Sukkot and Simchat Torah Stuffed Foods

Fill Up on These Filled Foods

Written by
Miri Rotkovitz
Registered dietician, teacher, and award-winning cookbook author who has been exploring Jewish cuisine for almost 20 years.
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Miri Rotkovitz
Updated 08/31/20
Easy Beginner Kibbeh

The Spruce

Thanks to Sukkot's status as a harvest holiday, there's a tradition to serve stuffed foods to celebrate the seasonal bounty. For many, the custom extends through Simchat Torah, since pairs of cylindrical foods—think cabbage rolls or blintzes—plated side-by-side resemble Torah scrolls. (The same logic applies on Shavuot, the harvest holiday that celebrates the giving of the Torah.) Of course, there's no need to save these recipes for the holidays—they're wonderful all year round! 

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  • 01 of 08

    Parmesan Quinoa-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms (Dairy, Passover)

    QuinoaPortobello.JPG
    © Miri Rotkovitz

    Parmesan Quinoa-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms are another great addition to dairy menus, whether served as an elegant starter, or a main course. 

  • 02 of 08

    Falafel with Pickled Vegetables & Minted Lemon Yogurt (Dairy or Pareve)

    Falafel with pickled vegetables

    Sandy Wood / Getty Images

    Sure, falafel is casual street food. But if you've ever stood in an Israeli falafel joint, strategically biting into a loaded pita while tahina runs down your wrist, you know this sandwich qualifies as stuffed. Chef Todd Gray's wife and business partner, Ellen, offers this fancier version with quick-pickled vegetables. Try her minted lemon yogurt for dairy meals, or opt for hummus and tahina to keep things pareve. If you want to go fancy for a holiday meal, use mini pitas to serve these "slider-style" alongside cocktails. 

  • 03 of 08

    Beef Strudel (Meat)

    Strudel

    Maike Jessen / Picture Press / Getty Images

     If you need a simple, hearty meal to serve a crowd, Giora Shimoni's Beef Strudel is a good option. Frozen puff pastry helps dress up ground beef for the holiday. 

  • 04 of 08

    Kibbeh (Meat)

    Easy Beginner Kibbeh

    The Spruce

     A Middle Eastern specialty, kibbeh (sometimes spelled "kubbeh") are bulgur croquettes filled with spiced ground meat. Serve them fried as appetizers, or pick up some prepared frozen kubbeh and boil them in a soup. 

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  • 05 of 08

    Holishkes —Jewish Stuffed Cabbage (Meat)

    Holishkes
    Martin Jacobs / Getty Images

    Eastern European Food Expert Barbara Rolek is About.com's stuffed cabbage maven, and she's got some great kosher recipes in her collection. These sweet and sour sauced Holishkes are stuffed with beef. 

  • 06 of 08

    Israeli Potato Bourekas (Pareve)

    Potato Borekas
    Miri Rotkovitz

    This easy recipe for Israeli potato bourekas is made with purchased puff pastry for convenience. They are parve so they can be eaten with a meat or dairy meal.

  • 07 of 08

    Chocolate Hazelnut Stuffed Dates (Pareve, Passover)

    Chocolate Hazelnut Stuffed Dates
    © Miri Rotkovitz

    Think of these Chocolate Hazelnut Stuffed Dates as nature's candy. They're sweet, chewy, and crunchy all at once, and deliver a delectable hit of chocolate. Best of all, they're dairy-free, so you can enjoy them with all sorts of meals. 

  • 08 of 08

    Blueberry Blintzes (Dairy)

    Blueberry Blintzes
    Susánica Tam / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-2.0

    For an elegant Sukkah brunch or dairy dessert, make these decadent Blueberry Blintzes. Once you've got the hang of crepe making, you may find yourself making these throughout the year. Don't want to fuss with rolling the blintzes? Make a stack of homemade crepes and add your favorite fillings.