Hanukkah Food to Try This Holiday Season
It’s a good thing that fasting is generally prohibited during Hanukkah, because the Festival of Lights offers so many tasty treats and dishes that are synonymous with the holiday.
Just as matzah is eaten during Passover in remembrance of the unleavened bread the Jewish people carried during their escape from Egypt, and apples are dipped in honey to symbolize a sweet Jewish New Year, traditional Hanukkah foods carry their own special meaning. Many are cooked in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the Temple following the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks.
Traditional Hanukkah Foods
One of the foods most associated with Hanukkah is latkes, which are potato pancakes sometimes made with additional ingredients like vegetables or cheese. They are fried in oil until the outside becomes golden brown and crispy while the inside remains tender.
No Hanukkah dinner is complete without a platter of latkes served as a side dish or topped with applesauce or sour cream. Aside from latkes, other traditional Hanukkah favorites include the following.
Sufganiyot
Among the fried dough treats enjoyed during Hanukkah are sufganiyot, jelly-filled doughnuts popular in Israel and the U.S. These are usually topped with powdered sugar and filled with jelly or jam. One variation that has become increasingly popular among Jewish families is filling them with Nutella or other chocolate spreads.
Brisket
An all-around Jewish favorite enjoyed during several holidays is brisket. This dish has long been associated with Jewish cooking thanks to the Ashkenazi community, particularly during celebrations like Rosh Hashanah, and has since become a popular main course for many Jewish holiday meals.
Brisket can also be prepared for Hanukkah by searing it in oil before slowly cooking it until tender. Some of the best oils for searing brisket are those with a high smoke point, such as peanut, canola, or vegetable oil.
Chocolate Gelt
While more of a Hanukkah snack than a full meal, the chocolate coins commonly used when playing dreidel are to the Festival of Lights what candy canes are to Christmas.
Chocolate gelt also symbolizes the longstanding Hanukkah tradition of giving children coins, sometimes to encourage charitable giving. The coins are also associated with the Maccabees and the coins minted during the period of Jewish independence that followed their victory.
Other Hanukkah Dishes
Jewish families around the world have developed their own recipes and traditions for Hanukkah dinner. With oil-based cooking and their favorite foods in mind, here are some additional dishes that can be enjoyed during the holiday:
- Olive oil cake — This Italian and Greek dessert is a perfect way to end a Hanukkah meal, thanks to its use of olive oil as the primary source of fat. The oil gives the cake a uniquely moist texture and a subtle, fruity aroma. It can also be flavored with lemon or key lime for an added citrus twist.
- Potato kugel — Some families put a Hanukkah twist on this traditional Jewish favorite by preparing a potato kugel with ingredients like those found in latkes, including vegetables and other savory additions. The result is a hearty baked dish that makes an excellent addition to the holiday table.
- Fried or roasted chicken — With so much emphasis on frying, it’s no surprise that chicken is another popular choice for a Hanukkah meal. Fried chicken wings and tenders can be served family-style, while a whole roasted chicken makes a delicious centerpiece for a festive dinner.
