Matzo on glass plate which reads Bondage and Freedom

36 Delicious Vegan Passover Recipe Ideas

Thank you for sharing!

Are you looking for vegan Passover recipe ideas? Check out these 36 delicious main dishes, appetizers, side dishes, and desserts. Passover is a special holiday for Jewish people and begins the evening of April 5th in 2023.

Passover is a great time to enjoy many healthy and fresh foods. However, some commonly eaten foods are not eaten during Passover, including leavened bread, pasta, muffins, and cake.

Planning for Passover Meals

Start checking out recipes and choosing foods for your menu ahead of time. Supermarkets in neighborhoods with a large Jewish population usually have the best selection of prepared Passover foods, if there are any you need. Check food labels for flour, baking soda, baking powder, and yeast. Look for Kosher for Passover symbols on food labels.

Once you have found recipes you can get organized with a shopping list and buy the food you’ll need. Consider what you would like for the seders (services and meals usually held the first two nights of Passover), as well as foods for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks for all 8 days of the holiday.

If you are following a plant-based diet, that can be a challenge every day. Keeping Passover can make things a little trickier. But here are some recipe ideas to help you figure out what to make.

36 vegan Passover recipes with matzo ball soup, beet and carrot salad, roasted vegetables, and brownies

Which Foods are Kosher for Passover?

During Passover, we eat matzo to remind us of the exodus of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt to freedom. As there was no time for their bread to rise to take on the journey, matzo is not leavened and must be made very quickly.

Other typical Passover foods include matzo ball soup, matzo kugel, potato dishes, meats, poultry and fish, eggs, dairy products (separately from meats) fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Jewish people hold a seder for the first one or two nights of Passover, which tells the story of the exodus along with symbolic foods, prayers, and songs (Telushkin, 1991).

There are many everyday Kosher requirements, such as avoiding pork and shellfish, not having meat with dairy products, and choosing processed foods with a Kosher certification. For Passover, Jewish people avoid eating chametz. Chametz is leavened or fermented grains. You can and should eat Matzo (plus there is matzo meal – hello Passover brownies!). Please read more from this handy visual Washington Post article.

What Do Vegans Eat for Passover?

I enjoy tsimmes for Passover – a stew of sweet potatoes and dried fruit. This is traditional for Rosh Hashanah for a sweet new year, but I like to make it for Passover too.

And charoset is one of my favorite dishes too. The Ashkenazic version is a mix of apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and Kosher wine (or grape juice) that symbolizes the mortar used to build the pyramids. Sephardic charoset recipes may include dried fruits, ginger, and other nuts or even be cooked.

With all of these choices, there are plenty of plant-based choices for Passover seders. Here, I have gathered together some recipes to help you decide what to eat for the rest of the holiday.

What is Kitniyot?

Ashkenazi Jewish people (from Central and Eastern Europe) had also been avoiding kitniyot (legumes plus rice, corn, and beans) for Passover since the 1300s. I love soy milk, rice, beans, etc., and eat them at most meals. Unbeknownst to me until researching this post, in 2015 the Conservative Rabbinical Assembly changed this rule to permit kitniyot (such as corn, rice, and legumes). However, Orthodox and other Jewish people still avoid kitniyot. Please note that some recipes in this round-up do contain kitniyot.

While I have looked at each recipe, be sure to review and adjust them as needed based on your level of observance. For instance, most of these dessert recipes contain sugar. Choose organic sugar, a brand you know is vegan, or try changing the sweetener to agave nectar, maple syrup, or organic sugar instead (sugar may have been processed with animal products).

One soup recipe calls for a vegetable bouillon cube. If it’s not Kosher for Passover, you can use homemade vegetable broth instead.

Appetizers and Soups

Here are some vegan Passover starters, including charoset, tasty appetizer bites, and soup.

Chunky Charoset
Enjoy this 10-minute Chunky Charoset for Passover this year! So simple and so delicious made with sweet fruits, walnuts, and spices! From plantbasedonabudget.com.
Chunky Charoset
Chunky Charoset

How about a roasted red pepper and sweet potato soup to start off your seder? I think this recipe from Hintofhealthy.com with coconut milk and garam masala will be a great flavorful first course.

Lentil and Walnut Stuffed Zucchini Cups
Delight your guests with these vegan lentil and walnut zucchini cups stuffed with mushrooms, onions, celery, carrots, and seasonings.
Lentil and Walnut Stuffed Zucchini Cups
3 lentil and walnut stuffed zucchini cups on red plate
vegan broccoli and parmesan soup in white bowl
vegan broccoli and parmesan soup

Vegan broccoli and parmesan soup (I know: vegan parmesan cheese: who knew?) from ThisWifeCooks gets its’ creamy texture from potatoes and cashews.

Matzo Ball Soup – Plant-Based on a Budget
You can easily combine Kosher and vegan in one with this matzo ball soup. Tastes really close to the traditional version with my fave broth.
Vegan Matzo Ball Soup
Matzo Ball Soup - Plant-Based on a Budget
Roasted Eggplant and Pepper Dip
Everyone will love this low calorie healthy roasted eggplant and red pepper dip. Perfect for dipping veggies, chips, and crackers!
Roasted Eggplant and Pepper Dip
Roasted Eggplant and Pepper Dip

Salads

Salads with lettuce, vegetables, fruits, and nuts with fresh homemade dressings (or storebought Kosher for Passover dressing) make for an easy Passover meal or side dish.

Moroccan Carrot Salad
Moroccan carrot salad with oranges

Moroccan carrot salad with oranges by VeggiesSavetheDay features orange juice, olive oil, maple syrup, and spices for a delicious dressing.

Tomato Salad with Balsamic and Mint Dressing
This Tomato Salad with fresh mint and purple onions with balsamic dressing is Whole30 compliant, gluten free, paleo and vegan!
Tomato Salad with Balsamic and Mint Dressing
Tomato Salad with Balsamic and Mint Dressing
Roasted Beets and Carrots Kale Salad
Roasted Beets and Carrots Kale Salad has a beautiful presentation and is bursting with flavour and nutrients! Gluten-free, Paleo & Vegan
Roasted Beets and Carrots Kale Salad
Roasted Beets and Carrots Kale Salad

Check out Easy Vegan Chickpea Salad with tomatoes and avocados by YumVeganLunchIdeas for an easy meal.

Vegan Passover Main Dishes

Here are some delicious vegan Passover entrees. Some contain kitniyot such as beans and corn. Quinoa is not chametz but may or may not be accepted in some religious communities for Passover: read more in this article from Chabad: Is Quinoa Kosher for Passover?

Craving some spicy flavor? Then you will enjoy Mexican black bean lasagna: make it in a larger pan for a crowd.

Easy Mexican Lasagna with Black Beans
Learn how to make this satisfying vegan Mexican lasagna with black beans, avocados, corn tortillas, and salsa. Made with avocados instead of cheese!
Easy Mexican Lasagna with Black Beans (Gluten-free)
Mexican lasagna in white souffle dish next to avocado and cilantro with colorful lights
Stuffed Peppers with Butternut Squash and Quinoa
These Italian-style stuffed peppers with butternut squash, Great Northern beans, quinoa, and herbs are a great vegan meal for everyday, holidays, and entertaining. They freeze well, too.
Stuffed Peppers with Butternut Squash and Quinoa (Gluten-free)
stuffed peppers with butternut squash and quinoa in a white baking dish topped with chopped parsley and basil leaves

Stuffed peppers with butternut squash and quinoa is a tasty and impressive-looking meal. Change it up with different veggies, like mushrooms, cooked sweet potatoes, adding beans, or using rice instead of quinoa.

Vegan chili with green onions, bell peppers, and onions
Vegan chili

Slow Cooker Vegan Chili is an easy meal solution that lasts a few days – or make a double batch for a larger family.

Italian lupini bean salad in blue bowl
Italian lupini bean salad

While this is technically a salad, I would have it for lunch. Amy Gorin RD’s Italian Lupini Bean Salad is a quick recipe with plenty of fiber, carbohydrates, and protein to help feel satisfied all afternoon.

Vegan taco salad from YumVeganLunchIdeas would be great with pieces of matzah!

Side dishes

Potatoes are always popular for Passover. Try these recipes including sweet potatoes, quinoa, root vegetables, and asparagus for variety:

Rainbow Roasted Vegetables: red peppers, carrots, yellow squash, broccoli, and red onions
rainbow roasted vegetables

Rainbow roasted vegetables from DinnerThenDessert is a simple and lovely side dish.

Vegan Smashed Red Potatoes With Dill Sauce
SO easy and delicious, these Vegan Smashed Red Potatoes With the Garlic Dill Sauce are a comfort side dish that never disappoints. Made with 4 ingredients.
Vegan Smashed Red Potatoes
Vegan Smashed Red Potatoes With Dill Sauce
Orange Scented Quinoa Side Dish
Quinoa Side Dish features carrots, raisins, and walnuts infused with orange, cinnamon, and fresh herbs. It’s easy to make on the stove or Instant Pot.
Orange Scented Quinoa Side Dish
Orange Scented Quinoa Side Dish
Golden Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower – Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN
Golden Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower is a simple side dish that is healthy, delicious, and brightens up any table. Vegan and gluten-free.
Golden Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower
Golden Roasted Turmeric Cauliflower - Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN
Sesame Sweet Potatoes with Green Onions
Sesame sweet potatoes are an easy side dish with an Asian flair. A different flavor profile than the typical Thanksgiving ones: vegan and gluten-free.
Sesame Sweet Potatoes with Green Onions (Gluten-free)
sesame sweet potatoes on white plate
Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus Side Dish
Looking for the perfect lemon garlic asparagus side dish? Enter this garlic roasted asparagus. Once you make it once, you’ll want it with every meal!
Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus
Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus Side Dish
Garlic Herb Roasted Root Vegetables
Root vegetables roasted with garlic and herb are a great side dish to have on the roast dinner menu. It is so easy to prepare with just a few simple pantry ingredients.
Garlic Herb Roasted Root Vegetables
Garlic Herb Roasted Root Vegetables

Vegan Passover Desserts

pomegranate sharbat in glass serving bowl on blue plate
pomegranate sharbat

Impress your guests with this pomegranate sharbat (Faloodeh-ye anar) from PandemoniumNoshery.

This vegan Passover chocolate nougat candy with only 4 ingredients from Condelight.Blogspot.com looks like an easy sweet treat.

passover chocolate nougat candy
Passover chocolate nougat candy

Fruit desserts also are a favorite for Passover. Try this easy Passover Apple Crumble from Renanas Kitchen for another tasty treat!

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Samoas
These gluten-free, dairy-free samoas from Colleen Woods RD are made with almond flour and gluten-free baking mix instead of wheat flour.
Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Samoas
Chickpea Flour Brownies
These chickpea flour brownies are vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, and grain-free. You’d never guess they’re made with chickpea flour!
Chickpea Flour Brownies
Chickpea Flour Brownies
Fresh Cantaloupe Berry Nice Cream
Light and delicious dairy-free, no added sugar recipe without needing an ice cream maker! Perfect for a hot summer day.
Cantaloupe Berry Nice Cream (Gluten-free)
2 bowls or cantaloupe berry nice cream with half of a cantaloupe
Vegan Avocado Chocolate Mousse
This easy Vegan Chocolate Mousse with Avocado is a super addictive and decadent healthy, dairy free and eggless dessert that is also super quick to make!
Vegan Avocado Chocolate Mousse
Vegan Avocado Chocolate Mousse
Vegan Coconut Macaroons (refined sugar-free, paleo, egg-free, gluten-free)
These Vegan Coconut Macaroons are light, fluffy, moist, perfectly sweet and full of coconut flavor with just the right amount of chocolate.
Vegan Coconut Macaroons
Vegan Coconut Macaroons (refined sugar-free, paleo, egg-free, gluten-free)
No Bake Strawberry Pie
No Bake Fresh Strawberry Pie Recipe. Healthy sugar free recipe that is easy to make and a perfect dessert for Passover and year round.
No Bake Strawberry Pie
No Bake Strawberry Pie
Chocolate Mocha Nice Cream
Creamy, chocolatey vegan dessert: easy to make with no ice cream maker required.
Chocolate Mocha Nice Cream (Gluten-free)
Chocolate mocha nice cream in bowl on blue and white towel
Chocolate Covered Matzo with Coconut
Make this totally addicting Chocolate Covered Matzo with toasted coconut for Passover, or afterwards with all that leftover matzo.
Chocolate Covered Matzo with Coconut
Chocolate Covered Matzo with Coconut
Vegan Matzo Crack (Refined Sugar-Free) for Passover
This vegan matzo crack is an easy no-bake Passover dessert that everyone loves. It turns bland matzo into a crave-able dessert.
Vegan Matzo Crack
Vegan Matzo Crack (Refined Sugar-Free) for Passover

Snacks

Fruits and vegetables are an easy choice for vegan Passover snacks. There are matzo crackers, but pieces of toasted matzo are just as easy to snack on. Try it with berry preserves or nut butter for a more filling snack.

Crispy Seedy Crackers by Bracha Kopstick, RD.
These crackers are so easy to make and taste so good, you’ll want to keep making them until your ingredients are all used up.
Crispy Seedy Crackers
Crispy Seedy Crackers by Bracha Kopstick, RD.

Passover Breakfast Ideas

These are a few things I like for breakfast during Passover:

  • Matzo with almond butter
  • Fresh fruit
  • Leftover potatoes
  • Potato pancakes (made with matzah meal instead of flour), served with applesauce
  • Soy, coconut, or cashew yogurt
  • A smoothie with banana, pineapple, mango, blueberries, nut butter, ground flaxseed, juice, or soy milk
  • Scrambled tofu with peppers and onions
  • Apple slices with peanut butter

I hope these ideas help you to plan a delicious and healthy vegan Passover for an eight-day celebration of freedom!

Reference:

Telushkin, J. (1991). Jewish literacy: The most important things to know about the Jewish religion, its people, and its history. William Morrow and Co., pp. 581-586.

Related Recipe Collections:

Originally published: 3/7/2020. Updated: 3/18/2023

Have you tried any of these vegan Passover recipes? Please let me know in the comments:

2 thoughts on “36 Delicious Vegan Passover Recipe Ideas”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *