The Jewish holiday of Passover can be a tricky one for event caterers. Beyond the typical rules of kosher catering, the weeklong holiday—which traditionally kicks off with a Seder dinner—has additional dietary restrictions. Observant Jews avoid grain products including bread, pasta, and pastries, instead substituting in unleavened bread, a.k.a. matzo. Depending on the branch of Judaism observed, other restricted foods can include rice, beans, peanuts, and corn syrup.
While the rules sound challenging, the holiday offers a chance for chefs to get creative. Scroll down for Passover-friendly fish and meat dishes, appetizers, cakes, and more.
“One of my favorite things to serve at Passover-friendly parties is our Roaming Salmon Tasting,” says Carla Ruben, owner and creative director of New York-based Creative Edge Parties, which also has an office in South Florida. “We style three types of salmon—think smoked, tartare, and dip—alongside different chips and accessories. We have fun with the chips creating our own oversize potato chips. The accessories include capers, dill, fresh lemon, crème fraiche, pickled shallots, chives, and so on. It’s a great interactive, tasty way to serve Passover-appropriate bites.”
Photo: Courtesy of Creative Edge Parties
Los Angeles-based Wolfgang Puck Catering offers full-service Passover catering around the country. Menu items include shallot and thyme matzo; gefilte fish with fresh herbs and spices wrapped in cabbage leaves; and slow-braised beef short rib (pictured) with vegetable ratatouille and grilled asparagus.
Photo: Antonio Diaz
Chef David Cuisine in Palmetto Bay, Florida, serves slow-braised cured brisket, plus deconstructed Tzimmes—a traditional sweet stew—made from sweet potato and apricots.
Photo: Courtesy of Chef David Cuisine
While potato latkes are traditionally known as a Hanukkah favorite, they can be Passover-appropriate when made with matzo meal. Wolfgang Puck Catering’s version is topped with a Fuji apple puree.
Photo: Courtesy of Wolfgang Puck Catering
Artisanal online gift store Mouth, which ships nationwide, is offering two Passover gift boxes that play on holiday traditions. The Passover Sweets set, which costs $60 for the small version and $93 for a larger one, offers Seder-ready treats like brown-sugar matzo toffee, dark chocolate peanut butter frogs, chocolate roasted almond macaroons, and pomegranate rock candy.
Photo: Courtesy of Mouth
Mouth also offers an “Exodus in a Box” gift set for $63. The snacks, which are all kosher for Passover, include watermelon lemonade dried fruit, sea salt crunchy split peas, zesty lime popcorn, and a mocha cayenne energy bar.
Photo: Courtesy of Mouth
Zuchter Berk Kosher Catering in Toronto serves Passover-appropriate chicken with dried fruits. The dish calls for whole chickens cut into quarters, topped with onions, white wine, and chicken stock. Dates, dried apricots, lemon juice, and saffron is cooked in a skillet and poured on top.
Photo: Courtesy of ZB Hospitality Group
For dessert, Chef David Cuisine offers chocolate-covered matzo with caramel and sea salt.
Photo: Courtesy of Chef David Cuisine
Brooklyn-based Naturally Delicious Caterers offers Passover Seder dinners that can be delivered. Dishes include vegetarian wild mushroom and leek matzo ball soup; pan-seared salmon with wilted spinach and horseradish aioli (pictured); and flourless chocolate cake with raspberry sauce and homemade coconut macaroons.
Photo: Max Flatow
Sometimes guests can’t resist a simple slice of pizza. Fresh Brothers, a pizza chain in Southern California, offers pizzas cooked on double-stacked matzo instead of dough. The pizzas can include any toppings included on a normal pizza, and vegetarian and vegan options are also available. Orders can be placed in-store, online, or through the corporate catering office; the matzo pizza is available from March 30 to April 8.
Photo: Courtesy of Fresh Brothers
New York-based caterer Great Performances serves a Passover Prune Cake, which combines a vodka-soaked plum dish by C.E.O. Liz Neumark with a flourless cake by executive pastry chef Anna Kosa. The cake is made by combining eggs, oil, and sugar with matzo meal, potato starch, and cinnamon and is filled with plums that have marinated in vodka, brown sugar, cinnamon, and lemon peel.
Photo: Courtesy of Great Performances
Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne’s Los Angeles-based restaurants—the Larder at Tavern and the Larder at Burton Way—are offering Passover take-away menus. Dishes include a smoked fish platter with goat cheese, cucumbers, onions, and matzo.
Photo: Rob Stark
