Every family has their own special Easter traditions—from egg hunts and church services to the many different types of traditional Easter foods. Glazed ham and hot cross buns might be the first things that come to mind, but when it comes to Easter food traditions, there are tons of other dishes worth trying, too.
Every year, across the United States, families gather together on Easter Sunday to enjoy a traditional ham dinner. On the side, we serve a potato dish, a salad, and hot homemade rolls. The truth is that for many, Easter Sunday wouldn't be complete without deviled eggs and a favorite ham recipe. But did you know that lamb is actually one of the more common main courses on Easter? Ham turned into the practical Easter alternative in the United States because it became more affordable in the 20th century.
If you think lamb is what you want to serve for your Easter meal, we have several lucious recipes on our site: https://bellisaris.com/search?q=lamb. Any one of these recipes would make for an unforgettable Easter meal.
If you choose ham this year, don’t use the same ole glaze as always. Switch things up by using our Harvest Ginger Peach Spread! With just the right amount of sweetness from the peaches and a surprisingly pleasant bite from the ginger, our newest spread is an amazing glaze for an Easter ham or ham anytime of the year. I don’t think it can get much easier to use either. Just open a jar and brush it on. In addition, be sure to see all of the “ham leftovers” (https://bellisaris.com/search?q=ham%20leftovers) recipes to help you deliciously finish off every last morsel.
In my opinion, you can’t serve a ham dinner without a good potato side dish. Typically, Easter potatoes are served “casserole-style” with some kind of sauce and cheese and maybe a crunchy element baked on top. Some examples of this are funeral potatoes or potatoes au gratin. Check them all out and decide for yourself what suits your family best. Even a traditional, family-favorite potato salad can be a much sought-after holiday side dish.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to Easter vegetable side dishes. It was tough narrowing down these side dishes to the few that we think will complement and compliment a traditional Easter dinner the most. These are 3 of the ones we find ourselves using time and time again for our own Easter dinners:
- Blue Cheese and Honey Just Delicious Potatoes – Https://bellisaris.com/blogs/thursday-recipes/blue-cheese-honey-just-delicious-potatoes?_pos=2&_sid=0e9ec57c9&_ss=r
- Easter Asparagus Puff Pastry Bundles – https://bellisaris.com/blogs/thursday-recipes/easter-asparagus-puff-pastry-bundles?_pos=7&_sid=5d6b0ba67&_ss=r
- Blistered Jalapeno & Fig Spread Glazed Carrots – For an easy Easter side dish, glaze carrots with Bellisari’s Blistered Jalapeno & Fig Spread. Just when you thought that side dishes couldn’t get any simpler than a green salad, along came these glazed carrots. Calling for just 2 ingredients and ready in about 15 minutes, glazed carrots are made for busy weeknights, harried holidays, and everything in between. Cooked carrots feel like the forgotten side dish, a thing so obvious—we almost always have carrots on-hand, don’t we?—that it’s overlooked. But no more! Carrots are so inexpensive, so healthy, and these Blistered Jalapeno & Fig Spread glazed carrots are so easy and make the perfect Easter side dish.
Of course, it wouldn't be Easter without eggs. Whether they're plastic and hidden in a bush, foiled-covered and made of chocolate, or cooked in a traditional style, eggs are the ultimate symbol of secular Easter (apart from that bunny with a basket). Eggs join lamb in being a symbol of spring and rebirth. In early Christianity, eggs were one of the forbidden items to eat during Lent, so they were one of the first things consumed in celebration of the end of Lent.
Why do we decorate eggs? Historians tell us the people have been decorating eggs for thousands of years. The practice was inspired by religion. Techniques and styles vary according to culture and period. Decorative eggs were also fabricated from other foods, most notably confectionery. Because eggs embody the essence of life, people from ancient times to the modern day have surrounded them with magical beliefs, endowing them with the power not only to create life but to prophesy the future. Eggs symbolize birth and are believed to ensure fertility. They also symbolize rebirth, and thus long life and even immortality. Eggs represent life in its various stages of development, encompassing the mystery and magic of creation.
As you gather this Easter, we at Bellisari’s wish you peace, joy, and the happiness that comes with feeling the love of dear family and friends. We believe sharing good food makes everything even more special. Happy Easter and welcome Spring from all of us at Bellisari’s.
