When Sukkot falls on Shabbat, every dish for the holiday table gets finished before the holiday starts, since there's no cooking once Shabbat itself begins.

First on the list is Stuffed Zucchini That Hold Their Shape in the Pot: a pot you can make the day before, keep covered, and leave on the hotplate from before candle lighting. Next, No-Knead Chocolate Yeast Cake for Sukkot, a dessert that needs no reheating at all and keeps in a closed container through the holiday.

Pomegranate Roast Chicken for Sukkot, Good Served Cold fits the holiday lunch especially well, since its sauce is built specifically to stay pourable without reheating and gets served at room temperature exactly as is. Anyone who wants another dessert baked ahead of time can add Grape Cake Where the Grapes Stay on Top to the same table.

Suggested order: make the zucchini and the chicken the day before the holiday starts, mix the cake Thursday evening and bake it Friday morning, and get the zucchini onto the hotplate before candle lighting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you reheat food on a hotplate during Shabbat and the holiday?
Many people leave a hotplate switched on from before candle lighting and set fully cooked dishes on it in advance. Anyone following a specific practice should check with their rabbi.

What if I want something hot and freshly cooked?
Choose a dish that can be made ahead and held on a hotplate, like the stuffed zucchini, rather than one that needs cooking at serving time.