Shavuot Foods From Around the World to Try This Year
In two weeks, Jews around the world will celebrate Shavuot –the Jewish Pentecost. In 2026, Shavuot falls on sundown of May 21 and ends the following day at sundown in Israel, while the diaspora celebrates it until sundown on May 23. While it was originally a harvest festival, over time it became a celebration of the Torah being given to Moses at Mount Sinai. Still, the celebration of firstfruits and God’s promise to bring His people to “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8) is remembered through Shavuot’s observance and customs, one of which is an essential part of many holidays: the food.
Why Eating Dairy on Shavuot is Important
The symbolism of eating dairy on Shavuot is to celebrate God’s promise to His people to deliver them to a land flowing with milk and honey. This is why many Shavuot foods use milk as the main ingredient. Since cheese is made from milk, it’s also a regular part of recipes likes cheesecake on Shavuot.
The Torah is also symbolically compared to milk in Song of Songs – just as milk sustains and nourishes the body, the Torah does the same to the soul. As such, Shavuot dairy foods also represent spiritual rejuvenation. A more historical reason for the dairy foods for Shavuot is that the Torah was given to the Jews on Shabbat, when kosher law says it’s forbidden to slaughter an animal for its meat.
10 Shavuot Dairy Foods from Jews Worldwide
When it comes to Shavuot foods, “milk and honey” is taken literally, with dairy-based foods a staple for the holiday. The go-to for many is cheesecake, but Jews around the world have been creating recipes for Shavuot using dairy foods and national favorites to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost.
Israeli Cheesecake
Cheesecake on Shavuot is a staple for Israelis on Shavuot, much like fruitcake is for Christians on Christmas. Gvina levana, white cheese, is in nearly every Israeli kitchen. It’s less dense than cream cheese and less sour than sour cream. It also makes for an incredibly tasty cheesecake. People outside of Israel can substitute quark cheese if gvina levana can’t be found near them. Another great Israeli cheesecake recipe for Shavuot features a crumbly crust topping made from crushed cookies and biscuits.
Eastern European Cheese Blintzes
Cheese blintzes are enjoyed around the world, but they originated in Eastern Europe. Thanks to the Jewish people there, they have become just as much a part of Shavuot as cheesecake. Because they can be filled with more than just cheese, like vegetables and kosher meats, blintzes can be the main course of a Shavuot meal. Of course, with fruit and syrup, they can also make for a delicious dessert.
Turkish Borekitas with Cheese Fillings
For Sephardic Jews in Turkey, borekitas are the way of preparing meals for Shavuot within a pastry. In addition to feta or white cheese, eggplant is a favored filling. Sesame seeds and lightly boiled eggs are also used as toppings for the pastries. As Turkish Jews immigrated, this recipe for Shavuot has become yet another staple of the holiday.
Ukrainian “Lazy” Dumplings
Lenivie Vareniki, lazy dumplings, is both a Ukrainian and Russian favorite but the recipe originated in Ukraine. Children absolutely love them, as they are as easy to eat as chicken nuggets. The secret to this Shavuot food is that the dumpling batter itself is made from cheese and butter. They can also be dipped or topped with sour cream.
Indian Basundi
The Jewish communities of India are responsible for adding basundi as a dessert for the Shavuot meal. Basundi‘s main ingredient, milk, makes it an excellent fit for the holiday. The pudding is often mixed with chopped nuts, saffron strands, and sugar.
Israeli and Yemeni Malawach
Olim from Yemen did not originally eat dairy foods for Shavuot. Instead, they ate malawach –a diary-free flatbread that is often served with meat. However, the dish would catch on with Israelis, and cheese and sour cream dips became a popular combination with malawach.
Polish Babka
Originating from Poland and Eastern Europe, babka is enjoyed after a Shabbat or Shavuot meal. While it’s typically not made with milk, Shavuot is the time to use it. (Interestingly, Polish Christians also enjoy a good babka on Easter.) The traditional recipe for Shavuot involves topping the pastry with syrup and fruits with a cheese filling. Dried fruit and nuts also complement the harder golden crust against the soft, fluffy interior.
Syrian Atayef
Jews from Syria combine blintzes and pancakes with atayef. These pastries are stuffed with Shavuot dairy, fried, and then drizzled with rosewater syrup. Atayef is also eaten on Hanukkah. The traditional dairy component of atayef is astha cream, made from milk that is flavored with rose or orange blossom water.
Hungarian Palacsinta
Also known as Hungarian crepes or pancakes, palacsinta recipes for Shavuot include cottage cheese and jam filling with powdered sugar topping. Of all the Shavuot foods on this list, palacsinta is the easiest to prepare since any pancake batter will do. The Hungarian jam of choice for the filling is apricot jelly.
German Kugel
Any Jewish holiday would not be complete without the kugel. Since its invention by Ashkenazi Jews in Germany, it’s been a fixture at holidays and Jewish get-togethers. This noodle casserole is a versatile dish, and can be served as a dinner side or dessert. Kugel meals for Shavuot include the sweet lokshen kugel with cottage cheese, sour cream, and cinnamon, and the savory cheese kugel with mushrooms and a parmesan crust.
Additional Resources for Shavuot Learning
Explore The Fellowship’s additional resources on Shavuot:
Learn more about Shavuot, the Jewish Pentecost, with our Bible study
Enjoy our new Shavuot crossword puzzle and word search.
