10 Delicious Hanukkah Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is a good Hanukkah menu? ›

"Among other rules, eating certain animals, primarily pigs and shellfish, is forbidden; meat must be ritually and humanely slaughtered; and dairy and meat aren't to be eaten at the same meal." Fish and plant foods are "neutral" (parve) and can be eaten with either meat or dairy.

Because of the miracle of the oil lasting for 8 days, we eat a lot of oily fried foods. Most popular are latkes (typically, potato pancakes - but you can make them with any number of different vegetables), and donuts. But any fried foods can be eaten as “special”.

Your host might appreciate gifts of chocolate, gourmet applesauce, candles, books or board games.

So many traditional Jewish foods double as brunch favorites, from potato latkes (hash browns, anyone?) to doughnuts and challah. Fried foods are a given, so don't be shy with the olive oil. And no brunch is complete without a champagne co*cktail — we recommend pretty pink cranberry mimosas.

From crispy latkes to tangy brisket to jammy sufganiyot. From shallow-fried potato latkes to deep-fried jelly doughnuts, traditional Hanukkah foods hinge on oil. Typically falling in December, the Jewish holiday, also called the Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Symbolic Foods

Most of these traditional foods are fried in oil, symbolic of the oil that lasted eight days. Others contain cheese to celebrate Judith's victory. Three popular foods eaten on the Jewish holidays include loukoumades, pancakes, and latkes.

We count cheese as a Hanukkah miracle.

Did you know that in addition to foods fried in oil, we also eat dairy on Hanukkah to commemorate the bravery of Judith? Her courage—fueled by bravery, salty cheese and wine—led to the Maccabee victory.

A perfect Hanukkah meal might start with matzoh ball soup, have a traditional brisket at the center and a stack of potato latkes on the side. If brisket is not your thing, a simple roasted chicken would serve very nicely, too.

Eating fried foods at Hanukkah also symbolizes the miracle of the oil. In the United States, Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Eastern Europe have popularized the frying of potato pancakes better known by their Yiddish name, latkes.

What oil is fried on Hanukkah? ›

There was only enough consecrated olive oil left to keep the temple lamp burning for a single day, so a messenger was sent for more. When he returned to the temple eight days later, the lamp was still burning. And to celebrate this miracle, Jews cook with oil during Hanukkah, which begins Saturday.

Your host might appreciate gifts of chocolate, gourmet applesauce, candles, books or board games.

Symbolic Foods

Most of these traditional foods are fried in oil, symbolic of the oil that lasted eight days. Others contain cheese to celebrate Judith's victory. Three popular foods eaten on the Jewish holidays include loukoumades, pancakes, and latkes.

"By the 14th century, there's quite a strong tradition that people eat cheese on Hanukkah and it's associated with Judith giving cheese to the enemy to make him drunk," Weingarten says.

Unlike Christmas presents, Chanukah gifts, traditionally, are really just for children. 'Gelt'—shiny silver or gold-covered chocolate coins are traditional, as is 'gelt'—that is, money—in multiples of eighteen ('chai' means 'life' in Hebrew; the numerical value of 'chai' is 18).