Jewish meals are rich with symbolism, and the Seder plate is no exception. I've created a modern, fully plant-based version that honors the traditional history and meaning—without any animal products. It’s the perfect way to begin your Passover dinner.
I love any chance to talk about the traditions that connect us to something bigger. And when those conversations turn to food? Even better—because if there’s one thing Jews are known for, it’s celebrating through food.
Like many Jewish holidays, Passover is rich with meaning, and every dish on the table tells a story. To kick off a week of reflection, connection, and tradition, here’s how I create a fully vegan Seder plate—no lamb bone or egg required.
Traditional Seder Plate
Passover is a celebration of the Israelites exodus from slavery in Egypt. It follows the Hebrew calendar and typically falls in March or April. The first night of Passover is celebrated with a Seder dinner, when we make a special family meal. We eat foods with symbolic significance, beginning with a Seder plate. The traditional Seder plate has a couple non-vegan components, so this post will outline how I make it animal-free for my family that still honors all of the symbolism and meaning of Passover!
- Charoset - Charoset resembles the brick and mortar made by the Jews when they were slaves in Egypt. It's made with apples, walnuts, and wine or figs and dates. Many people use sugar or honey to sweeten their Charoset, but my version uses maple syrup instead!
- Karpas - The herb! This is parsley, a springtime green that acts as a symbol of new beginnings and the initial flourishing of the first years the Israelites spent in Egypt.
- Maror - This is horseradish, a bitter portion to remind Jews of the bitterness of the slavery endured in Egypt. I use a spoonful from a jar or a piece of horseradish root.
- Chazaret- This is the bitter green item on a Seder plate. We use a leaf of Romaine lettuce or even kale to symbolize the fact that the Jewish stay in Egypt began soft (like the leafy part), but ended hard and bitter (like the stem).
So exactly what isn’t vegan?
In the traditional Seder plate, there’s baytzah, or egg, and also zoreah, or shank bone. Here's how I'll make these vegan options for my family this Passover!
Beitzah (Roasted Egg) – Vegan Substitutes & Their Symbolism
The roasted egg traditionally symbolizes mourning, the destruction of the Temple, and the cycle of life and rebirth. Some families say the roundness of the egg represents the cycle of life, hope and new beginnings. Here are vegan-friendly alternatives and what they can represent:
- Avocado Pit – Round and earthy, it symbolizes the cycle of life and growth from within—holding potential for new beginnings.
- Small Cooked Potato – A hearty, humble substitute that echoes themes of resilience, nourishment, and sustenance. Many Ashkenazi traditions already use this during the meal. A boiled and skinned potato can represent those same things... and even looks very similar visually!
- Flower – A symbol of renewal, spring, and hope, highlighting the beauty of new life and the season in which Passover takes place.
- Whole Small Orange – A whole small orange (or clementine) is traditionally used to represent inclusion on the Seder plate, particularly in support of women (as a symbol of feminism) and LGBTQ+ individuals. It honors evolving traditions and reflects a commitment to expanding the table to all.
Zeroah or Z'roa (Lamb Shank Bone) – Vegan Substitutes & Their Symbolism
Zeroah is traditionally a lamb shank bone. It represents the paschal lamb sacrificed the night of the Exodus, when the Jews left Egypt. I use a roasted beet as a substitute here! This represents the blood said to be on the doorsteps of Israelite homes on the eve of the Exodus. It's a gory image, especially for an animal-loving vegan like me, but so much of Judaism is symbolism! We remember and honor even the tragic parts of our history... which I prefer to do with veggies.
Modern Additions to the Seder Plate
Another more modern addition, and one that feels especially fitting this year, is a banana that reminds us of refugees like Aylan Kurdi, a young Turkish boy who lost his life during the Syrian refugee crisis. He loved bananas, and this sweet fruit is a reminder of his life and of children everywhere who are caught up in a modern exodus. Rabbi Dan Moscowitz says, "May they be guarded and protected along their journey to safety, shielded by the love of their parents, watched over by God full of mercy and compassion" (source).
You’ll find four more modern additions in the notes section of the recipe card at the bottom of this post—each one has gained popularity in recent years. Be sure to check them out as you reflect on what you want your Seder plate to represent this year.
I hope this post inspires you to make your Seder feel meaningful, inclusive, and delicious—however you choose to celebrate. My connection to Judaism always deepens through food, and seeing your plates on Instagram means the world to me. If you make your own vegan or modernized Seder plate this year, please tag me so I can see and share it!
More Posts Combining Veganism and Judaism
- Vegan Passover Recipes - The Ultimate Roundup!
- Nana's Famous Apple-Walnut Charoset for Passover
- Vegan Coconut Macaroons (refined sugar-free, paleo, egg-free, gluten-free)
- Ultimate Rosh Hashanah Recipe Roundup (vegan + gluten-free)
- Hanukkah Gelt Cookies (vegan + grain-free + paleo + refined sugar-free)
- Fun with Food: Hanukkah Snacks Edition (vegan + gluten-free)
- Chocolate FIlled Hamantaschen
- Easy Homemade Hanukkah Gelt (vegan + paleo)
- Ultimate Vegan Hanukkah Recipe Roundup
- Vegan Grilled Cheese Star of David Hanukkah Sandwiches
- Crispy Vegan and Gluten Free Potato Latkes or Spiralized Sweet Potato Latkes
- Vegan Matzo Crack (Refined Sugar-Free) for Passover
How to Create a Modern and Vegan Seder Plate for Passover
- Yield: 1 seder plate
- Diet: Vegan
Description
Jewish meals are full of meaning, and Passover might be the most symbolic of them all. A couple years ago I shared my Vegan Seder Plate, and every year I’m so touched by how many of you come back to it. So this year, I gave the post a little refresh—still no animal products, but all the tradition and intention. Whether you’re keeping Passover or just curious about Jewish food rituals, I’m so glad you’re here.
Ingredients
- Haroset: Vegan No-Honey Charoset
- Maror (bitter herb): horseradish (either a spoonful from a jar or horseradish root)
- Chazeret (bitter green): romaine lettuce, escarole or endive
- Karpas: parsley
- Zeroah (or z'roa): in place of the roasted lamb shank-bone use a small whole beet*
- Beitzah: in place of the roasted hard boiled egg use an avocado pit, small cooked potato, flower or a whole small orange**
- Serve matzah on the side of the seder plate
Instructions
- Place each item in its own small bowl, arranged in a circle around the edge of the round Seder plate. See the notes below for additional options and their meanings, and scroll up to read the full post for even more background and symbolism.
Notes
* Zeroah alternative: I use a roasted beet in place of the shank bone. It's vibrant, earthy, and beautifully symbolic. The beet’s deep red color recalls the blood said to mark the doors of the Israelites on the eve of the Exodus. It’s a powerful image—but one I’m much more comfortable evoking with a root veggie than a bone.
** Beitzah alternatives: In place of the roasted egg, you can use an avocado pit to symbolize the cycle of life and potential for new beginnings, or a small cooked potato, which has roots in Ashkenazi tradition and represents nourishment and resilience. A flower captures the spirit of spring and renewal, while a whole small orange is a powerful symbol of inclusion, honoring women and LGBTQ+ individuals and expanding the table to all.
Here are a few more options that have gained popularity in recent years:
Olive or Olive Branch – A symbol of peace sometimes added to acknowledge a hope for peace in the Middle East and between all peoples.
Acorn or Seed – Represents growth, resilience, and the hope for future generations to thrive in freedom.
Cup of Miriam – A modern feminist addition alongside Elijah’s Cup. It’s filled with water to honor Miriam’s well, which sustained the Israelites in the desert and celebrates the role of women in the Exodus.
Potato Peel – In some communities, especially Holocaust survivors, this has been used to remember the scarcity and suffering experienced in concentration camps. It honors survival and resilience.
- Cuisine: Jewish
Shira says
That's exactly how we do our seder plate: the orange and roasted beet to replace the egg and shank bone.
Elaine Gordon says
Amazing! Love to hear that! Happy early Passover!