Quick Prep Rosh Hashanah Recipes

Author:: Jamie Geller
Publish date:: Sep 23, 2019

One of my absolute most favorite go-to kitchen staples for quick cooking meals in minutes is broth - especially around the holidays, when I don’t want to feel like I am cooking around the clock (even if I am!). I always have about a case of Vegetable and Beef Broth in my kitchen cupboard. Yes, a case, of each. I kinda love to stock up on the things that I love.

Another thing I just love for the holidays and especially Rosh Hashanah is cooking with simanim. It’s so totally my jam, my signature, my high holiday Jewish New Year thing.

Simanim – literally signs or indicators – are meant to point the way to improved circumstances. The most famous siman –

while the seeds of a pomegranate suggest our desire to maximize our “merits” and a bite (or more) of fish reveals our aspiration to maximize and build our Jewish families (we want to be fruitful and multiply like fish ).

Other simanim include beets, black eyed peas, cabbage, carrots, dates, gourds, leeks, spinach, a sheep’s head (OMG – yes I just said a sheep’s head!) and more.

These recipes are simanim inspired but quick to prep thanks to my handy dandy sous chef, aka Mani Broth. For the sheep’s head though, you’re on your own folks!

Start things off right with a sweet bite of Apple and Honey Stuffed Challah Rolls. Challahs should be round this time of year symbolizing the continuity of creation.

Serve up a steaming bowl of Creamy Coconut Carrot Soup or Carrot, Quinoa and Spinach Soup coupled with a wish for more merits and mitzvos (carrots).

Or try my Apple and Parsnip Soup to revive our memory of Biblical blessings (apples). According to the Vilna Gaon (an 18th century famed rabbinic scholar and one of the most influential Jewish leaders in modern history), Yitzchak/Isaac blessed Yaakov/Jacob on Rosh Hashanah. We eat apples (tons of them) because we too want those holy blessings.