12 Meatless Recipes for the 9 Days

During “The Nine Days”—a time of mourning for the destruction of our two holy Temples—we abstain from eating meat or chicken (aside from Shabbat). Here are some easy dinner ideas to help you through the week.

1. Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Drizzled with Tahini

2. Creamy Polenta with Herb-Roasted Vegetables

3. Spicy Tuna Patties with Lemon-Garlic Sauce

4. Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Summer Vegetables

5. Hearty Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Butternut Squash

6. Sabich Pita Sandwiches with Fried Eggplant

7. Crunchy Homemade Falafel with the Fixings

8. Spinach Ricotta Lasagna

9. Spicy Vegan Lentil Bolognaise

10. Easy Miso-Glazed Salmon

11. Hearty Butternut-Chickpea Curry

12. Shakshuka: The Perfect Meal for Any Time of Day

By Miriam Szokovski

Miriam Szokovski is a writer, editor, and member of the Chabad.org editorial team. She also shares her cooking and baking on Chabad.org/food.

Note: All processed foods used for kosher cooking must bear kosher certification, leafy greens and other veggies must be checked for infestations, and all cooking must be done on kosher utensils, with meat and dairy kept separate.

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

14 Comments

Abagail Hadassah Judah Jerusalem-Hearted August 15, 2024

Being in Mourning doesn't meant to neglect our health. Just because the food looks and taste good doesn't mean it is wrong. Each of the Foods prepared above have nutritional & Medicinal vale, that makes those healthy vegetarian meals, like part of our Mitzvah Service to HASHEM.

For the most part, I am mainly vegetarian and eat mostly Fish, Fruits and Vegetables and I Study the Nutritional-Medicinal Value of Foods, Herbs and Spices for over 30 years now. I believe in giving my best to HASHEM And taking care of my Body as much as possible, for Service to HIM...including during times of fasting...to mourn in fasting, yet not neglect care of my health when it needs nourishment or attention.

It just so happens that many Foods, Herbs and Spices that help Nourish & Heal the Body, also look & tase Beautiful together.

What I DO think is wrong during times of fasting & prayer, is eating sweets. No Fruit or Sweets during that sacred time of Seeking HASHEM In Prayer... Reply

Karen NYC August 15, 2024

in response to Abagail Hadassah Judah :

Fish isn't vegetarian. And why would you eat anything while fasting, much less sweets? I was under the impression that fasting = not eating. Reply

Jane Klorer MA August 12, 2024

Vegan is better .There is no point 💔 Reply

Ellen PA August 11, 2024

Not to be a downer, but what is the point of denying ourselves meat as an expression of mourning if it becomes about tantalizing new recipes that make us not miss meat at all? This is so cognitively dissonant. If we want to be so "positive" about everything, including mourning, why mourn at all? This is so cognitively dissonant. Reply

Karen NYC August 12, 2024

in response to Ellen:

Question: Is this cognitively dissonant? Reply

Miriam Szokovski August 14, 2024

in response to Ellen:

Hi Ellen,

I hear your concern, and I agree with you, but people still need to eat and many people struggle with what to serve over the 9 days that is filling enough for a main meal. This is just a list of ideas to help with that. None of these recipes are new, and I deliberately did not include any fancy or decadent recipes here. These are mostly pretty basic - tuna patties, eggs, stuffed potatoes, pita sandwiches, a couple of pastas, etc. Reply

Lynn friedman Springfield, MA August 7, 2024

Fish isn't vegetarian. But the rest look great. Reply

Sarah Birk August 8, 2024

in response to Lynn friedman:

It doesn't say they are vegetarian. The restriction for the 9 Days is against eating meat or chicken specifically. Fish is allowed. Reply

Jane Klorer MA August 7, 2024

All look great Reply

Andrew Bristol, England August 7, 2024

They all look like amazing dishes!

Thank you for sharing. Reply

Karen NYC August 7, 2024

These look wonderful. I don't eat fish, so won't be doing those but 10/12 is more than good enough for me! Thank you! Reply

Luisa Director August 6, 2024

My mom always made Shakshuka. It's an amazing delicious dish. It originated in the Maghreb region which includes Morocco, Tunisia. And Libya. Reply

Sister Abagail Jerusalem-Hearted July 19, 2023

Beautiful 🥰 Recipes! I actually make 3, 7, 8 & 10; except for # 10, "Miso Salmon" I add a little extra:

Avacado or Sesame Oil, Miso Paste, Black Pepper, Chipotle Powder, Rosemary Powder, Hyssop Powder, Garlic Powder & Onion Powder.

WHEN Baked Done, Top Salmon With The Following Fresh Vegetables:

Chopped Green Onions, Red Onions, White Onions; Thinly Shredded Slivers of Carrots for foundation base;

AND very top: Thinly Sliced Avacados. Reply

Rishe Deitsch Crown Hts July 18, 2023

my mouth is watering. i am making EVERY one of these recipes (i hope!)
thank you Miriam Reply

12 Meatless Recipes for the 9 Days

You may also be interested in...

Join the Discussion