Delicious Hanukkah Recipes to Try

Cook (and fry) up a traditional Hanukkah feast with these delicious recipes.

Food and Jewish Holidays

Many Jewish holidays are celebrated mainly at home, among friends and family. Food is always a big part of Jewish celebrations, and many of the foods eaten at Hanukkah are also popular at other events (including weekly Shabbat meals). Challah (braided egg bread), for example, is not specific to Hanukkah though it's very likely to be found on the table during the Festival of Lights.

Fried Foods and Dairy as Part of Hanukkah Celebrations

The fondness for fried foods during Hanukkah is in celebration of the miracle of the oil that kept a menorah lit almost 2200 years ago. Fried foods like potato pancakes (latkes in Yiddish and livivot in Hebrew) and doughnuts (sufganiyot in Hebrew) are traditional Hanukkah treats because they are cooked in oil and remind us of the miracle of the holiday.

Dairy foods like cheese and blintzes have a strong symbolic connection to Hanukkah as well, related to the story of Judith. According to legend, Judith was a great beauty who saved her village from the Babylonians by charming her way into the enemy camp with a basket of cheese and wine. The enemy general, Holofernes, became drunk and passed out, and Judith beheaded him with his own sword. In this way, Judith saved her people and eventually it became traditional to eat dairy foods in honour of her bravery. A version of the story is often read on the Sabbath during Hanukkah.

‘Like’ us on Facebook and share the recipes you make at home!

Carrot Tzimmes Recipe Carrots are sliced into coins and eaten as a symbol of prosperity and good luck in the Jewish New Year.	Simple Creme Brulee Dessert This festive dessert yields servings for two!	Jewish Grandma's Best Beef Brisket Recipe This savory dish is perfect on a cold evening!
Traditional Potato Kugel This yummy recipe yields about 12 servings, enjoy!	Classic Patty Melt Delicious and quick patty melts made using hearty rye bread.	Vegetarian Mushroom Moussaka Recipe A popular Greek dish, Moussaka is traditionally made from eggplant and lamb and thickly layered with béchamel.
Pavlova with Fresh Berries This stunning dessert tastes as good as it looks.	S'mores Babka Recipe An Eastern European yeasted cake with deep Jewish roots that you can find everywhere you look. Babka possibilities range from sweet to savoury, however, this modern recipe is a whole new take on this traditional cake.	Banana Bread Made with spelt flour and olive oil for a tender crumb, and tahini and sesame oil for savoury nuttiness, this is a loaf can be warmed in the oven and served with butter and maple syrup.
Matzo S'mores Cold winter nights suddenly become enjoyable when you can offer your family a gooey toasted treat. These killer kosher s'mores are a Jewish take on the camp classic and perfect to serve as an after-dinner treat for the holidays.	Russian Meatballs hese Russian meatballs, also known as Tefteli, are easy, versatile and the perfect dinner for a cold winter evening.	Piroshki These Russian pastries can range from savoury to sweet, with a variety of filling choices including meat, vegetables, fruit, and even jam, making the possibilities of this pastry endless and exciting.
One Pan Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots Simple roasted chicken is one of the mainstays for a Shabbat dinner. Cooking in high heat makes this chicken moist, flavourful and crispy on the outside.	Russian Apple Piroshki These airy, fried buns with an apple-caramel filling are the perfect Hanukkah treat.	Traditional Potato Latkes Potato Latkes are probably the most famous of Jewish foods and a specialty of Hanukkah. The latkes are served as an appetizer, as a side dish, or even for tea with a sprinkling of confectioners' sugar. They are absolutely marvelous.
Israeli-Style Sufganiyot Jelly donuts (sufganiyot) are one of the most symbolic dishes of Hanukkah. Foods cooked in oil have been made to symbolize the miracle of Hanukkah since the first celebration, but it wasn't until the Middle Ages that jelly donuts became tied to Hanukkah.	Gravlax With the Works Gravlox is a delicious snack often served at Hanukkah or on Shabbat, but also makes a great topping for bagels throughout the week for breakfast or lunch.	Cheese Blintzes! This dessert was made popular by Eastern European Jewish immigrants and is still a favourite today...
Blintzes! Israelis will choose this light meal, a delicacy with a choice of several different fillings...	Mini potato and zucchini latkes Serve these veggie patties warm or at room temperature with a dollop of sour cream or Chunky Applesauce. They're at their best when made the same day--but, if you prefer, they reheat well.