Passover is coming! This ancient Jewish holiday celebrates the freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, and you know what that means - it's time to gather with your loved ones, retell the story of the Exodus, and feast like there's no tomorrow! But let's be real, preparing for a Passover Seder can be a lot of work. That's why we've rounded up 8 make-ahead recipes and freezer tips, so you can spend less time stressing in the kitchen and more time enjoying the festivities. Let's get ready to Pass-over the competition and create a Seder dinner that'll be the talk of the town!
But first a freezer tip. To keep items fresh tasting and to avoid “freezer burn” tasting food, make sure each item is fully cooled, then sealed tightly with heavy duty foil (so no moisture can get in), and place in the freezer. When ready to use, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator 24 hours ahead of when you need it (it takes about that long to defrost in the refrigerator). Then bring it to room temperature and rewarm gently.
8 make ahead recipes for your Passover seder.
Matzah ball soup is a classic Passover dish and a staple of the Seder dinner. The key to a great matzah ball soup is tender, fluffy matzo balls, but guess what? You CAN make them ahead and they can be stored in the fridge for up to three days or in the freezer for a few months. You can keep them dry or in soup broth. If they are kept on their own, simply reheat the soup and drop frozen matzah balls in until hot broth, no need to thaw.
Gefilte fish is another traditional Passover dish that is often served during the Seder dinner. Making gefilte fish from scratch can be time-consuming, but you can make it ahead of time and freeze it for later. Simply shape the fish mixture into balls or loaves, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, and freeze for up to three months. To serve, thaw the gefilte fish in the refrigerator overnight, slice and serve cold with horseradish.
Another option for simple gefilte fish that some think taste better than homemade is to buy prepared frozen loaves of gefilte fish and simply boil a day or two before. It is best to let it sit in the refrigerator for at least a day before slicing and serving.
Brisket is a favorite Passover dish that is often slow-cooked for hours to achieve tender and flavorful meat. To save time and effort, you can prepare the brisket ahead of time and freeze it. After cooking, let the brisket cool to room temperature and slice it. Place the slices in a freezer-safe container or a zip-top bag with the cooking liquid, and freeze for up to three months. To reheat, thaw the brisket in the refrigerator overnight, and reheat in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes.
Kugels of all kinds are perfect to make ahead, but these potato kugel cups make it super easy to freeze them in individual portions. Slightly under bake, cool completely , wrap tightly and freeze. Thaw at room temperature, reheat, uncovered at 375°F for 10 minutes. The same applies to these broccoli and cauliflower kugel cups and also this butternut squash kugel. You can really just fill your freezer with kugel and have the perfect side dish any time.
5. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Roasted garlic mashed potatoes are a flavorful and satisfying Passover side dish that can be made ahead of time. After mashing the potatoes, let them cool to room temperature and transfer them to a freezer-safe container or a zip-top bag. Freeze for up to three months. To reheat, thaw the mashed potatoes in the refrigerator overnight, and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of milk or cream to restore the creaminess, if needed.
6. Braised Short Ribs with Tomatoes and Mushrooms
If you’re not into brisket or want something a bit smaller go with short ribs. They are equally perfect for cooking low and slow and making ahead and freezing. This recipe can even be made in the slow cooker for a set it and forget it dinner, double the recipe and freeze the extra portion.
This flavorful chicken is marinated in wine and cooked with dried fruits, making it the perfect festive dish. It is also great to make ahead.
Chicken Marbella can be frozen fully cooked or in the marinade for up to 3 months. Allow the chicken to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking or reheating.
Flourless chocolate cake is a rich and decadent Passover dessert that is easy to make ahead of time. After baking, let the cake cool to room temperature and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to three months. To serve, thaw the cake in the refrigerator overnight, and bring to room temperature before slicing and serving.
This Passover will be your easiest ever, with all these make ahead recipes by the time you get to your seder you can sit back and recline all seder long.
