39 Outrageously Good Hanukkah Recipes That Are Seriously Worth Making Year-Round (2024)

FAQs

What not to eat during Hanukkah? ›

"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.

Sephardic Hanukkah dishes include cassola (sweet cheese pancakes), bimuelos (puffed fritters with an orange glaze), keftes de espinaka (spinach patties), keftes de prasa (leek patties) and shamlias (fried pastry frills).

Other related laws and customs. It is customary for women not to work for at least the first half-hour of the candles' burning, and some have the custom not to work for the entire time of burning. It is also forbidden to fast or to eulogize during Hanukkah.

Hanukkah doesn't have any dietary restrictions, but make sure not to bring food items that aren't kosher. Even if your hosts aren't observant, it's best to stick with kosher items out of politeness. You never know if the host might have invited observant guests!

1. Latkes. These fried potato pancakes are possibly the best-known Hanukkah food. The oil used to fry them is a commemoration of the oil in the temple lamps.

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

Sephardic Food is a Tasty Tradition

The community's cuisine is a delicious combination of dishes from Greece, Turkey, North Africa and Spain. Delicacies bearing an Iberian influence include: albóndigas, espinacas con garbanzos, calabasas, fideo, biscochos and arroz con leche.

Popcorn is made from corn, which is included in the general class of kitniyot, foods that Ashkenazim (and some Sephardim) may not eat on Passover.

As Jews live all over the world, from Italy and Morocco to Colombia and India, each community has their own way of celebrating Hanukkah. In Italy, you'll find fried chicken and in Colombia, it's fried plantains. In Spain it's fried eggplants, while Syrians love fried leek fritters.

Can you eat cheese during Hanukkah? ›

In honor of Judith, many Jews will dine on cheesy foods, like cheese pancakes, blintzes, or cheese danishes during Hanukkah.

Smoked Salmon and Latkes

As fried foods are often the theme during Hanukkah, latkes represent a classic. Already an Acme Smoked Fish Hanukkah favorite, the addition of smoked salmon, crème fraiche, red onion, and capers make this Hanukkah dish feel like the holiday on a plate.

A brisket is a large cut of beef that is best cooked slowly, making it the perfect dish to prepare for large gatherings. Brisket became especially popular among Ashkenazi Jewish communities because of its size, kosher status, and low price point.

While brisket may be a beef dish typically associated with the Hanukkah season, in his family, they prepare beef tongue. Because that's an ingredient lumped in with offal, it's not often enjoyed by many Americans (aside from lengua tacos, maybe!), he says. But it's considered a delicacy for some, he says.

A lesser-known Hanukkah custom is to eat dairy, to celebrate the heroism of Judith, slayer of the general Holofernes. Although Judith's defeat of Holofernes took place centuries before the Maccabees defeated the Romans, Jews in the medieval period began to associate Judith's bravery with the miracle of Hanukkah.

A simple but undeniable pleasure, roasted chicken is served for Shabbat dinner but also makes its way into many Jewish celebrations, including Hanukkah. Any preferred cut prepared with creative savory seasonings is ideal.

Latkes, one of the best known of all Hanukkah foods, can be made in many different ways. The basic recipe for this delicious side dish includes just grated potatoes, eggs, and salt. The ingredients are mixed together, formed into circular patties, and fried in oil.