuts

Which dish belongs on your Rosh Hashanah table every year? Start there, then find something new to add alongside it.

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