The seder plate is full of familiar foods (at least to those who have attended a Passover seder before!), each one chosen for its symbolism as it relates to the story of the Exodus out of Egypt. What wasn't counted on when choosing these foods was the growing movement of Jews who choose vegan or vegetarian diets. Luckily, there are some perfectly great substitutes that convey similar flavors and meanings. So, what's on this vegan Passover plate?

Maror: bitter herbs to represent the pain of slavery. Obviously vegan already! This plate has horseradish, but cilantro is also a Rabbinically-approved maror herb.

Z'roa: the shank bone replaced by a roasted beet, representing the traditional sacrifice. While we wouldn't be eating the bone itself, it's still not going on this plate, and a beet looks nice and bloody and has Halachic precedent.

Charoset: a mixture of fruit made to resemble the mortar that slaves bound bricks together with in Egypt. Vegan enough, although it's often made with honey, so that will not be used here.

Chazeret: another green, supposed to be less bitter than the maror but still bitter, to represent the strain of slavery and the Jewish time in Egypt getting more difficult. On this plate, it is romaine lettuce.

Karpas: another green! This time parsley, representing springtime. Can also be a potato, but we're keeping the ceremonial items light.

Beitzah: usually an egg, but this time avocado. Can't be vegan without some, eh? This item has a lot of significance attached to it, some of it conflicting. It symbolizes fertility and new life, so a seed as as appropriate as an egg.

There is also an orange, to represent LGBTQIA+ Jews and other marginalized Jews, whose inclusion brings fruitfulness to the Jewish community and the world. (More on this following!)


haggadah Section: Introduction
Source: Susannah Goya-Pack