Here’s a bountiful selection of vegan Passover recipes to help you plan a memorable seder table that celebrates freedom and the arrival of spring. For this beloved Jewish holiday, you’ll find plant-based menu options, from the seder plate and matzo ball soup to simple desserts, and every course in between.
The Passover Seder is a religious service as well as a feast, during which which celebrants gather around the table and recount the story of the Exodus as told by the Haggadah (Passover prayer book). Sampling many symbolic foods and drinking sweet wine an intrinsic part of this ritual.
Matzo is perhaps the most important of the symbolic foods, representing the unleavened bread the Jews hastily gathered as they fled Egypt thousands of years ago. The holiday embraces the struggle for the attainment of freedom, something that is in the present time, still not a given human right for all.
During Passover week, many Jews remove hametz — leavened bread and any products made from wheat, as well as other grains and legumes — from their homes.
Sephardic Jews continue to use some grains, other than those considered hametz, as well as legumes, during the holiday week. These foods are in the category of Kitniyot, which you can learn about in more detail here. It seems like the rules on kitniyot have been updated!
To paraphrase one of the Four Questions asked at the Passover table, “Why is a vegan Seder different from a traditional Seder menu?”
Traditional Eastern European-style seder meals feature meat, fish, and eggs in addition to the symbolic Passover foods, plus salads and spring vegetables. The vegan Passover Seder focuses on the fresh produce of the season, and incorporates new Passover traditions (including the use of quinoa) while giving nostalgia some due.
There’s a strong connection between Judaism and veganism.
Here are a few other vegan Passover roundups for you to explore:
And thanks to the talented bloggers who participated in this roundup for permission to use their photos and a link to their recipes.
The Passover Seder Plate
The Passover Seder Plate: Here’s how to create a beautiful plant-based Seder plate for vegans and vegetarians at your Passover table with easy replacements for two of the components.
Ashkenazik Haroset: Eastern European-style, or Ashkenazi haroset (sometimes spelledcharoset) is a must-have at any traditional Passover seder.
Appetizers for Passover
Mock Chopped Liver: What am I, chopped liver? Fortunately, no. Made of onions, mushrooms, and cashews, vegan mock chopped liver has replaced the classic Jewish pâté as a contemporary appetizer, especially for special occasions.
Vegan Gefilte Fish: Yes, you read that right! Hannah Kaminsky says that this plant-based version of the Jewish classic isn’t meant to fool anyone, it’s delicate and savory, with notes of onion and briny capers throughout each tender bite.
Vegan Matzo Ball Soup
Vegan Matzo Balls: Because really, what is Passover without Matzo Ball Soup? Figuring out how to make vegan matzo balls was a surprisingly challenging process. The secret is to bake rather than cook them.
Vegan Matzo Ball Soup: Vegan matzo ball soup is a must for the Passover Seder, but you don’t have to wait for a holiday to enjoy it!
Sephardic-Style Vegan Matzo Ball Soup: If you’d like a more vegetable-filled matzo ball soup (using the same matzo ball recipe), try this Sephardic-inspired recipe, still Passover-friendly.
Springtime salads
: Sometimes, it’s the combination of ingredients rather than a lot of ingredients than makes a great salad. Case in point, this colorful avocado and radicchio salad.
Orange and Watercress Salad with Bok Choy or Belgian Endive: This festive salad featuring watercress and cucumber has a lively citrus flavor provided by fresh oranges and their juice.
Festive Beet and Carrot Salad: The classic beet and carrot salad is made even tastier with chopped walnuts and parsley. It brightens everyday meals and dresses up holiday fare.
: Quinoa, a relatively new arrival that’s been okayed for Passover teams up with fennel, the anise-flavored vegetable. It’s made festive with toasted walnuts and dried cranberries.
Fruity Red Cabbage Slaw: When the plate could use some color and crunch, this fruit-filled red cabbage and carrot slaw is a pleasing and easy option.
Passover Main dishes
Layered Spinach and Potato Matzo Gratin: This tasty vegan matzo gratin, with layers of spinach, potato, and a creamy cashew-avocado blend, is a perfect plant-based Passover main dish.
Eggplant Matzo Mina: This Italian-influenced mina will remind you of lasagna, and it can serve as a festive main dish for a vegan Passover seder.
Vegan Broccoli Quinoa Casserole: This easy vegan broccoli quinoa casserole makes for a dish that’s both nourishing and comforting.
Quinoa and Cauliflower Pilaf with Nuts and Dried Fruits: Quinoa, ancient grain that it may be, is being touted as the “new” go-to grain for Passover, a week when many (if not most) grains and grain products aren’t used. Why quinoa is acceptable has a complicated answer which I’m not equipped to give, so learn more about that here. Suffice it to say that quinoa is now just as welcome at the Passover table as it is at any other meal of the year.
Roasted Acorn Squash with Quinoa Stuffing: Another lovely quinoa entree, each full squash makes a nice-sized main dish portion. Or, if you have lots of other food at the holiday table, each stuffed squash can be cut in half to serve 8.
Side Dishes
Tzimmes: You don’t have to wait for a holiday — or be Jewish — to enjoy carrot and sweet potato tzimmes. It’s a festive dish for any cool-weather occasion.
Potato Kugel: This vegan potato kugel is easy to make, though it requires at least an hour in the oven — so plan ahead! Make sure to see the Passover variation.
Moroccan Carrots: This recipe for Moroccan carrots makes a generous portion for a side dish perfect for special occasions and spring holidays like Passover.
Lemony Asparagus and Mushrooms: Here’s a simple springtime side dish featuring seasonal asparagus that can be sautéed or roasted.
Passover Desserts
Coconut Macaroons: Though they’re especially appreciated as a Passover treat, you can enjoy these easy vegan coconut macaroons any time of year.
Mixed Berry Matzo Crumble: From Hannah Kaminsky’s BittersweetBlog. Thanks to the magic of nature’s candy, there’s plenty of rich, sweet flavor in the filling to make up for any of matzo’s shortcomings. Bolstered by the warmth of ground cinnamon and dark brown sugar, it turns into a crisp, downright buttery struesel to cap off the tender berry jumble.
Vegan Flourless Chocolate Cake: From Zardy Plants — rich, fudgy, and delicious, this flourless chocolate cake is gluten-free and also kosher for Passover! Made with almond flour and two kinds of chocolate, this lush cake is the perfect feels-fancy dessert that’s easy to make at home.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Truffles: Contributed by Beth Corman Lee of OMG Yummy, these orange cardamom chocolate truffles use coconut cream and coconut oil making them the perfect Passover dessert — dairy free and vegan. Make ahead and switch up the flavors and coatings to create a magical plate of sweets.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Covered Matzo: For an easy Passover dessert (or a way to use up surplus matzo after the holiday), dairy-free chocolate covered matzo is an easy treat to make.
Matzo Toffee: From Hannah Kaminsky, (vegan) buttery golden-brown toffee shatters on top of crisp matzo boards, smothered with a soft layer of dark chocolate. It’s an essential staple for Passover, but so addictive that you’ll want to make it all year long.
Vegan Almond Flour Shortbread Cookies: From Rainbow Nourishments, easy almond flour cookies with only 3 ingredients! These flourless gluten free shortbread are oil-free, crispy, and buttery tasting.
Coconut Mimouna Cookies: From Marocmama, try these no-bake coconut cookies when you want something sweet during Passover. They’re also perfect for the Moroccan post-Passover holiday of Mimouna.
Leftover matzo …
Vegan Matzo Brei: Matzo brei is a kind of flat omelet that’s a classic breakfast during Passover week and beyond. This recipe will show you how to make a vegan matzo brei, without the customary eggs.
