Honey Bourbon Tiramisu

Whilst developing a dairy menu for Rosh Hashanah, we decided to put a twist on one of our favourite Italian desserts, Tiramisu. A crowd-pleaser that is surprinsingly easy to make, we’ve switched out the usual brandy for a rather less traditional spirit – Honey Bourbon.

Sweet, warming and heady, these little tiramisu pots are a wonderful, unconventional dessert to round off a dairy meal this Rosh Hashanah. You could, optionally, add in a layer of apple puree or serve with caramelised apples for an extra nod to tradition!

Apple, Carrot and Beetroot Muffins

Apple, Carrot and Beetroot Muffins - Image by Yaffa Judah

Three Rosh Hashana Simanim come together in one beautifully moist, sweet and delicate bite. These muffins are even reasonably healthy, as cakes go, sweetened with honey rather than refined sugar, and made with olive oil in place of butter or margarine. They’re also a sneaky way of getting kids (or fussy grown ups) to eat their fruit and veggies! A tasty dessert, snack or breakfast-on-the-go, this is a recipe you’re sure to be coming back to again and again, and make an excellent homemade Mishloach Manot treat for Purim.

Chocolate-dipped Honeycomb

Chocolate dipped honeycomb - Image by Yaffa Judah

This recipe is pure, sweet indulgence. True honeycomb, of the bee-made variety, is one of the Simanim, has multiple health benefits and is emblematic of the bees on which the harvest relies, but these chocolate dipped treats are somewhat less healthy and despite what the name suggests, they contain no honey whatsoever! They are, however, delicious and the combination of crunchy honeycomb and rich, dark chocolate is a winner, sure to bring a smile to the faces of friends and family as they ask for a sweet and good new year.

Caramelised Apple with Honeycomb Ice Cream

Caramelised Apple with Honeycomb Ice Cream - Image by Yaffa Judah

A contemporary spin on the iconic Rosh Hashanah offering of apple and honey, this dessert is the perfect way to round off an autumn evening. Our baked apples are caramelised in honey and served warm, alongside a delicious homemade parev ice cream, sweet and full of crunchy honeycomb crumbs. We used Granny Smith apples for their tartness to balance the sweetness of the ice cream, but you can use any other apple of your choosing.

Pea, Courgette and Caramelised Onion Salad

Pea, Courgette and Caramelised Onion Salad - image by Yaffa Judah

A seasonal and refreshing accompaniment to meat, chicken, dairy or fish meals, which also gives a nod to the Simanim with the inclusion of gourds in the form of courgette and the sweetness of honey-caramelised onions. A great base for a light lunch with whatever protein you prefer, this vibrant green salad is fantastic for lunchboxes and a delicious choice for a Shabbat, Yom Tov or any day of the week! If you’re making this salad for Rosh Hashanah, add baby leaf spinach or swiss chard for an extra Siman boost.

One-pot Baharat Chicken and Mejadra-Stuffed Peppers

One-pot Baharat Chicken and Mejadra-Stuffed Peppers - Image by Yaffa Judah

Mejadra (or Mujadarra) is a dish eaten widely all over the Levant, and commonly seen at Sukkot because of its seasonality, its “jewelled” nature, and for the simple practical reason that it could be easily transported in a single pot from the kitchen to the Sukkah! Fragrant spiced rice with lentils and onions, its symbolism can be elevated still futher by stuffing the mejadra inside sweet peppers. To complete this show-stopping one-pot dish, we pack our stuffed peppers around a whole chicken rubbed with an aromatic baharat spice mix, allowing the delicious spiced juices to infuse the peppers and rice with layers of flavour as they cook.

Moroccan 7-Vegetable Couscous

Moroccan 7 Vegetable Couscous - image by Yaffa Judah

As seasonal as it gets and a celebration of Simanim, the earthiness of the root vegetable mash, rich with parsnip, potatoes and sweet potatoes exquisitely complements these deliciously tender and sweet ribs, which are marinated in pomegranate molasses and date honey, both Simanim, omens for abundant blessings and redemption from our enemies. The greens are the finishing touch on a perfectly rounded Autumn warmer, just what’s needed as those shorter nights start drawing in. Leafy greens (swiss chard, spinach or beetroot leaves) are another of the Simanim – ‘silka’ in Aramaic or ‘selek’ in Hebrew, related to the Hebrew word ‘silek’ (to depart). We ask that Hashem remove our adversaries from us in the coming year. Ifcooking this dish for Rosh Hashanah, you may also choose to add squash to the mash and leeks to the greens to add two more Simanim to the dish.

Moroccan Lamb with 7-Vegetable Couscous

Moroccan Lamb with 7-Vegetable Couscous - image by Yaffa Judah

As seasonal as it gets and a celebration of Simanim, the earthiness of the root vegetable mash, rich with parsnip, potatoes and sweet potatoes exquisitely complements these deliciously tender and sweet ribs, which are marinated in pomegranate molasses and date honey, both Simanim, omens for abundant blessings and redemption from our enemies. The greens are the finishing touch on a perfectly rounded Autumn warmer, just what’s needed as those shorter nights start drawing in. Leafy greens (swiss chard, spinach or beetroot leaves) are another of the Simanim – ‘silka’ in Aramaic or ‘selek’ in Hebrew, related to the Hebrew word ‘silek’ (to depart). We ask that Hashem remove our adversaries from us in the coming year. Ifcooking this dish for Rosh Hashanah, you may also choose to add squash to the mash and leeks to the greens to add two more Simanim to the dish.

Sweet Potato and Squash Chips

Sweet Potato and Squash Chips - Image by Yaffa Judah

Root vegetables are a seasonal staple for Sukkot and Rosh Hashana, as well as a Pesach-friendly side and an alternative to white potatoes. These sweet vegetables are also ideal for Rosh Hashana, where we have the custom to eat sweet foods for a “good and sweet new year,” and we eat gourds such as squash as one of the Simanim, representing our desire that, if it be Hashem’s will, that the evil of our verdicts be torn apart, and that our merits be announced before Him.