Sweet Rosh Hashanah Recipes: 3 Delicious Honey-Inspired Holiday Dishes

Even if you prefer salty and spicy foods throughout the year, Rosh Hashanah is the perfect time to try something different. Many people have the custom of avoiding spicy or sour foods altogether on Rosh Hashanah, while others sweeten their dishes and salads as a symbolic prayer for a good and sweet year.

This doesn’t mean turning your chicken or fish into dessert. Rather, it’s about adding a subtle sweetness that creates a unique and delicious flavor. Ready to give it a try?

Classic Honey Mustard Glazed Salmon

Ingredients

• 1 kg (2.2 lb) salmon fillet, skin on

• 3 tablespoons honey

• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

• 1 tablespoon regular mustard

• 4 cloves garlic, crushed

• Dried fish seasoning or herbs

• ¼ cup olive oil

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).

2. In a small bowl, combine the honey, olive oil, mustards, garlic, pepper, and salt.

3. Brush the salmon generously with the honey mixture.

4. Place the salmon in a baking dish and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until cooked through.

Honey-Roasted Carrots

(Also commonly served as a symbolic Rosh Hashanah food among Ashkenazi communities.)

Ingredients

• 1 kg (2.2 lb) carrots, peeled and sliced into 1 cm (½-inch) rounds

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 tablespoon honey

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F).

2. In a large bowl, toss the carrots with the olive oil, honey, salt, and pepper.

3. Spread the carrots evenly on a baking sheet.

4. Roast for 20–25 minutes, or until tender and lightly caramelized.

Honey and Wine Braised Beef

Ingredients

• 1 kg (2.2 lb) beef short ribs (asado) or another cut suitable for slow cooking

• 2 onions, diced

• ¼ cup olive oil

• ¼ cup honey or silan (date syrup)

• ¼ cup red wine

• 6–7 allspice berries (do not skip)

• 2–3 bay leaves

• Salt, to taste

• Black pepper, to taste

• 1 tablespoon paprika

• Water, enough to cover the meat but no more

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot and sauté the onions until deeply golden.

2. Add the beef and sear lightly on all sides.

3. Add the honey (or silan), red wine, allspice berries, bay leaves, salt, pepper, paprika, and enough water to cover the meat.

4. Bring to a boil.

5. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for several hours until the meat is fork-tender and falls apart easily.

These sweet and savory Rosh Hashanah dishes bring both flavor and symbolism to the holiday table, helping welcome a year filled with sweetness, blessing, and abundance.