Here are 21 delicious Beltane recipes that help you capture the essence of this magical time of year as you celebrate.
Beltane, the Gaelic festival that heralds the beginning of spring, is all about celebrating the end of winter and the abundance of springtime: fresh food, good weather, and summer to come. It’s an excellent excuse for a party even if you’re not pagan and a great time to celebrate fertility, love, passion, and the abundance of life.
While it’s a celebration of the sun’s power, Beltane also honors the earth goddess. She is seen as pregnant with the new life she will bring into being over the coming six months.
During this festival, people would dance around a large bonfire and jump over it to ensure their crops’ fertility for the upcoming season. Food and beverages often included animal products, fresh herbs, spring vegetables, dairy, and honey because they symbolize fertility and the abundance of earth’s gifts.
Hopefully you will enjoy these Beltane recipes and incorporate a few into your springtime celebrations.
Libations
Mead is a traditional libation for Beltane celebrations, but there are many other great choices you can use to make your own Beltane feast truly magical. Perhaps try a glass of May Wine, a sweet wine infused with herbs and fruit, or some spiced milk, another delicious drink.
May Wine
May wine recipe traditionally served in the spring on Beltane or the May Day holiday.
Animal Products
Because livestock, such as cows and goats, were commonly featured during Beltane festivities in the past, they make a perfect main course for a feast. In Beltane celebrations, butter and milk are considered sacred, so side dishes that highlight these ingredients are good choices. Below are a few Beltane recipes featuring animal products or their byproducts.
Curriet Goat
Garlic Butter
This basic recipe works great on garlic bread, and any leftovers go great on barbequed steaks, pasta, rice, or potatoes.
Beef & Potato Stew
This basic recipe works great on garlic bread, and any leftovers go great on barbequed steaks, pasta, rice, or potatoes.
Cooked on an Open Fire
Fire is one of the most powerful symbols of Beltane, and it’s the perfect time to cook with fire. So, start up the grill, or if you’re really adventurous, make a bonfire to cook up your Beltane meal. Cook your whole feast this way or simply roast some marshmallows over the open fire. Here are a few Beltane recipes to get you started.
Beef Shish Kabobs
The delicious shish kabobs smell great as they roast over an open flame. The recipe is simple and easy to follow.
Fiery Halloumi Salad
Cook your cheese on the grill and bring some extra fire with a homemade sweet chilli sauce made with honey.
Creative S'mores Recipes
Here are 15 amazingly creative s’mores recipes, to make your next Beltane celebration legendary!
Breads
The Beltane fire festival feast would be incomplete without some sort of bread to go along with it, especially bread containing honey, herbs, or oats, all ingredients associated with Beltane. Here are a few Beltane Recipes for bread that really harness the essence of this seasonal celebration.
Bannocks
Enjoy this recipe for bannocks, and may they bring you abundance and prosperity in the coming year!
Honey Lavender Scones
The fluffiest scones made with Greek yogurt and coconut oil and infused with a floral and slightly sweet aromas.
Honey Fritters
These cinnamon and nutmeg spiced honey fritters ( Beltane Honey Cakes ) are left in the garden for fairy visitors.
Fresh Herbs
The power of herbs is a longtime tradition for our ancestors who celebrated Beltane, a time when they are especially abundant. Use what’s in season—mints, thyme, rosemary, sage, and parsley are especially magical during this time of year. Enjoy these Beltane recipes that use spring herbs to create some truly delicious recipes perfect for your Beltane feast.
Peas with Mint & Garlic Butter
Hear guests say “Yes, please” when you pass around this bowl of juicy little peas, with garlic butter and fresh mint.
Rosemary Roasted Chicken
These golden quarter chicken pieces, brushed with olive oil will become the center dish at any family gathering.
Herbed Cauliflower Dill Kugel
This cauliflower kugel combines into a special dish. The ricotta adds a distinctive creaminess and lightness.
Spring Vegetables
At spring’s first feast, honor the bounty of Mother Earth by cooking with spring greens, spinach, garlic, new potatoes, carrots, and other seasonal ingredients. Cook with ingredients that are found as locally as possible by foraging for them, growing them yourself, or by visiting local farmer’s markets. There’s just no substitute for fresh veggies that are grown close to home. Check out these Beltane recipes for inspiration.
Herb Roasted New Potatoes
Roasted new potatoes with parmesan and fresh herbs is an easy side dish sure to please everyone.
Baby Beet and Carrot Salad
This spring greens crustless quiche can be made with any spring green and mushrooms for a magical treat!
Spring Greens & Mushroom Quiche
This spring greens crustless quiche can be made with any spring green and mushrooms for a magical treat!
Seasonal Fruits & Berries
Berries—full of seeds, and thus full of fertility—are prime ingredients for a seasonal Beltane feast, especially since this time of year is the best time to find lots of berries. If you have access to fresh fruit from local growers to feed your magical needs. For these Beltane recipes, we recommend using fresh fruits from your your own garden or from your local farmers’ market – the more local, the better!
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam
Not only is this strawberry rhubarb jam recipe the easiest you’ll ever make, but it’s super delicious as well.
Rhubarb Crisp
Try this old-fashioned rhubarb crisp recipe. It’s a great way to use up some of this delicious summer vegetable.
Strawberry Honey Cake
Try this easy strawberry honey cake recipe using a boxed cake mix. The perfect recipe for beginner bakers.
And with that, we hope that you have found a few Beltane recipes that you can use to help you celebrate the Earth’s coming fertility this Beltane. These Beltane recipes and their uses, after all, are only a small part of celebrating this magical time in the Wheel of the Year. Feel free to try out any or all of these on your own when celebrating, and add your own personal touches when you do. Most of all, celebrating seasonal shifts and nature’s rhythms is what’s really important.
Learn More About Beltane
To learn more about the fire festival of Beltane, check out this post: How to Celebrate Beltane: Feasts, Fires & Full Awakening
