How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset (2024)

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By Rhea on March 27, 2014 in , , , Holiday Recipes, Holidays, Menus, Passover, Recipes, Side Dishes, Soups and Stews

Anyone who has been to a Passover Seder knows that the Seder Plate is the centerpiece of the table. It is rich with symbolism of the Exodus of the Hebrew slaves and is a main part of the Seder’s ceremonial rituals. But some of the items on the Seder plate are not vegan-friendly and can be replaced by other items that are more in tune with one’s ethics.

To help plan and create a memorable vegan Passover Seder, I would recommend buying a new Haggadah that is more in line with animal rights and plant-based eating. There are two veg-friendly Haggadah’s that I like:

Haggadah for the Vegetarian Family by Roberta Kalechofsky

(she has kale in her name: I knew I liked her!)

Open-Eyed Heart-Wide Haggadah by Debra Jill Mazer

Here is how I make my Vegan Seder Plate:

Matzoh: of course there is the matzoh, the bread of haste as the slaves did not have time to let their bread rise before escaping Egypt. Just make sure you buy egg-free matzoh.

Karpas: a vegetable or herb such as potato, celery or parsley is used as a symbol of spring. It is dipped in salt water to symbolize the tears of the Hebrew slaves.I tend to use parsley since I always have a bunch of it around.

Maror: the bitter herbs are to remind us of the bitterness of slavery. This can be symbolized with lettuce or horseradish. I think other bitter greens such as dandelion radish greens or mustard greens would also work here.

Charoset: a mixture of chopped nuts, apples, agave, and spices (see my recipe below). Charoset is used to symbolize the mortar used to layer bricks which was done by the Hebrew slaves. It is sweet though, and delicious.

Z’Roa: the shankbone used to symbolize the sacrificial lamb. Of course, there won’t be any bones on a vegan table so what’s a good substitute? I like to use beets. The blood-red color of the beets is certainly symbolic of the blood shed as well as the blood smeared over the doors of the people the Angel of Death was to pass over. According to the “Haggadah for the Vegetarian Family,” olives, grapes and grains of unfermented barley can also be used to symbolize the commandments of compassion for the oppressed.

Beitzah: the egg which has multiple meanings on a seder plate. It represents the second offering in the Temple as well as the mourning of the loss of the Temple of Jerusalem. Eggs are also common in spring holidays as a symbol of new life, renewal and hope. Wonderful substitutes for eggs include oranges, seeds, ripe fruit with pits and even edible flowers. I tend to use an avocado pit but I have also used oranges on my Seder plate.

Of course my Seder table is also filled with vegan delectables like these:

Mushroom Walnut Chopped “Liver”

Vegan Gefilte “Fish” with Horseradish on a bed of Purple Cabbage

Matzoh Ball Soup

Borscht

Matzoh Brei over Steamed Kale

Matzoh Brei/Fried Matzoh

Chocolate-Covered Matzoh

Be sure to check out all my Passover recipes including my simple but delicious Charoset below.

Note:Although I am of Ashkenazic descent, I do not agree with nor follow the prohibition of Kitniyot – eating legumes and rice – on Passover. I agree with Rabbi David Golinkin who believes this custom (that he says is in opposition to Talmudic writings) is devisive between Sephardic and Ashkenazic Jews and diminishes the importance of the hametz.

GF, SF
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

2 apples, peeled, cored and diced
½ cup walnuts
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
A pinch of allspice
A pinch of nutmeg
1 tsp. agave nectar
¼ cup grape juice or wine
A pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until pureed but with some texture. Store in a container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Enjoy!

[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:38]

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Appetizers, charoset, holidays, menus, Passover, rituals, seder, seder plate, vegan, vegan Passover

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6 Responses to How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset

  1. How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset (17)

    Rachel McMillan April 1, 2015 at 6:03 pm #

    Just found this site and I love it! I, too, am a strong animal activist. Happy Passover, Rhea, and thank you for this fabulous site. I’ll share it on Fb.

    • How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset (18)

      Rhea April 4, 2015 at 3:16 pm #

      Hi Rachel, thank you so much. Happy Passover! xoxo

  2. How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset (19)

    Kevin Carr March 13, 2015 at 5:40 pm #

    Thank you for your wonderful ideas. I know there are many Vegan Seder posts but I feel you have the best.
    I look forward to setting our Seder plate as a true Vegan one and will use your menu as a guide.
    Many thanks. Kevin Gold Coast Australia.

    • How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset (20)

      Rhea March 14, 2015 at 11:04 am #

      Thank you so much Kevin! Have a happy, happy Pesach! xoxo

  3. How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset (21)

    Ilene March 29, 2014 at 4:30 pm #

    Great ideas for Passover. I’m just starting to look for some good recipes. I love your seder plate ideas. Thanks!

    • How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset (22)

      Rhea March 30, 2014 at 11:49 am #

      Thank you Ilene! I also have a new recipe for matzoh balls made with quinoa so they are kosher all the way for Passover. I haven’t posted it yet but I will (need pictures). I hope you find lots of good recipes here. xoxo

How to Make a Vegan Passover Seder Plate Plus a Recipe for Charoset (2024)

FAQs

What is a vegan substitute for eggs on a seder plate? ›

But fret not, there are a few great options to help give the same visual reminder without the egg itself. For roundness, an avocado pit, white eggplant, or even a chive bulb could all make great substitutes.

What is the plate method for vegans? ›

The aim is to fill ½ of the plate with veggies and fruits, ¼ with grains and starches, and ¼ with plant-based proteins. Include whole food fats and fortified plant-based dairy in the meal, on the side, or as a snack. Supplements may be needed.

What does a vegan plate consist of? ›

Half your plate should be filled up with fruits and vegetables. They can be fresh, canned, frozen or dried. One quarter of your plate should be starches which can come from starchy vegetables like potatoes, yams and corn or from grains — especially whole grains — like brown rice, farro, quinoa and barley.

What can I use instead of eggs to bind a recipe? ›

This article explores the various ingredients that can be used as egg alternatives.
  1. Applesauce. Applesauce is a purée made from cooked apples. ...
  2. Mashed banana. ...
  3. Ground flaxseeds or chia seeds. ...
  4. Commercial egg replacer. ...
  5. Silken tofu. ...
  6. Vinegar and baking soda. ...
  7. Yogurt or buttermilk. ...
  8. Arrowroot powder.
Feb 7, 2024

What do vegetarians use on Seder plate? ›

Some people use a beet on the seder plate in place of the shankbone. Really any vegetable dishes you like to make and serve that don't include chametz or kitniyot are suitable, they don't have to be 'Passover' dishes. At which Jewish holiday would someone eat matzo at a seder?

What is a vegetarian substitute for a shank bone seder plate? ›

“As vegetarians, in place of the shankbone, we place olives, grapes, and grains of unfermented barley, which symbolize the commandments of compassion for the oppressed, to be found in the Bible.

What are the 5 forbidden foods on Passover? ›

The tradition goes back to the 13th century, when custom dictated a prohibition against wheat, barley, oats, rice, rye and spelt, Rabbi Amy Levin said on NPR in 2016.

What vegetables Cannot be eaten on Passover? ›

EVERY VEGETABLE is kosher for Passover. All FRUITS are kosher for Passover. The only 'food' that is NOT kosher for Passover are specific GRAINS and some grain products, UNLESS properly prepared and monitored and certified as kosher for Passover.

Why can't you eat oats on Passover? ›

Oats are widely considered chametz and are therefore forbidden during Passover. To Jews who eat kitniyot, legumes are considered kosher for Passover. Chickpeas, a type of legume, is the main ingredient in hummus.

What is Charo set? ›

Charoset (pronounced har-o-set) comes from the Hebrew word cheres that means "clay," though it goes by many different names around the world. It is a sweet relish made with fruits, nuts, spices, as well as wine and a binder such as honey.

What does charoset symbolize? ›

Charoset – A sweet, brown mixture representing the mortar and brick used by the Hebrew slaves to build the structures of Egypt.

Why is lettuce on the Seder plate? ›

A second bitter item, which is sometimes left off the Seder plate entirely, romaine lettuce symbolizes the fact that the Jewish stay in Egypt began soft and ended hard and bitter (look at the two ends of a piece of lettuce). How it's used: Some families do use the chazeret and the maror interchangeably or together.

What can substitute the egg on the Seder plate? ›

Choose an alternative to the egg: Try using an eggplant, a wooden egg, or another alternative on your seder plate. Use this as a chance to start a conversation at your seder about animal welfare. During Passover, use egg-free matzah and look for egg-free entree and dessert recipes.

What is a substitute for eggs on the Seder plate? ›

To fill its spot in the vegan Passover plate, it can be replaced with small whole beet, or chunks of roasted beet. Beytzah: A hard-boiled egg, sometimes roasted. The egg's symbolism shifts depending on the source. It is sometimes said to symbolize the eternal mourning for the loss of the Holy Temple.

What is a vegetarian substitute for a shank bone Seder plate? ›

“As vegetarians, in place of the shankbone, we place olives, grapes, and grains of unfermented barley, which symbolize the commandments of compassion for the oppressed, to be found in the Bible.

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