On the day-to-day, avoiding dairy (and other animal products) is relatively simple thanks to the plethora of quality alternatives. However, when these foods are a part of your culture, heritage, or religion, they can be harder to give up, especially during seminal holidays. Passover is one such occasion that can present challenges, but with a little research and planning, you can participate in the celebration without compromising your dietary values. Whether you identify as Ashkenazi or Sephardic, here are seven dairy-free recipes perfect for Passover.
1. Matzah Ball Soup
Here’s a recipe for the most conservative members of your Passover celebration. Unlike many others, this plant-based matzah ball soup does not contain any legumes, beans, or soy, but it is still hearty enough to serve as a meal or a substantial first course. Tip: make a double batch of the recipe for a go-to meal for all eight days of Passover (just store the matzah balls separately).
Nothing feeds a crowd like a lasagna! This hefty noodle-free casserole is a clever play on the Italian American classic, but far more nutrient-dense. It’s brimming with a medley of fiber-rich veggies layered between crispy sheets of matzah and a creamy homemade cashew cauliflower dairy-free ricotta. Bring this to a family gathering and you won’t have to worry about leftovers; the dish will be scraped clean!
Use the traditional Seder foods to inspire your meals. This cauliflower horseradish soup is light and creamy, but definitely has a kick! Blend in fresh horseradish or find a nondairy sauce here. Top with savory caramelized onions for an additional flavor bomb.
Where do you get your protein? Quinoa. This seed has 8 grams of protein per cooked cup, and it has become a staple amongst those who adhere to plant-based Passovers. These healthy zucchini boats are a delicious and nutritious way to feed a crowd (or just a few hungry athletes).
Keep it simple with a side dish of perfectly roasted whole beets. This humble root vegetable can be elevated when served atop a schmear of nondairy gourmet cashew cheese, such as Kite Hill,Jule’s Truffle Cashew Brie, or Treeline Cheese (which is a certified kosher brand).
Perfect for an appetizer, light dessert, or snack, this raw dairy-free charoset is both flavorful and refreshing. Just be sure to prep it a few hours ahead of serving—it gets better as it sits.
No celebration is complete without dessert! This dairy-free cheesecake packs an anti-inflammatory punch thanks to the addition of turmeric. This healing spice also adds a pretty hue to this otherwise plain-looking treat. Bonus: these decadent parfaits are naturally sweetened with whole food ingredients. We’ll have two!
Come home to a soul-satifying meal with this weeknight-ready barbecue protein bowl. Bright kale and fresh tomato perfectly balance out hearty barbecue-marinated tempeh and tender, roasted sweet potatoes. This protein bowl will delight your tastebuds and fuel your body...
This colorful, perfectly seasoned, nutrient-dense salad bowl blows every other taco salad out of the water. Made with simple ingredients—including a mind-blowingly delicious and easy dairy-free queso—it comes together in under 30 minutes (no meal prep needed!). You...
Best. Oatmeal. Ever. With so many nutrient-packed layers of flavor, this is far from your average bowl of oats. One serving packs in 25 grams of protein along with satiating fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Dive into a creamy bowl of oats topped with a flood of mixed...
Easy Mexican Tofu Scramble By The Nut-Free Vegan Prefer a savory to a sweet breakfast? Mix up your mornings with this simple Mexican-inspired tofu scramble. You'll start your day with a quality boost of protein, a variety of micronutrients, plenty of antioxidants, and...
Dairy-free feta? Yes, it's a thing, and you can easily make it at home! With just a few ingredients and extra-firm tofu, you can whip up a batch of healthy, protein-packed feta to top salads, sandwiches, pastas, and more. Sometimes, we even eat this by the handful for...
Every year for the holidays, I somehow get put on “green bean duty,” which involves cleaning, stripping, and halving ten pounds of beans for the feast. Inspired by the epic vegan celebrations with my family, this delectable green bean casserole dish has the classic...
Yes—chocolate is dairy-free. Well, true chocolate that is. Thanks to childhood memories of snacking on mass-marketed milk chocolate products specifically designed to ingrain and satiate America’s sugary palates, dairy and chocolate are synonymous in most of our minds....
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