5 Simple Steps to Host the Best Passover Meal

Every year, Passover Seder-goers ask the question, "Why is this night different from all other nights?" For first-time hosts and seasoned entertainers alike, throwing a Passover Seder is unlike any other dinner party. Unlike some other holiday meals, a Passover Seder requires a bit more participation from guests and hosts alike. A Passover meal, for this reason takes extra forethought. Don’t miss out on the reading of the Haggadah to make sure eggs are boiled or roasted for Beitza; keep brisket warm in the oven so as not to skip the four questions. Whether this is your first or 40th Passover Seder, we've crafted a pared-down Passover checklist with everything you need to make your celebration a success.

Make a list and find your ingredients

Whether you strictly observe Passover dietary restrictions or spend the week eating carbs as usual, you're going to need some matzo! (And possibly matzo meal for matzo balls, frozen gefilte fish, jarred horseradish, grated coconut and almond flour for desserts, and other Passover-friendly ingredients.) To make sure you have everything you need to cook, make a list and start sourcing ingredients early. Ask around to see where friends have found ingredients and try shopping at a variety of stores from Costco and Whole Foods to your local grocery store to cobble together everything on your shopping list. Focus on making dishes with fresh ingredients that are inherently kosher for Passover: fruit, virtually all vegetables, quinoa, eggs, fish, chicken, and meat. And keep in mind that you can swap in kosher wine, pareve margarine, and matzo meal as you prefer.

Build the Seder plate

Any large round plate can be transformed into a Seder plate — just top it with small bowls to hold the various symbolic items needed. Traditionally families use a roasted lamb shank bone to commemorate the ancient Paschal sacrifice. But if you can't find one, a roasted chicken leg or wing works, too. And some vegetarians have taken to using a roasted beet!

Meanwhile, charoset — the fruit and nut relish that symbolizes the mortar used by the Israelites when they were enslaved in ancient Egypt — is inherently pantry-friendly. The traditional Ashkenazi (Eastern European) recipe uses nothing more than apples, walnuts, cinnamon, and sweet wine or grape juice. Not into apples? Make an easy two-ingredient charoset inspired by Middle Eastern Jewish tradition with date syrup (called silan) and chopped walnuts or pecans.

For easy prep, cook a pared-down Passover meal

Passover is like the Thanksgiving of Jewish holiday meals — people tend to pull out all the stops to impress family and friends. But while you want your Seder to be festive and delicious, a simpler meal can be just as wonderful. Instead of cooking a six-pound brisket focus on dishes that are comforting and manageable.

Matzo ball soup is a must, and you can keep it simple with an easy chicken broth, (or your favorite mushroom broth if you want it meatless), some matzo balls you've made from the recipe on the matzo meal box, and some dill. Or go the extra mile with a slightly fancier version, swirled with a very Passover-appropriate dill-horseradish pistou.

Braised chicken is a great move, and can be made in advance. And with chicken thighs, it's that much easier to scale up or down according to how many people are eating (and your appetite for leftovers). This chicken-thigh braise takes just 30 minutes to simmer but has holiday-caliber richness thanks to the combination of rosemary, olives, and tomatoes. This salty and tangy braise features softened dried apricots and meaty green olives. Not into olives? This braise features leeks, herbs, and fennel — a very springy combination.

If Passover just doesn't feel like Passover without the brisket, go ahead and braise one! This horseradish-spiked brisket recipe by Gail Simmons keep things interesting.

Quinoa is officially a Passover-friendly grain, and it makes for a tasty side dish without the need to peel potatoes for kugel. A fresh quinoa salad, spiked with roasted sweet potatoes, crunchy apples, and herbs, is just the ticket.

Asparagus is truly one of the fanciest — and easiest to cook — springtime vegetables. Roasting asparagus keeps the prep hands-off. Feel free to mix it up with some fresh lemon zest or a shower of parsley.

The best Passover dessert is a combination of matzo and chocolate. Try this stunning chocolate-hazelnut matzo cake layered with espresso liqueur which softens the matzo just like an icebox cake in the fridge.

Upgrade Passover leftovers

Passover leftovers are a special treat unto themselves. Leftover chicken soup can be strained and used as the stock for other soups later in the week — or for this creamy, lemony avgolemono soup after Passover ends. Leftover braised chicken can be shredded and transformed into chicken salad. Chopped roasted asparagus can get thrown into a hearty frittata — and you can repurpose leftovers in hash, scrambled eggs, or in a matzo sandwich along with some spicy arugula.

Gather everything else you need

Make sure you have enough Haggadahs for your guests. Get yourself in order by snagging a few copies of Tablet magazine's Passover Haggadah: An Ancient Story for Modern Times. It's packed with tradition but also peppered with humor, contemporary commentary, and even 10 plague-inspired cocktails. For other staples — a matzo cover, yarmulkes, candlesticks, and a Seder plate if you want something less DIY — try Etsy or a Judaica store like Eichler's.