Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!
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Let's enjoy some healthier Shavuot food! π²
Published over 1 year agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Hello my friend!
Another ten days and it's Shavuot, and I'm really looking forward to it! For me, Shavuot always heralds the start of Summer - al fresco meals, sunny days in the garden, and a lovely time of growth and good vibes. What's not to love?!
This year, we're planning a fairly low-key, family-oriented festival. My daughter will be in the middle of school exams, so keeping things calm and manageable is essential. On the plus side, I can cook all the things we love the best, without having to worry about anyone else's preferences!
Shavuot is typically associated with lots of dairy foods, like cheese blintzes, strudel, cheesecake and the like. If you have vegan friends or family, or if like me, you just don't get along with a lot of dairy products, it can be a bit of a struggle.
BUT, I've drawn up a helpful guide to Vegan Shavuot Recipes, which includes traditional Shavuot recipes from around the world that are already dairy-free! This includes special breads, symbolic ingredients, and recipes for all sorts of dishes including mains, sides and desserts.
It also includes a helpful round up of ingredients that can be substituted into your favourite recipes to replace dairy ingredients. And if you're really missing the cheese, take a look at my easy vegan cashew 'cheese' spread - so delicious! It's amazing spread onto crackers or toast, or you can roll it into balls and add savoury flavour-bombs to a salad. Fresh, tasty, and super-nutritious too!
Below you'll find some more of my favourite 'healthier' Shavuot recipes. Lighter dishes that are packed with nourishing ingredients, perfect for a Summertime feast!
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Deliciously Healthy Shavuot Recipes
YomTov food is always a bit indulgent - isn't that the point?! But that doesn't mean you can't throw in a few healthier options too. Here are some of my favourite fresh and fabulous recipes, made with nutritious whole foods, so they're as nourishing as they are delicious!
βCourgette, feta and mint pashtidaβ A delicious savoury bake that's somewhere between a quiche and a kugel, this tasty dish is both healthy and satisfying.
βSummer pea and bean saladβ One of my favourite summer salads, combining sweet peas, crunchy radishes, and fragrant dill in a zesty, citrussy dressing.
βPomegranate and freekeh salad with herbsβ Freekeh is an ancient grain with a special Shavuot connection, as it's mentioned in the Book of Ruth! Enjoy it in this fresh and delicious salad with pomegranates and lots of fresh herbs.
βEasy soda bread with yogurtβ Soda bread is so easy to make, and so yummy! Enjoy it warm from the oven with lashings of butter or dipped into olive oil. (Find a vegan version here.)
βSea bass with sauce viergeβ Simple grilled fish with a classic French sauce of fresh tomatoes, herbs, lemon and garlic in extra virgin olive oil - a vibrant spoonful of health-boosting antioxidant polyphenols!
βVegan panna cotta with roasted rhubarbβ A luxurious dessert made with plant-based milk and cream, and topped with delicious seasonal rhubarb. (Also great with fresh berries, sliced mango, or fresh peaches or apricots.)
βBaked gooseberry and elderflower custardsβ βElderflower gives these dainty desserts the taste of summer, while the sweet-tart gooseberries bring layers of flavour plus a big boost of vitamin C!
βBlueberry and sweet cheese lokshen kugelβ A classic sweet dairy kugel, enhanced with fresh blueberries in a creamy custard. High in protein and calcium, it's a tasty and healthy choice!
A quiet weekend for us, then school half term, which I hope will give us all a chance to reset and rebalance ahead of Shavuot, school exams, and the rush-to-the-end-of-term which always involves trips, performances and a whirlwind of activity. I can't believe we're almost halfway through 2025 already!!
I hope your weekend and the week ahead are filled with only the best things. May we all feel refreshed, energised, and ready for anything! Wishing you Shabbat Shalom - a Good Shabbos - that brings peace, happiness, joy, health and blessings to us all.
With love, Helen x.
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Hi, I'm Helen. I share easy, nutritious, seasonal, flexitarian recipes, often with a British-Jewish twist. Expect a weekly dose of delicious dinner ideas, news and positivity!
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