As the time for celebrating Passover Seder draws near, I become more and more excited to share all the ways we can celebrate Jesus through this wonderful feast!
Whether this is your first time hosting a Passover gathering or you are looking for new Christian Seder meal ideas to enjoy with your family, today's post is packed with inspiration. We will cover the history of the Seder, answer common questions, and provide a biblical Passover meal menu.
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Do Christians Celebrate Passover?
A question we get asked often is, do Christians celebrate Passover? The answer is a resounding yes! While Passover is a Jewish holiday established in the book of Exodus, many Christians choose to observe it to remember how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, and more importantly, to honor Jesus Christ as our ultimate Passover Lamb. Jesus Himself celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples during the Last Supper!
How to Celebrate Passover as a Christian
If you are wondering how to celebrate Passover as a Christian, it is all about focusing on Jesus’ fulfillment of the biblical prophecies. You can read the Exodus account alongside the Gospels, take communion, and prepare a special dinner using Christian Passover meal ideas that honor the biblical dietary guidelines while pointing to Christ’s sacrifice.
What is a Traditional Seder Meal?
At a traditional Passover table or a Seder (the name of this ritual meal), there are several types of foods and dishes that are prepared. Each carries special meaning for Jews, has a rich historical significance, and must be kosher for Passover. Chicken matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, matzah (a type of dry bread), bitter herbs, matzo brei (Ashkenazi Jews make this), kosher wine, and charoset are all traditional Passover foods.
A particular tradition includes drinking four cups of wine. The four cups represent the process of sanctification. Each cup helps us remember God's promise of deliverance given in Exodus 6:6-7.
Special ingredients are also used to create what is called a Seder plate.
What is served at a family Seder dinner:
- Matzah
- Zeroa (Shankbone)
- Beitzah (Egg)
- Maror and Chazeret (Bitter Herbs)
- Charoset (Paste)
- Karpas (Vegetable)
Each element symbolizes different aspects of the biblical account that is being remembered, namely, that of God’s deliverance of His people from Egypt, including when He passed over them in the final plague on the eve of their exodus.
There is even a special order to how these symbolic foods are arranged on the Seder plate as well as the order in which they are eaten! (The word ‘seder’ literally means order, so it makes sense!) You can read more about that in the FAQ section at the bottom of this article.
But for those without a Jewish background who still want to embrace the holiday in a Christ-honoring way, what traditional Passover recipes can we prepare instead?
Passover Meal Ideas
Passover meal ideas can include lamb, fish, matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, and more. Other traditional Jewish dishes like charoset and seasoned hard-boiled eggs (you can find my “disciple eggs” recipe below) are wonderful as well.
Here is a list of Passover foods to choose from!
List of Passover Seder Foods
- Horseradish deviled eggs
- Brisket
- Charoset
- Roasted asparagus
- Fruit salad
- Matzo ball soup
- Baked salmon
- Roast chicken
- Macaroons
- Chicken thighs with gravy
- Tzimmes (a special dish made of root vegetables, dried fruit, and roasted carrots)
- Gefilte fish
- Potato kugel
- Roast beef
- Israeli salad
- Meatballs
- Chicken schnitzel
- Chocolate fudge pie
- Flourless chocolate cake
- Matzo balls
A Complete Christian Seder Meal Menu: Passover Recipes
My Seder meal and Passover dinner include a recipe of family favorites, flavored with Jewish customs and biblically-inspired ideas. Combined together we get to experience all the flavors of God’s goodness and please all members of the family.
If you are trying to narrow down your cooking list, I have put together a full, Bible-diet-approved Christian Seder meal menu for your family!
- Entree: Roasted Leg of Lamb
- Sides: Quinoa and Parsley Salad, Charoset, Roasted Asparagus, Disciple Eggs
- Desserts: Chocolate Fudge Pie, Baked Fruit with Strawberry Topping
Want my complete collection of holiday recipes in one easy-to-print guide?
Grab the Jesus in the Holidays: Passover Resurrection Recipe PDF to keep in your kitchen!
Passover Entree: Roasted Leg of Lamb
Roasted Leg of Lamb
Ingredients
- 7 pound Leg of Lamb bone-in or boneless, fat trimmed to 1/4 inch thick
- 4 Garlic Cloves
- 1 tablespoon Real Salt
- 2 tablespoons Chopped Fresh Rosemary
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/4 cup Dry Red Wine or beef broth
Instructions
- Pat lamb dry and score fat by making shallow cuts all over with the tip of a sharp small knife.
- Pound garlic to a paste with sea salt using a mortar and pestle (or mince and mash with a heavy knife) and stir together with rosemary and pepper. Put lamb in a lightly oiled roasting pan, then rub paste all over lamb. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Roast lamb in the middle of the oven until an instant-read thermometer inserted 2 inches into the thickest part of meat (do not touch bone) registers 130°F, 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours. Transfer to a cutting board and let it stand for 15 to 25 minutes (internal temperature will rise to about 140°F for medium-rare).
- Add broth to the pan and deglaze by boiling over moderately high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Season pan juices with salt and pepper and serve with lamb.
Nutrition
Seder Menu Sides Recipes
Quinoa and Parsley Salad
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
- 3/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced celery
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
- 1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots
- 3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp. olive oil
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 1/4 tbsp. salt
- 1/4 tbsp. black pepper
- 1/4 cup unsalted pumpkin seed kernels toasted
Instructions
- Bring water and quinoa to a boil in a medium saucepan.
- Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.
- Spoon into a bowl, fluff with a fork. Add parsley, celery, onions, and apricots.
- Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, and black pepper.
- Add to quinoa mixture, and toss well.
- Top with pumpkin seed kernels and garnish with dried apricots.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Charoset
Ingredients
- 3 Apples peeled and diced
- 1 cup Walnuts toasted and roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon ground
- 1 teaspoon Organic Cane Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Pomegranate Juice
- 1 tablespoon Honey
Instructions
- Stir together cinnamon, sugar, juice and honey.
- Add mixture to apples and walnut.
- Chill or serve immediately.
Nutrition
Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Fresh Asparagus
- 2 Teaspoons Olive Oil
- 1/4 Teaspoon Real Salt or to taste
- 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper or to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus (if you sharply bend the asparagus near the base, it will snap in the right place). Discard the ends.
- Place the asparagus on the sheet and drizzle with 1 to 2 teaspoons olive oil, just enough to lightly coat the asparagus. Sprinkle salt and pepper over the asparagus, and toss until the spears are lightly coated in oil.
- Arrange the spears in a single layer on the pan.
- Bake just until the base of the asparagus is easily pierced through by a fork. Very thin asparagus, like the kind shown here, will take as little as 9 to 12 minutes, whereas thicker asparagus will need 15 to 20 minutes.
- Transfer the roasted asparagus to a serving platter and season however you’d like. You could keep it simple with a squeeze of lemon juice, or a sprinkle of Parmesan, or add a pat of butter or drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
- Roasted asparagus is best served when it’s fresh out of the oven, but it will keep at room temperature for up to 1 hour or up to 4 days in the refrigerator (gently reheat before serving).
Notes
- Lemon wedges, from the remaining 1/2 lemon
- Sprinkle of finely grated Parmesan cheese
- Small handful of fresh mint or parsley, finely chopped
- Light sprinkle of red pepper flakes
- Pat or two of butter
- Light drizzle of balsamic reduction or thick balsamic vinegar
- Toasted sliced almonds
Nutrition
Disciple Eggs
Ingredients
- 1 Dozen Eggs
- 2 Teaspoons Dijon Mustard
- 1/3 Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 Tablespoon Pickle Relish
- 1/4 Teaspoon Real Salt or to taste
- 1/8 Teaspoon Pepper or to taste
- 1/8 Teaspoon Paprika or to taste
Instructions
- Place eggs in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a rolling boil. Turn stove off, cover and let sit for 10-12 minutes. Rinse with cold water.
- Gently slice eggs in half. Remove yolks and mix in a bowl with desired ingredients.
- Spoon yolk mixture back into egg whites.
Notes
Nutrition
Delightful Desserts to End Your Passover Meal
Chocolate Fudge Pie
Ingredients
- 1 Teaspoon Organic Unsweetened Cocoa
- 8 Ounces Organic Bittersweet Chocolate coarsely chopped
- 1/2 Cup Organic Butter
- 3/4 Cup Organic Cane Sugar
- 3 Large Eggs beaten
- 1 Teaspoon All-Natural Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes or Shredded
- 2 Tablespoon Organic Powdered Sugar
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Lightly coat a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray, and dust with cocoa.
- Melt chopped chocolate and margarine in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, 3 to 5 minutes or until smooth; whisk in 3/4 cup sugar, whisking until blended.
- Whisk together eggs and vanilla in a large bowl. Gradually whisk in chocolate mixture, whisking until blended. Pour into the prepared pie plate.
- Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until edges are dry and the center is set. (Do not overbake.)
- Cool in pie plate on a wire rack 30 minutes or until completely cool. (Cake will fall slightly when removed from the oven.) Dust with 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar just before serving.
Nutrition
Baked Fruit Delight with Strawberry Topping
Ingredients
- 6 Apples chopped
- 8 Dates chopped
- 1 Cup Currants
- 1 Cup Blueberries frozen
- 1 Cup Pineapple crushed with juice
- 3/4 Cup Walnuts chopped - or pecans
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg
- 1 Orange juiced
- 2 Teaspoons Lemon Zest
Strawberry Topping
- 1/2 Cup Almond Milk
- 1/4 Cup Cashews
- 6 Ounces Frozen Strawberries thawed
- 2 Dates
Instructions
- Chop apples, dates and walnuts similar sizes.
- Preheat oven to 350'Mix fruits and nuts in large bowl.
- Mix in small bowl cinnamon, nutmeg, water, orange juice and lemon zest. Then combine all ingredients.
- Put in a covered pan and bake for 30 minutes or until all fruit is soft.
- Blend together ingredients for Strawberry Topping. Great served warm or cold!
Video
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
It is good to learn more about this wonderful festive holiday. Here are a couple of frequently asked questions about the original Passover meal!
What's the difference between a 6 food and 7 ingredient Seder plate?
The traditional Seder plate contains six elements that are kosher for Passover: the matzah, zeroa, beitzah, maror and chazeret, charoset, and the karpas. There is a symbolic seventh element – matzos – but it is not considered a part of the actual plate.
What is the order of the Seder meal?
There are fifteen steps to the Seder dinner that Jewish people observe. They are:
- Kadesh
- Urchatz - Wash your hands
- Karpas - Appetizer
- Yachatz - Break the middle matzah
- Maggid - Tell the story of Exodus
- Rachtzah - Wash your hands again
- Motzi - Blessing over bread
- Matzah
- Maror - Bitter herbs
- Korech - The hillel sandwich
- Shulchan Orech - the festive meal
- Tzafun - Eat the Afikomen
- Beirach - Grace after meals
- Hallel - Psalms of praise
- Nirtzah
I encourage you to study more about the details of this Jewish holiday dinner, it is very special.
From the spiritual significance of the lamb (there is a reason Jesus is referred to as our Passover Lamb in Scripture, and it's beautiful) to the stunning reminders this feast gives us of the Lord's faithfulness, every element is worth understanding.
Happy Passover Seder, my friends!
