Recipes of the Week For Your Purim Feast, Hamantaschen, Challah, Poppy Seed Rolls, Mushroom and Potato Dumplings, Potato Pancakes, Eggplant and Chickpeas Stew With Coconut-Almond Sauce, Mujaddara, Crumble Salad, Pumpkin Phyllo Rolls with Roasted Apples and Hazelnuts, Poppy and Prune Cake

1. Vegan Challah

It is customary to serve a long, braided challah in memory of the rope that was supposed to hang Mordecai but hanged Haman instead. This Vegan Challah is just like the bread you grew up with but without the eggs.

2. Mushroom and Potato Dumplings

Another traditional food served on Purim is kreplach, which are small noodle dumplings filled with meat or potatoes. Kreplach and other stuffed foods are eaten on Purim to symbolize the surprises and secret meanings within the Purim story. These Mushroom and Potato Dumplings can stand in for kreplach. They have a meaty Shiitake mushrooms and potatoes filling with a bit of cabbage for texture.

3. Iranian Eggplant and Chickpeas Stew With Coconut-Almond Sauce

Just like Queen Esther ate vegetables and legumes in Persia, we can eat this Iranian Eggplant and Chickpeas Stew With Coconut-Almond Sauce. The texture of the eggplant and chickpeas go so well together, and the sweetness of the dates and apricots blend perfectly with the cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, and turmeric. This is the perfect festive Purim meal.

4. Persian Style Potato Pancakes (Kuku Sib-Zamini)

These Persian Potato Pancakes would have been a dish Esther would have welcomed during her time in the palace. It’s a version of a Persian omelet that is often made into patties. Here, the egg is replaced with mashed tofu and chickpea flour. A little bit of curry powder gives them a spicy kick.

5. Mujaddara

Mujaddara is an ancient Middle Eastern dish made with lentils and rice seasoned with cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and allspice. The fried onions are mixed into the dish as well as tossed on top so you get fried, crunchy goodness throughout. The yogurt-lemon sauce adds a tangy, cool element to complement the spiciness.

6. Potato and Falafel Crumble Salad

This Potato and Falafel Crumble Salad is a creative way to enjoy the taste and texture of falafel, a Middle Eastern favorite. Chickpeas are roasted in a skillet until they become crispy and begin to crumble. They’re then tossed with soft potatoes, tangy red onions, and savory sun-dried tomatoes. This falafel crumble salad is full of great flavors and contrasting textures.

7. Weekend Brunch Poppy Seed Roll

Poppy seeds are one of the most popular Purim traditions. These Weekend Brunch Poppy Seed Rollsare also going to win popularity contests. They’re fresh and full of natural ingredients like dates, coconut, and almonds. Serve these rolls during dinner or the next morning for breakfast with hot coffee or tea.

8. Poppy and Prune Cake (‘Mohnkuchen’)

Poppy seeds, called “mohn” in Yiddish, represent the seeds that Esther ate in the palace to avoid detection as a Jew. This Mohnkuchen or Poppy and Prune Cake is a beautiful dessert. It’s chocolatey, fruity, moist, and a little nutty. Cover the cake with an elegant chocolate ganache frosting and you have a spectacular dessert on your hands!

9. Gluten-Free Vegan Hamantaschen for Purim

Perhaps the most well-known food eaten during Purim is Hamantaschen, which is shaped to be symbolic of the evil Haman’s hat and his triangular ears. Hamantaschen are light pastries that are filled with poppy seeds, fruit preserves, or other creative fillings such as chocolate or caramel. These Gluten-Free Hamantaschen have blueberry and apricot preserves for filling. They’re tender, chewy, and delicious.

10. Golden Vegan Pumpkin Phyllo Rolls in Agave/Maple Syrup with Roasted Apples and Hazelnuts

While Hamantaschen are of Ashkenazi origin, Sephardic Jews make pastries from phyllo dough. They fill them with walnuts, almonds, pine nuts, and cinnamon and shape them more like Haman’s fingers than his ears. For a similar dessert, make these Golden Vegan Pumpkin Phyllo Rolls in Agave/Maple Syrup with Roasted Apples and Hazelnuts. Crunchy golden phyllo pastry is filled with fragrant nut-laced pumpkin, spicy roasted apples, and creamy whipped topping. It’s a perfect vegan Purim dessert.

Purim is a fun, festive holiday that is beloved by children and adults alike. Eat the way Queen Esther did with these 10 Purim recipes that will have you spinning your graggers and stomping your feet with joy.

Don Lichterman
Sunset Corporation of America (SCA)
Sustainable Action Network (SAN)