10 Easy Dairy Dinner Ideas for Sukkos Guests

After the big Yom Tov meals, sometimes all you want is a simple, tasty dinner that isn't too heavy. If you're hosting in the sukkah and don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, here are a few ideas for dishes you can set in the center of the table, share with everyone, and enjoy a festive evening without too much work.

Phyllo pastry with cheese and mushrooms

A dish that looks especially festive but requires very little effort. Fill phyllo sheets with a mixture of sautéed mushrooms, onion, ricotta, Bulgarian cheese and mozzarella, fold and bake until the phyllo is golden and crisp. You can prepare it ahead and reheat for a few minutes before the guests arrive.

Smashed potatoes with cheese

Boil small potatoes until soft, arrange in a baking dish and gently smash. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, pepper and garlic, and scatter mozzarella and Parmesan on top. Put in the oven until the potatoes are crispy and the cheese is bubbling and golden.

Big, colorful Greek salad

To balance all the cheese and pastries, it's worth adding something fresh. Cut tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and red onion, add olives and large chunks of feta cheese, and season with olive oil, lemon and oregano.

White pizza with cheeses

Instead of ordering pizza, you can make a festive homemade version that's perfect for the center of the table. Use ready-made pizza dough, spread olive oil and add mozzarella, ricotta, Parmesan and a little garlic. After baking, you can add arugula or basil leaves and serve straight to the center of the table.

Sweet potato and caramelized onion quiche

Quiche is exactly the kind of dish you can make well before the guests arrive. Fill a flaky crust with roasted sweet potato, caramelized onion, cheeses and a mixture of cream and eggs, and bake until golden. Slice into triangles and serve warm or at room temperature.

Crispy halloumi salad

If you're already making a salad, you can turn it into a dish in its own right. Arrange lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and nuts, and add cubes of halloumi cheese seared in a pan. Season with a sweet vinaigrette and serve while the cheese is still warm.

Garlic and cheese breadsticks

One of the dishes that almost always disappears first from the table. Use pizza dough or ready-made yeast dough, spread with garlic butter, scatter mozzarella and Parmesan, and bake until the cheese melts and the edges brown. Cut into strips and serve with tomato sauce on the side.

Mushrooms stuffed with cheese

A small, impressive dish that doesn't require much work. Remove the mushroom stems, fill with cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan and herbs, and bake until the mushrooms soften and the cheese turns golden. They work as a first course or as an addition to the table.

Shakshuka with Bulgarian cheese

For those who want a slightly more Israeli dinner, make a large pan of shakshuka, crack eggs into it and crumble Bulgarian cheese on top. Place the pan in the center of the table alongside good bread, tahini and a small salad — and everyone takes for themselves.

Crunchy tortillas with cheese and vegetables

Fill tortillas with yellow cheese or mozzarella, corn, peppers and mushrooms, fold and sear in a pan or put in the oven. Cut into triangles and serve alongside sour cream, salsa or guacamole. An especially good solution when you're also hosting children.

In the end, hosting in the sukkah doesn't have to end with pots all over the kitchen. A few dishes you can share and a big salad you make ahead — and you have a festive, light dinner, and especially one that leaves the hosts time to sit in the sukkah and enjoy.