Rosh Hashanah, or Jewish New Year, is one of my favorite holidays. I get so many requests for my Paleo Rosh Hashanah Menu and healthy Jewish High Holiday recipes, that I had to share it all with you here!
When is Rosh Hashanah?
I love Rosh Hashanah because it generally falls around the end of summer, or early autumn when a bounty of fruits and vegetables are at peak harvest.
It’s a wonderful time to look back on the year that’s passed and to give thanks for the harvest in the fields and in life. It’s also a good time to set intentions for the upcoming year. This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday, September 18th.
Apples Dipped in Honey
Rosh Hashanah is a time when our menu is filled with symbolic foods. According to one of my favorite food historians, Claudia Roden, at Jewish New Year, it is a “widespread custom to eat a piece of apple dipped in honey while a prayer is said asking God for a sweet year.”
What Foods are Eaten at During Jewish New Year?
Another custom is to eat a new fruit of the season, usually a pomegranate, hence the Pomegranate Salad I include at our High Holiday table. Roden adds that round foods such as meatballs are eaten to embody the aspiration that the year ahead is full and rounded.
Paleo Rosh Dinner Hashanah Menu
Below is our Paleo Rosh Hashanah Menu! It’s full of healthy High Holiday dishes that celebrate the season in a way that won’t leave you stuffed and overfull. After eating this healthy food you’ll be bursting with energy, satiated, and satisfied.
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Starters
Here are my favorite starters for our Jewish New Year celebration.
- Apples Dipped in Honey
- Stuffed Mushrooms
Sides
If you’re looking for low-carb Rosh Hashanah side dishes like low-carb kugel you are in luck.
Dinner
For Rosh Hashanah dinner we usually have chicken or beef. Serve your brisket with Low-Carb Mashed Cauliflower like we do in the photo above.
- Brisket
- Perfect Roast Chicken
- Chicken Marbella from Paleo Cooking from Elana’s Pantry
Desserts
Here are some healthy low-carb Rosh Hashanah desserts that are perfect at the end of any High Holy Day meal.
Low-Carb Rosh Hashanah Recipes
Since I’m following a Keto Diet, I’ll be sticking with the low-carb fare on this menu. With the boys at school, we’ll be having a very small gathering of just the two of us, and I’m only making one entree –the Brisket.
I’ll feast on the Stuffed Mushrooms, and leave the fruit out of my salad. I’ll skip dessert, but if you’re in need of something sweet to end your meal, check out my Low-Carb Dessert Recipes page! There are so many incredible things to choose from, but I think the Low-Carb Strawberry Shortcake is a showstopping High Holiday dessert!
Happy New Year!
Many blessings to all of you my dearest readers for a gorgeous and health-filled New Year! Leave a comment and let me know about your family traditions as well as what your favorite dishes are to serve for Rosh Hashanah.
And if you’re planning ahead, check out my Paleo Yom Kippur Breakfast Menu.
This post, first published in 2009, is an oldie but goodie from the archives that I’ve updated.
mary maclean says
thanks for your page sent to me by a friend.My DNA tells me i am 1% Hebrew. I have been following Jewish Feast for many years.Tonight I am hosting 16 people to celebrate my sisters 70 birthday and the Jewish New Year. Happy and Blessed New Year to you.
Elana says
Mary, welcome to the tribe and happy new year to you and yours :-)
Flora Chavez says
Elana,
Everything on your Rosh Hashanah menu looks just scrumptious! I haven’t been able to completely keep up with you because I was moving from Tennessee to Texas to be near my daughters and things seem to be crazy right now moving during this time and having to get my house and property (in the mountains) to sell. In the mean time my daughters have been fixing up my temporary 55+ apartment so I can be comfortable while I get ready for hip replacement surgery. You’re so right, this is also one of my most favorite holidays and is one that should bring us a lot of joy, and you’ve got the joy, girl and may this joy and the very best of blessings continue to come your way (and your beautiful family’s way) for the whole year and more. Lots of love and blessings!
Elana says
Flora, what a beautiful comment. You made my day and more. Blessing to you and your wonderful family. Sending love and prayers to you for the hip replacement surgery and I hope you’ll stay in touch and keep me posted :-)
Ruth Atkin says
L’shana Tovah to all. May we all be inscribed in the Book of Life.
Elana says
Ruth, Shana Tovah!
Rivka Givoni says
Elana.
Happy Healthy New Year.
Thank you for sharing your recipes for Rosh Hashana.
Thank you
Rivka Givoni
Elana says
Rivka, happy new year to you and yours!
Debbie Pitzel says
Elana, your recipes have been a staple in my kitchen for years. I have recommended your website and cookbooks to so many people!
Thank you also for sharing your Jewish holiday recipes! I love learning about different traditions and cultures!
Thanks, love and light to you and your family!
Debbie Pitzel
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Elana says
Debbie, so glad we are on this healing journey together and thanks for your kind words!
Rosita says
Have an easy fast, Elana!
Your recipes sound amazing as always. I am not Jewish but I can appreciate how seriously the Holiest of Jewish Holidays is observed. I did some reading to make sure I would give you a proper greeting. As a Catholic and having been raised in a strict Catholic home I certainly understand the importance of Holy days of obligation.
God Bless you and your family!
Elana says
Rosita, you are so sweet!!! Thanks for your wonderful wishes :-)
Yafa says
Dear Elana
Honey cake done and ready to be eaten. Your matza ball recipe is one of our favorites. Have a happy, HEALTHY and sweet New Year. My thanks and wishes are coming to you all of the way from Israel. שנה טובה!
Elana says
Yafa, thanks for your wonderful comment! Shana Tova :-)
Lorrie Graham says
Hi, Elana,
I have both of your almond flour cookbooks and enjoy the recipes. I did discover that I am sensitive to agave, when I ate one of the chocolate confections in your cookbook. Since then, I’ve been substituting sugar (yes, head hung in shame, white sugar) and adding a little water and the recipes work great!
Elana says
Lorrie, we are all bio-chemical individuals and there is no need to hang your head over finding a solution that works for you. I think it’s amazing that you did! I’m so happy to hear that you are enjoying my cookbooks :-)
Dena says
Shana tova u’metuka!
I want to share my Rosh Hashana traditional dessert, since it’s as simple as simple gets and always a crowd pleaser! Open a pomegranate and take out all the seeds. Pat dry, if there’s any juice on them. Melt white chocolate. Mix the seeds in. Drop as bite-size balls onto wax paper. Refrigerate. It makes the most wonderful candy that bursts in your mouth when you bite into it!
I experimented last night with my leftover dates — tried to make a power bar with flax seed, peanut butter, tehina, an egg. Melted choc chips on top for kid-friendly appeal. It tasted great but it didn’t bake properly. Do you have a REAL recipe along these lines? I’d love to have healthy “candy” bars on hand for my daughter’s lunchbox.
G’mar Chatima Tova!
Lynda says
Dena -she has a great power bar recipe over here:
https://elanaspantry.com/power-bars/
I think you’ll really like them.
Susanna says
Hi Elana!
I am a student at the Nutrition Therapy Institute in Denver. I am working on becoming wheat free as one of my teachers said I have an intolerance (not a full on allergy though). I am a displaced NYer though and I miss bagels! I was wondering if you’d be willing to work with me on developing a gluten free bagel, perhaps a sprouted version? I have not really gotten into gluten and wheat free baking at all and would appreciate your input on this project! I think it’d be really exciting if I could, at some point, develop it into a bagel deli here in Denver, much like what we had in NY! Let me know if you would be open to this! Thanks so much!
Elana says
Susanna, thanks for your comment! Here’s a link to my Paleo Bagels for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/paleo-bagels/
Enjoy!
Elana