Shavuot Menus and Recipes

Shavuot (Pentecost) celebrates the harvest season in Israel and the anniversary of the giving of the Ten Commandments to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. It is customary to eat dairy food on Shavuot for a number of reasons. One reason is that Shavuot is linked to the Exodus from Egypt into the Promised Land, and it is written "From the misery of Egypt to a country flowing with milk and honey..." (Exodus 3:8-17).

The following is a traditional Shavuot lunch or dinner menu with links to kosher dairy recipes.

Shavuot Dinner Menu

• Spinach Tidbits and Cheese Balls
• Sweet, Nutty, Fruity Lettuce Salad
• Parmesan-Crusted Grouper
• Crustless Artichoke Quiche
• Pasta Bechamel (Creamy Macaroni and Cheese)
• Cheesecake

Shavuot Lunch Menu

• Cheese Blintzes - Carb Free, Low Fat
• Sweet, Nutty, Fruity Lettuce Salad
• Foil-Wrapped Baked Salmon Fillet
• Creamy Corn Casserole
• Spinach Cheese Squares in Phyllo
• White Chocolate Lemon Bark
• Watermelon

Shavuot Menus for Busy Cooks
More Shavuot Recipes

It is customary to eat dairy on Shavuot for the following reasons:

1. Shavuot is linked to the Exodus from Egpyt into the Promised Land. "From the misery of Egypt to a country flowing with milk and honey..." (Exodus 3:8-17)
2. After the Israelites received the Torah at Mount Sinai, they ate dairy food. Before they received the Torah, they did not keep kosher as they did not yet have the laws of kashrut. Immediately after they received the Torah, they did not yet have the tools to prepare kosher meat.
3. The numerical value (Gematria) of chalav, the Hebrew word for milk, is 40. Eating dairy foods on Shavuot commemorates the 40 days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai receiving the Torah.
4. When the Israelites accepted the Torah, they committed themselves to following God's commandments, which requires showing restraint. Likewise, eating dairy instead of meat is seen as exhibiting restraint.