Rosh Hashanah Recipes: A Sweet New Year Menu
A Rosh Hashanah table built from Ashkenazi tradition: golden chicken soup with kneidlach, braided challah, sweet noodle kugel, gefilte fish, and ruby-red beet borscht. Every recipe below comes with its history, step-by-step method, and where tradition allows, a lighter version.
Wishing you a shanah tovah u’metukah – a good and sweet year.
The Centerpieces
BREAD
Traditional Challah
Braided for Shabbat, shaped round for the New Year – the same dough works for both.
SOUP
Traditional Matzo Ball Soup
Clear golden broth and tender kneidlach – the starter every holiday table waits for.
APPETIZER
Traditional Gefilte Fish
Poached the traditional way, with a lighter version included in the article.
Sides and Sweet Endings
KUGEL
Traditional Noodle Kugel
Sweet custard noodle bake with a crisp cornflake crust.
SOUP
Traditional Jewish Beet Borscht
Sweet-and-sour beet borscht, served hot or chilled.
LIGHTER TAKE
Healthy Noodle Kugel
The same cozy kugel with Greek yogurt and whole wheat noodles.
A HANUKKAH DISH
Traditional Latkes
Not a New Year dish — see the Hanukkah menu for its own holiday.
