14 Make Ahead Meals for Shabbat

"Tomorrow is Shabbat to YHWH; bake what you'd like today, and cook what you'd like to cook; and what is leftover save for tomorrow." -Exodus 16:23

This verse has really inspired me to stop cooking on Shabbat. Even those of us who enjoy kitchen work need a break so that we can rest and enjoy YHWH's set apart day. This is a clear instruction that we should plan to have food leftover that we can eat on Shabbat. 

I've put together a few recipes that you can make ahead of time and then eat on the Sabbath. Many of them actually recommend making a day or two prior to let the flavors come together more. All of these recipes can be served cold or at room temperature. This isn't because I think it's wrong to reheat a casserole in the oven or run a slow cooker on Shabbat (though some believe it is). With the warmer days at this time of year the cool food is welcome, at least for me! Plus your kitchen doesn't need to be heated up.

These meals start with fresh veggies, beans, quick cooking grains like lentils and quinoa, and pasta so they come together quickly - perfect for hectic Fridays! You can save yourself even more time by doubling the recipe and enjoying it for Friday (or Thursday) dinner and then again on Shabbat. The recipes are each pretty well rounded in my opinion so they really don't need any accompaniments, but if one dish dinners aren't your thing you could serve any of these with bread, sliced cheese, salad greens with vinaigrette, and fresh or frozen fruit for dessert.

14 Make Ahead Meals for Shabbat:

Summer Green Bean Salad from Making Thyme for Health
This is great cold or at room temperature. In lieu of the chickpeas, I like to eat this with hummus.

Greek Lentil Salad from Cookie and Kate
Go ahead and dress the lentils and veggies the day before but leave out the spinach until just before serving so it doesn't wilt.

Farro Tabbouleh with Burrata and Hummus from Half Baked Harvest
If you don't have burrata this will still make for a filling meal served with pita bread and lots of fresh veggies.

Broccoli Tahini Pasta Salad from Love and Lemons
This salad stores really well for a few days in the fridge. Add a green at the last minute for even more veggies.

Quinoa Gado Gado Bowl from Minimalist Baker
You can steam the veggies in this or leave them raw. I would leave the quinoa, veggies, and dressing separate and then let everyone assemble their own combination on Shabbat.

Roasted Asparagus Wheat Berry Salad with Pesto from A Beautiful Plate
This recipe can be completely finished a few days before Shabbat. Just pull it out of the fridge when you're ready for lunch or dinner.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad from Well Plated
Sweet potatoes, black beans, and quinoa makes for a very filling salad. I like to set this out on the counter in the morning so it's at room temperature for lunch.

Everything But the Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad from Half Baked Harvest
Make this delicious pasta salad when your fridge is full of odds and ends that need used up. Tieghan says this salad is actually best made a few days ahead of time making it perfect for a Shabbat meal.

Chickpea Salad Stuffed Avocado from Making Thyme for Health
In lieu of stuffing avocados you could serve this salad in sandwich form.

Roasted Beet Lentil Salad from Oh My Veggies
I would combine all the ingredients the day before eating. Lentils and beets are a great combination. A little goat cheese in here would be good too.

California Chicken, Avocado, and Goat Cheese Salad from Half Baked Harvest
Prepare your ingredients ahead of time but don't combine them until you're ready to eat to keep your lettuce nice and crisp.

Black Bean Sweet Potato Salad with Jalapeno Lime Vinaigrette from Vanilla and Bean
Mix everything including that tasty vinaigrette the day before then add the spinach at meal time.

Summer Abundance Bowls from Half Baked Harvest
How fresh do these look? Use any type of grain to go with whatever fruit is in season, veggies, greens, a sprinkle of nuts or seeds, and cheese if you like.

Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad with Sundried Tomato Vinaigrette from Minimalist Baker
This salad is one of my favorites! When I have fresh tomatoes I roast them and use instead of the sundried tomatoes and water. So good!

Want more recipes? 
Get familiar with what Scripture says about what we should eat.
Here are slow cooker meal ideas you can make for the Sabbath. Plus, more here.
Summer salads more your pace? Here are more great ones!
Here are casseroles to make ahead for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert.
And make your life easier with the No Stress Guide to Sabbath Day Meal Prep!

Joy of Shabbat: Finding Rewards in Sabbath Rest

Who else remembers those summer reading programs at the library when you were a kid? As someone who loves to read, I really didn't need any extra incentive to do so, but add free ice cream cones, mini golf, and baseball tickets to the mix? Heaven! You mean I do something I love and I get a prize?! That's how I feel about Shabbat now. I do something I enjoy and good things are added on top of that.

Shabbat is a break. A time to rest and relax. A pause. It's happy. On top of being obedient to a commandment, your life also gets better. When I first started honoring Shabbat I did so because I felt YHWH was asking me to listen to his instruction. My hope wasn't that I would get something out of it, but I quickly realized I was. Yes, the day off is wonderful, but it overflows to the rest of the week. Hectic work weeks were no longer overwhelming. My energy levels went up and I didn't have to drag through busy months exhausted. I had more joy being able to look ahead to a break. Life didn't feel like endless work. Shabbat has brought more peace than I know how to describe.

Now I know many of you are thinking - I'm way too busy to fit a day off into my life. That's what I thought too. But you will be more productive and have more joy in your life from honoring this commandment.

Shabbat is for you if...

-You feel like you don't have time for it.

-You want to honor our Creator's commandments.

-You've been exhausted and overwhelmed.

-Life is busy.

-You're struggling to find joy.

-You want to have a better relationship with YHWH.

-You want to build strong family time.

-You feel like you're constantly working but don't get enough done.
-Seventh day rest seems like legalism.
-Strengthening your faith sounds like a good idea.

-You want more peace in your life.

When I asked if readers found Shabbat rewarding, the answer was a wholehearted, "YES!" Not that we do it for the rewards of course, but it is the Deuteronomy 28 promise of, "If you keep my commands I will bless you," literally fulfilled. So many unique perspectives were mentioned that I had to share.

How has Shabbat been rewarding for you?

"It's wonderful to have a guilt free rest every six days."

"I have learned more about YHWH in the last three years [while keeping Shabbat] than I have my whole life attending church. Same with my kids. It has brought us closer as a family. There is so much freedom and blessing from keeping Shabbat."

"It's not only a rest from working, but the only day of the week when I am surrounded by other believers."

"I am a hairdresser. I prayed about stopping working on Sabbath, YHWH said if I would remember the Sabbath he would bless my work days. He has, and I have work to give away."

"I am finding greater meaning and significance."

"His shalom has increased in our home and lives."

"The physical and spiritual aspects are healing and restoring."

"I feel closer to YHWH and there is more peace in our home."

"I find it so rewarding. One of the greatest gifts that I didn't expect was how much more I could accomplish on Sunday after truly resting from the week."

"It gives us something wonderful to look forward to each week!"

"It is like getting ready to have a special guest come to your house and everything is special. I like that."

"My faith has grown so much! I used to always wonder if I was doing what God wanted, and now I know I am!"

"It is a time set aside that brings peace to my soul. It allows me to focus on Yah. I've learned so much truth, and enjoyed good fellowship time."

"Having a time to learn more about YHWH and his ways has lead me to a closer relationship with Yahusha."

"Of course. Rest and peace is a blessing."

"There's added peace in my life. I feel refreshed and more focused."

"We are excited for sundown on Friday. There is an air of excitement, of an expectation of rest and family time. Undivided time and extra study and just resting in Him. We have started a few family traditions surround it and that feels warm and inviting. I've learned we trust Father and He truly sustains us and gives us a joy and peace in His ways."

"Before observing I would work seven days a week, at my job and at home. I would rest only when I found time. Now, I make time to rest. I make time to reflect. I make time to study and fellowship with my family and others. Observing Shabbat has improved my health physically, emotionally, and spiritually."

"I've greatly noticed the improvement in our time spent together as a family. The days leading up to Shabbat seem to have more meaning, and our bodies and minds get the rest they need."

"I am becoming better at raising my children to follow Yah!"

"It re-energizes me for the week ahead and gives me to time to relax and enjoy myself without a worry in the world."

"It's the only day I can just rest and do Bible study without interruption. There are too many rewards to even name, but I am so much happier (like the Bible promises!), way less stressed during the week, and I get so much more Bible study done! Keeping Shabbat has been one of the best decisions I've ever made."

"During my studying abroad I really had to fight to keep Shabbat, but in the end it was so rewarding! I ended up leading a small group of other young women into the Shabbat tradition and that group became the hart of my community. I think one of the greatest rewards has been keeping Shabbat with my family, in our very busy and diverse lives having the same day of rest has given us more uninterrupted time together."

"Since I started taking care of my physical and spiritual self by resting on Shabbat I don't get sick as often or feel like I'm fighting something off. I feel so much healthier!"

"Peace. Rest. Closeness with family and with Yah. Evidence of my growth - set apartness is reality now. It's a special time to study and be with Him in His word."

"[Reading the Torah portion on Shabbat] I am surprisingly comforted by the familiarity I feel with the stories and with the people whose lives are laid open for us to see."

"I can get through crazy work weeks without breaking down because I know rest is coming soon!"

"It gives me a break from my work week and from having to worry about anything, and it's a day of worship!"

"I always know that there is one day each week that we slow down on purpose, and it blesses us to slowly enjoy our day."

"Putting aside work, housework, and other activities for the day allows me to purposefully connect with YHWH."

"We are more rested for the week. There is a real shalom around it. I am so ready to start working again on Sunday. I look forward to resting and relaxing, with no obligation to do anything on Sabbath. When we started obeying the command to keep Sabbath, more truth was revealed to us."

"It gives me a definitive window of time to refresh mentally, physically, and spiritually and it sets me apart from the world."

"It is a frequent conversation piece. My employer has scheduled this year's annual company party on a Shabbat. I will have opportunities to share the truth about YHWH when people ask why I won't be attending."

"I feel closer to YHWH when I am doing His will. Our family is closer and more relaxed. My marriage has bonded stronger."

"It is a wonderful time of refreshing our spirits and focusing on intimacy with YHWH and each other. Acknowledging His set apart day has deepened our connection with and commitment to Him. Making it a priority has opened up new channels of provision and favor in our lives, too."

If you keep Shabbat, how has it benefited you?

Shabbat Shalom Printable

I wanted to make a printable as a fun way to celebrate Shabbat, YHWH's set apart day. No matter what season of life you are in or how many things you are juggling, Shabbat is a day for shalom. Print it off and set it out in your home to remind yourself of YHWH's peace.

Click here to download my Shabbat Shalom printable. It's free for your personal use. I hope you like it!

Be Content On Shabbat Printable

Have you heard D'ror Yikra by the Maccabeats? The name means 'He Will Proclaim Freedom' and it is traditionally sung on Shabbat.

The lyrics translate like this:

He shall proclaim freedom for man and woman,

And He will protect you like the apple of His eye.

Pleasant will be your name, never to cease.

Rest and be content on Shabbat.

Seek my temple and my sanctuary,

And show me a sign of salvation.

Plant a branch within my vineyard;

Turn to the outcry of my people!

Tread the wine press in Bozrah,

And also Babylon that has overpowered us.

Smash my foes with wrathful anger;

Hear my voice on the day I call.

My favorite line is the most out of place: Sh'vu venuchu b'yom Shabbat. Rest and be content on Shabbat. This doesn't seem to fit with some of the other lyrics, Babylon has overpowered us. We have enemies. Hear our cries. The admonition is simple, even when the situation is not.

This song is a hopeful look at the heartache of our world and the promises of Yahweh. Yes, we may be overpowered by Babylon, but you will protect us. We may be oppressed but you have promised us freedom. We cry out to you and you promise to show us your Yeshua.

It might be challenging but we will keep your commandments and be content on Shabbat.

I know I need this reminder. Rest and be content. So much so that I made it into a printable. Place it somewhere you will see it often and it will remind you that even when things aren't going well Yahweh's word is still true. He hears you. He protects you. He gives you freedom. Rest and be content on Shabbat.

This printable is free for your personal use. Once again I used graphics from the very talented Angie Makes.

Click here to download this printable. 

Keeping Shabbat is Not Too Hard

Last Shabbat was a disaster. There was an emergency at my husband's job so he needed to work on Shabbat for the first time in years. Saturday morning, I loaded up my car to head to congregation only to discover that it wouldn't start. With no option other than staying home, I went back inside and figured I could have a peaceful day of Torah study by myself. As soon as I sat down to read a tractor started to plow the field adjacent to our yard. Once he was done someone down the road decided it would be a great time to shoot guns for two hours. Needless to say I did not have the serene peaceful day of rest that I prefer Shabbat to be.

I was recounting my frustration to a friend of mine who is from a Jewish family, though she doesn't practice. Her response was, "When you try and keep Shabbat you learn really fast that it can't be done because we have so much to do. In ancient times they didn't have anything to do so it was easy for them to keep Shabbat so that was command was just for back then and not now."

How incredibly sad.

There is not a single Scripture that speaks against honoring Shabbat. The Bible does not teach that if we have a busy schedule we are free to neglect this command. There are no instances of Yahusha or his disciples dishonoring Shabbat. We are instructed to do no work on it, to set it apart as holy, and YHWH says it is a sign between him and us. 

He also says this, "The mitzvah which I command you is not hidden from you, it is not far off. It is not in the heavens that you should wonder who will bring it to you. Neither is it beyond the sea that you should say, 'Who shall go and bring the Word to us that we may hear and do it?' But the Word is very near to you. It is in your mouth, and in your heart, and in your hand, that you may do it." (Deuteronomy 30:11-14)

He says, "My commands are not too hard for you."

Shabbat is not convenient in today's Western culture. I get that. Society says that the Sabbath is for anything other than rest and worship. Need to do yard work? Saturday is the day for that. Have errands to run? Do them Saturday morning. Football and basketball games happen during this time. Almost all weddings are Saturday afternoon. It's the time of the week when friends want to hang out. A few stores I go to offer special deals that are only available Saturdays. I don't think this is a coincidence. Why should we be surprised that the enemy has worked so hard to corrupt this set apart day and to take it's benefits from us?

YHWH knew what our culture would be like, yet still he said, Guard my Shabbats.

This instruction was meant for us. There are no verses that contradict this. And while, yes we live in a busy day and age, so did the ancient Israelites. Shabbat wasn't convenient back then either. You think your life is busy? Imagine making dinner and needing to chop wood for the fire, slaughter an animal, and grow the vegetables. Imagine having to haul water home to drink and do the washing in. During Biblical times clothes were handmade, shoes were too. Copies of the Torah had to be done by hand. There were no matches to start fires. Wheat had to be grown, harvested, threshed, and ground into flour by hand. The Proverbs 31 woman? She had a lot to do. And I think that's exactly why YHWH commanded a day of rest. He knows how much we need it.

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 "Look! I am presenting you today with life and good and also death and evil -- in that I am ordering you today to love YHWH your Elohim, to follow his ways, and to obey his mitzvot, regulations, and rulings; for if you do, you will live and increase your numbers; and YHWH your Elohim will bless you."

Shabbat may not be convenient but it is worth it.