5 Rosh Hashanah Recipes That Connect You to 25 Centuries of Jewish Wisdom

In partnership with

Goodbye Meal Kits, Hello Hungryroot

Hungryroot is a grocery and recipe delivery service that supports any health needs you and your family might have. Whether you’re looking to incorporate a gut-friendly diet, just trying to eat healthy, or anything in between, Hungryroot makes achieving your goals on your terms easy.

Browse the thousands of groceries and recipes available each week, or have Hungryroot curate a delivery made just for you and your family based on your preferences. Save hours planning, shopping, and cooking each week. Plus pick one free item for life.

Take the quiz and get 30% off your 1st order!

It's 500 BCE, and Nehemiah's dropping the hottest food trend of the millennium - "eat sumptuously" and "drink sweet beverages." Talk about an ancient influencer, am I right?

Fast forward a few centuries, and the Talmud's playing food matchmaker, hooking up gourds, leeks, and dates with blessings faster than a speed-dating event!

But wait, it gets better!

By the Middle Ages, we've got Rabbi Ya'akov ben Asher turning mealtime into a wordplay extravaganza. Beets become the ultimate enemy-remover (take that, high school nemesis!), and apples and honey team up for the sweetest power couple since PB&J.

Now, in 2024, we're still riding this tasty train, but with some seriously delicious upgrades. We're talking brisket so tender it falls apart faster than your New Year's resolutions, duck legs swimming in apple cider (because why should apples have all the fun?), and a kugel so sweet it'll make your dentist cry tears of joy.

Let's kick it up a notch with a tasty intro to our Rosh Hashanah recipe roundup:

Feast Mode: Activated! Rosh Hashanah Recipes That'll Make Your Bubbe Kvell

1. Braised Brisket with Honey and Herbs

This hearty dish combines tender beef brisket with the sweetness of honey, symbolizing wishes for a sweet and abundant year ahead.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 pounds beef brisket

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 onions, sliced

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 cups beef broth

• 1 cup red wine (optional)

• 1/4 cup honey

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Fresh herbs (like thyme or rosemary)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C).

2. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Season the brisket with salt and pepper, and brown on both sides.

3. Remove brisket and sauté onions and garlic in the same pot until softened.

4. Return the brisket, add broth, wine, honey, and herbs, then cover and braise in the oven for about 3 hours or until tender.

2. Apple-Cider Braised Duck Legs

Duck legs braised in apple cider bring together the flavors of fall with the sweetness of apples, symbolizing prosperity and blessings.

Ingredients:

• 4 duck legs

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 cups apple cider

• 2 apples, sliced

• 1 tablespoon honey

• Fresh thyme

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Season duck legs and sear in a large skillet until crispy.

3. Remove duck, sauté onions, and return the duck to the skillet with apple cider, apples, honey, and thyme.

4. Cover and braise for about 1.5 hours.

3. Sweet Noodle Kugel

This traditional Ashkenazi dish is a sweet twist on a classic, symbolizing joy and happiness for the new year.

Ingredients:

• 12 ounces egg noodles

• 4 eggs

• 1 cup cottage cheese

• 1 cup sour cream

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Raisins (optional)

• Cinnamon for topping

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Cook and drain noodles.

2. In a bowl, mix eggs, cottage cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla, and raisins.

3. Combine noodles with the mixture in a baking dish, sprinkle with cinnamon, and bake for about 45 minutes.

So, whether you're noshing on pomegranates to nail those 613 commandments or chomping on a fish head to get ahead in life (see what I did there?), remember: you're not just eating dinner, folks. You're taking a bite out of history!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a date with some honey-dipped apples and a time machine set for "delicious." L'chaim and bon appétit, party people!