Easter & Passover Feasts: Timeless Traditions for Your Holiday Table

The arrival of Easter and Passover often signals the welcome of spring. Although the holidays sometimes fall close together on the calendar, the foods traditionally served at each celebration—especially the centerpiece meats—reflect their own distinct traditions. Read on to learn more about what meat dishes work for each of these holidays, including some selections that can work if you’re celebrating both traditions in your home.

For Easter, many households feature a moist and tender ham, usually with a sweet glaze. Our precooked hams are ready to glaze with our own in-house recipe, or make your own, including this intriguing cola glaze from All Recipes. Want to know how long to put your ham in the oven or what temperature to use? Our Ham Roasting Guide takes the guesswork out of perfectly heating your Easter Ham.

For a delicious alternative to ham, consider a succulent pork roast. This impressive pancetta-wrapped pork roast recipe comes courtesy of Giada de Laurentiis and boasts a five-star rating.

Beyond pork and ham, many Easter tables also feature other celebratory roasts that feel just right for a spring gathering. Lamb is a longtime favorite, whether prepared as a classic leg of lamb with herbs or a tender rack roasted to perfection. Beef roasts and prime rib are also popular centerpieces for families looking for something rich and impressive. For some more Easter dish ideas, check out our past blog on Easter Dinner Recipes. And don’t forget the bakery favorites that make the holiday complete—think braided breads, specialty cakes, and festive pastries that add a sweet finish to the celebration.

For your Passover Seder, it’s all about the beef brisket. Cooked low and slow, it’s tender and full of flavor. A flat cut will be your best choice for slicing. If you want enough for some leftovers, allowing about one pound pre-cooked weight per person is a good rule of thumb. Here’s a classic braised beef brisket recipe courtesy of Beef. It’s what’s for Dinner.

If you’re looking for a meat selection that works well for both Easter and Passover, lamb might just be perfect for you. Not only is lamb suitable for both meals, it carries special symbolism in both the Christian and Judaic faiths. Whether a roast rack of lamb, lamb shanks, a juicy lamb roast, or one of our other delicious lamb offerings, you might be surprised at how simple it is to create a show-stopping dish sure to impress your guests. Here’s a classic rack of lamb recipe from Simply Recipes that promises to be fool-proof. To learn more about popular Easter and Passover meat cuts, check out this previous blog.

Round out your meal with bright seasonal sides like roasted asparagus, spring potatoes, or fresh greens, decorative and disposable place settings, decorations and spring flowers, all available at Butcher Boy.

Still not sure? Come see us and talk with our expert butchers. They’re sure to have some great recommendations perfect for your Easter or Passover table.