Prepare For The Seder Plate

Are you hosting a seder for the first time?  Or do you forget what actually goes on the seder plate every year? Don't have a seder plate? 

Here is your guide to what goes on the seder plate and how to craft your own out of household goods. 

The seder plate is the focal point of the Passover seder.  Set at the head or the middle of the table where everyone can see it, it holds the 6 symbolic, ceremonial foods for the night: matzo, shankbone, egg, bitter herb, charoset and vegetable. 

Matzo: Set three layers of matzo on the table and cover them.  It is best to put your seder plate on top of the matzo, there are some seder plates that come with three layers underneath to hold the mato.  If you are afraid of breaking the matzo, put the plate next to them. 

If you don't have a seder plate of your own, don't worry, all you really need is a plate or a bento box or piece of cardboard and some jars to DIY.   Here, we used a large board painted with chalkboard paint and set out small mason jars to hold the ingredients.  We used the chalk to label them and added some fun decorations to the sides.  

Many seder plates are round signifying the circle of life, but that is not a requirement.  Here are the 6 foods to fill your seder plate. 

1. Zaroa/Shankbone - this will not be eaten, it is purely symbolic of the passover sacrifice in the time of the temple, you can use a roasted chicken bone or lamb shank bone if you can find it. 

2. Charoset - symbolizing the mortar the Jews used when slaves in Egypt is almost like a chutney.  Most commonly made from a mix of apples, nuts and wine, here are actually many ways to make it from all around the world.

3. Beitzah/Egg - the egg should be hard boiled and then roasted a bit to look like it is burnt (be careful that it doesn't explode).  It symbolizes the regular holiday offering.

4. Karpas/Vegetable - ths can be any green vegetable, but is most commonly parsley or celery, which we dip in salt water.

5. Maror/Bitter Herbs - this is to symbolize the bitter taste of slavery.  We like to use fresh horseradish for this, but you can also use a bitter lettuce.

6. Chazeret - this is another form of bitter herb.  You can use ground horseradish or Romaine lettuce and it is used as part of a the Hillel sandwich in which we eat the matzo and the bitter herb together.  Many people like to use the horseradish for maror and the lettuce for chazeret. 

Have you ever made your own seder plate? Share the photos in the comments below, we would love to see how creative you can get.