10 Great Side Dishes for Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah begins tomorrow (September 18), and although this year looks very different than years past, many people are still planning their menus. Many holiday tables include some combination of chicken soup, brisket, tzimmes, and potato or noodle kugel. This year, enhance the traditional fare with a bevy of side dish that incorporate some of early fall’s best flavors and highlight the holiday’s most symbolic ingredients. Whether you are seeking inspiration for a crunchy salad, a vegetable dish, or an unexpected starch, these 10 sides have you covered.

1. Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Feta

Here’s a fun twist on the classic pairing of apples and honey. Slices of the fruit add tart crunch to the salad while honey sweetens the tangy mustard vinaigrette.

Get the recipe: Spinach Salad with Apples, Walnuts, and Feta

2. Braised Lentils and Leeks

A splash of dry vermouth adds a punchy, aromatic quality to this comforting dish of braised leeks and lentils.

Get the recipe: Braised Lentils and Leeks

3. Crunchy Cabbage Slaw with Farro, Pecorino, and Dates

4. One-Pot Smoked Almond and Herb Couscous

The abundance of couscous grains represents the number of blessings you hope to have. Here they’re flavored simply with smoked paprika and toasted almonds.

Get the recipe: One-Pot Smoked Almond and Herb Couscous

5. Pull-Apart Challah Rolls

If you’ve never made challah from scratch before, start here. This easy version skips the braiding of the bread and instead opts for pull-apart knots.

Get the recipe: Pull-Apart Challah Rolls

This classic spinach back is the perfect warm vegetable side, with just the right amount of crunch from the toasted bread crumbs.

Get the recipe: Creamy Spinach Bake

7. Roasted Sweet Potato Slices with Cilantro Pesto

Sweet potatoes play perfectly into Rosh Hashanah’s tradition of eating sweet, round foods. Here, rounds of roasted sweet potatoes are slathered in bright green cilantro pesto.