Passover, perhaps more than any other holiday, really sticks to the script when it comes to the menu. This is partly because the staples at a seder—matzo ball soup, brisket, flourless chocolate tortes—are so good that they can't be skipped, not even for one year.

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Matzo-Stuffed Cornish Game Hens

An elegant alternative to a whole roast chicken, these perfectly browned birds are stuffed with matzo and chicken livers. To make this dish for a kosher meat meal, dot the hens with margarine instead of butter, or brush them with canola or olive oil.

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Red-Wine-Braised Brisket with Cremini, Carrots, and Thyme

Cookbook author Joyce Goldstein prefers a brisket with simple flavorings for the Seder centerpiece: tons of onions, a little tomato, carrots and mushrooms. That simplicity makes it easy to transform leftovers into delicious dishes all week.

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Fig Charoses

Dried figs, dates, and pistachios lend a Mediterranean flavor to the classic sweet apple-and-nut mixture that symbolizes mortar for the bricks the Jews made in Egypt.

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Sweet Noodle Kugel

At Passover time, this sweet kugel is ideal for a light lunch, especially the day after the large Seder meal. If you are serving it during Passover, make sure to buy noodles that are Kosher for Passover.

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Flourless Chocolate & Vanilla Marble Cake

This chocolate and vanilla cake concludes the Passover meal on a rich note. It's dense and luscious with a texture a little like fudge and a little like cheesecake. 

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Potato, Thyme & Olive Oil Gratin

Yukon gold potatoes give this versatile, layered side dish a buttery, creamy texture despite no dairy at all, and a crisp browned top. 

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Quick-Braised Baby Artichokes with Garlic, Mint, and Parsley

This classic Roman dish includes two of the artichoke’s best friends: fresh herbs and lemon juice. Its simplicity requires the freshest artichokes you can find.

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Matzo Ball Soup

The secret to great matzo balls is to use a light hand in shaping them, to avoid overly compacting them. These ones are then poached in a rich homemade chicken broth.

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Chocolate Soufflé Cookies

Chocolatey and moist with a light, crisp exterior, these flourless cookies are an excellent showcase for high-quality chocolate.

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Lamb Shanks Braised with Tomatoes and Coriander

A blend of whole spices including coriander, cumin, and mustard seeds give these tender shanks a complex, haunting flavor. Serve with potatoes or quinoa to soak up the tasty juices.

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Homemade Matzos

Yes, you really can make your own matzos, though to be truly unleavened, the dough must be mixed, rolled and into the oven all in 18 minutes. A pasta rolling machine helps speed the process along.

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Matzo Ball Soup with Root Vegetables

This matzo ball soup is made with light and tender dumplings and pumped up with lots of flavorful vegetables that would make any grandmother proud.

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Chilled Beet Soup with Horseradish Sour Cream

Silky, sweet beets make the perfect foil for the pungent horseradish cream. If you want to keep the soup pareve, use nondairy sour cream in the topping.

Looking for something else? Browse all Passover Recipes.

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