Ten Healthy Passover and Easter Recipes

Finding the right holiday recipes shouldn't be an egg (or afikomen) hunt.

Easter Lamb

Easter Lamb Photo via Shutterstock

Two quintessential spring holidays, Passover (April 14) and Easter (April 20), are just around the corner. While these days bring together the family, they also present their own challenges—like avoiding leavened bread on Passover or resisting chocolate Easter bunnies. However, the biggest challenge may be creating the perfect menu. We’ve gathered some healthy Passover and Easter recipes that incorporate the holiday traditions, fresh spring ingredients, and crowd pleasing taste.

Passover

1. Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemon-Butter Asparagus
via Straight to the Hips

This year instead of gefilte fish, try salmon instead (and no not lox). According to the Harvard School of Public Health, Salmon is healthy for your brain and your heart. This simple recipe also only requires vegetable oil, lemon, and salt and pepper to accompany the filet.

2. Matzo Ball Soup
via Good Food

Matzo ball soup is an absolute Passover staple. Instead of using store bought instant matzo ball mix, make it healthier and lower in sodium by using the all-natural ingredients in this recipe.

3. Sweet Spaghetti Squash Kugel with Apples and Raisins
via Cara’s Cravings

Kugel is typically served with potatoes or egg noodles. This recipe uses spaghetti squash instead, making it lower calorie, gluten free, and kosher for Passover. 

4. Amazing Charoset
via Eating Bird Food

Charoset is a sweet, fruity spread traditionally paired with matzo on Passover. Instead of adding extra sugar like many Charoset recipes, this version uses dates, figs, raisins, applesauce, and a little bit of wine (or juice).

5. Chocolate Chickpea Cake
via Alida’s Kitchen

Giving up flour for Passover? Not to worry, you can still enjoy a decadent dessert with this flourless chocolate cake. This recipe is made with chickpeas so it’s packed with protein, and it also has no butter or oil in it.

Easter 

6. Skinny Crustless Quiche
via Caleigh’s Kitchen

This quiche cuts down on calories by removing the crust and substituting half the eggs with egg whites. The recipe is easily altered so you can cut out the bacon and add or eliminate whatever vegetables suit you. The recipe calls for whole milk but any other kind of milk, even dairy-free ones, will work as well.

7. Orange Infused Boneless Leg-of-Lamb
via the Healthy Foodie

Instead of Easter ham, try another traditional Easter entrée that’s lower in sodium: lamb. This recipe is a boneless leg of lamb, which is one of the leanest cuts.

8. Raw Rainbow Noodles
via Craving Something Healthy

This rainbow salad is the perfect side to any springtime meal. By mixing shredded carrot, parsnip, and apple, the dish is fresh, light, and can pair well with any other sides.

9. “Mock” Garlic Mashed Potatoes
via Food Network

These “mock” mashed potatoes take a healthy twist on a crowd favorite by using cauliflower instead. While this recipe mimics the taste of that classic comfort food, cauliflower is more nutritious and is lower in calories and carbs. For an even lower cal version swap the cream cheese with non-fat cottage cheese.

10. Carrot Cake Banana Bread with Thick Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
via Ambitious Kitchen 

This combo dessert is a great way to embrace the fresh spring harvest, and can be served for either dessert or brunch. The recipe cuts down on fat by using applesauce instead of butter. Also if you are looking to cut down on calories even more, the bread still tastes great without the frosting on top.