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