When the Maccabees went to rededicate the Holy Temple after their victory over the Syrian-Greek army in the 2nd century B.C.E., they needed pure olive oil for the menorah. The Maccabees found a single jug of this pure olive oil, that was only meant to be enough for one day, but instead it lasted for eight. We commemorate this miracle by lighting candle or oil menorahs in our own homes for the eight nights of Chanukah.
The miracle of the oil is also the reason that the holiday is celebrated with oily or fried food treats including latkes (potato pancakes) and pastries like doughnuts, fritters, sifnge, churros, and many more! Dairy foods are also a traditional Chanukah food, in honor of the brave Jewish woman Yehudit who used wine and cheese to lull the Greek general Holofernes to sleep, after which she murdered him and afforded the Maccabees a massive victory.
It’s common to hold Chanukah parties with family and friends, and some also give gifts. Chanukah calls for spending quality time, so we want the best Chanukah meals to accompany the mood. In this roundup, we have you covered with the best traditional Chanukah foods from fried classics, to brisket, to of course, donuts.
On this page:
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Appetizers:
1. Crispy Skirt Mushroom Potstickers by Michal Frischman
We are going through a potstickers phase in my house. It’s not the easiest or quickest to make, but delicious really does trump all, and if you make ahead and freeze, that definitely helps.
2. Crispy Beef Hot Poppers by Michal Frischman
There’s nothing not to like here. Crispy beef is great because it’s easy to prep ahead and fries in minutes. It’s best fried fresh, but if you’re short on time, fry ahead and keep it separate from the sauce, layered with paper towels. When ready to serve, warm the meat lightly in the oven and toss with heated sauce.
3. Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato Focaccia by Daphna Rabinovitch
Make sure you use the sun-dried tomatoes that are packed in oil. Their extra moisture works well with the focaccia.
4. Eggplant-Wrapped Mozzarella Sticks by Ashira Mirsky
Ashira shares with us her 5-ingredient recipe to get the perfect shortcut eggplant parmesan that is crunchy on the outside and soft and melted on the inside!
5. Carciofi alla Giudia (Crispy Fried Artichokes, Jewish Style) by Joyce Goldstein
I experimented with these for over a year. My chances for complete success are now about eighty to twenty. I’d like to share the process with you. I hope you enjoy.
Fish:
6. Fried Salmon Sticks by Sina Mizrahi
These Fried Salmon Sticks are Schnitzel’s cousin! Made the same way, these will remind you of fish sticks but with fresh salmon, which results in a more moist and succulent finished dish. Moist on the inside, crunch on the outside, what’s not to love?
7. Lemon-Butter Tilapia Bites by Rivky Kleiman
A buttery-soft fabulous finger food.
Dairy Mains:
8. Spinach Mushroom Feta Cheese “Siti” (Baked Spaghetti Squash Ziti) by Rorie Weisberg
Who doesn’t love a big bowl of pasta, especially on Chanukah? With my low-glycemic baked “siti,” you can have that delicious pasta meal without the heavy post-pasta feel.
9. Spicy Vodka Lasagna by Sima Kazarnovsky
This is not your typical mac-and-cheese. The homemade spicy vodka sauce does wonders in elevating this dish.
10. Pasta with Leafy Vegetables and Feta Cheese by Zeta Olive Oil
Packed with nutrient-dense leaves and herbs and creamy, fatty feta cheese, this dish is one way to indulge your pasta craving without feeling too guilty. Feel free to serve the sauce with gluten-free pasta, if desired.
Meat Mains:
11. Sherry Wine Brisket with Chestnuts by Vera Newman
I love a good basic brisket recipe. It doesn’t really get much simpler than this. The combination of ingredients yields the most delicious, buttery-soft piece of meat, with an element of surprise from the chestnuts. A perfect savory meat to serve with a sweeter chicken to balance the meal.
12. Family-Favorite Chicken Nuggets with Sweet-and-Sour Dipping Sauce by Bassi Gruen
You can just serve the nuggets with sweet chili sauce, but if you have the time, this homemade dipping sauce is worth the minimal effort.
13. Batter-Baked Chicken Fingers with Wine-Berry Sauce by Faigy Grossman
Doable and delicious, these chicken fingers are bursting with gorgeous color and incredible flavor. Wine pairs with berries to create a fabulous dipping sauce; drizzle it over the chicken or serve it on the side.
14. Sesame Chicken by Rivky Kleiman
What’s Chanukah without the fried food? Rivky Kleiman’s classic Sesame Chicken, from her latest cookbook Simply, is the perfect crowdpleaser for a holiday meal or party.
15. Honey-Mustard Chicken by Leah Schapira
Sometimes I go through recipe phases. I’ll get hooked on one and make it again and again, until a new recipe enters the repertoire for the next couple of months. This is one of the recipes that’s currently a staple in my house. It’s so quick and easy, no wonder I’ve been making it over and over! In the photo, you’ll notice strips of red and yellow peppers. This recipe is so versatile, though, you can use any produce that’s in season or sitting in your vegetable drawer – or none at all! One ingredient you can’t skip, though, is those onions. They get sauteed to the most delicious caramelized goodness that I often add an additional onion to the recipe.
Latkes:
16. Latke Dogs by Ida Levy
A fun dinner item for your fleishig Chanukah party. Ala corn dogs, the hot dogs here are covered in potato latke batter, then fried! A wonderful mashup, what could be better?
17. Reuben Latkes by Michal Frischman
Not that indulging in fried food is a regular occurrence for me, but if I would, these latkes would be my choice. Besides being super crispy, they are the complete opposite of bland and boring. You can get creative with the toppings, but adding something acidic, like pickles or sauerkraut, is a must to avoid a greasy bite. Watch the video here.
18. Scallion-Potato Latkes by Chanie Nayman
Sautéed onions are a favorite in my house. One Friday, after I slid the potato kugel into the oven, I wondered why I’d never tried putting sautéed onions in my kugel as opposed to regular fresh onions. Well, aren’t all latkes mini potato kugels, fried? The scallions and soy sauce give these latkes a fresh new flavor that we all really enjoyed.
19. Ricotta Cheese Latkes by Naomi Nachman
Searching for the perfect dairy latke recipe? Look no further, here it is! These impressive ricotta cheese latkes are fluffy, yummy and super easy and quick to make! These are perfect for Chanukah.
20. Mini Latke Hack with Crunchy Topping by Michal Frischman
If you’re not in the mood of the grating, the mixing, or even the frying, this quick and easy hack is the best way to get the latke vibes without any of the hassle! Add the topping for a very welcome flavor addition that helps cut through the oil and keep things tasting fresh.
21. Butternut Squash Sweet Potato Latkes by Miriam Szokovski
If you’ve never made latkes before, don’t feel intimidated. They’re quite straightforward and hard to mess up. Definitely worth a try. Two tips for latke-making: 1. Stick a small piece of carrot in the oil. The carrot absorbs the burnt taste the oil sometimes gets. When the carrot looks dark and shriveled, take it out and replace with a new one. 2. To make the latkes a uniform size, use a 1/3-cup measuring cup to scoop up the batter.
22. Potato Latke Cups by Adina Schlass
I set out to create the perfect latke cracker to hold all my favorite toppings. I wanted something light and relatively healthy, and little did I know I was about to come up with the cutest little handheld latke cup, the perfect thing to entertain with and fill with endless toppings! Experimenting in the kitchen pays off!
Sides:
23. Parmesan ’n Onion Crusted Potatoes by Chavi Feldman
Loaded with flavor and oh-so-tender, these melt-in-your-mouth baby potatoes are a great addition to any Chanukah gathering. The crispy onion and Parmesan coating adds an extra layer of deliciousness to what I guarantee is a scrumptious — and original — crowd-pleaser.
24. Green Bean Fries with Dipping Sauce by Michal Frischman
Urbana in Boro Park has long changed the French-fry game with its delicious battered and deep-fried green bean fries. I wanted something that delivers the same level of satisfaction, without any of the frying. Let’s be honest, it ain’t Urbana, but I wouldn’t be mad at being a strong second best.
Salads:
25. Fried Root Vegetable Medley Salad with Olive Oil Dressing by Brynie Greisman
This dressing starts with olive oil á la Chanukah, complemented by various ingredients to give you a fabulous, healthful choice to top your salad. I’ve served this dressing on various salads, and it was always a hit.
26. Olive and Oven-Dried Tomato Salad by Chanie Nayman
This salad is for you, gourmet cooks! The textures and flavors blend together in one delicious bite. I once served this to my grandmother, among several other delicious dishes, and this is the recipe she requested afterward.
27. Baked Falafel Salad with Tzatziki Dressing by Liz Martone
Easy baked falafel patties tossed in a Greek-inspired salad with lots of crunchy veggies, salty black olives, warm whole wheat pita, and a luscious, tangy tzatziki dressing.
28. Chinese Stir Fry Salad with Fresh Mozzarella Croutons by Estee Kafra
This stir-fry “salad” is out of this world. The idea for the mozzarella croutons came from a restaurant in Israel where we used to eat that had delicious breaded fried cheese on their appetizer menu. The stir-fry was inspired by my sister-in-law Hindy. For those who are calorie-conscious, see low-fat options below. However, once you have followed this recipe, I think you’ll agree that the cheese croutons are sensational.
Donuts:
29. Extra Easy Donuts for Chanukah (Sufganiyot) from the Nitra Cookbook
Chanuka is not Chanuka without donuts fried in oil. But no one wants to spend lots of time on a complicated donut recipe when they would rather be spending time with their families, watching the menorah. This donut recipe is classic, so easy to make (they only need to rise for 45 minutes!) and come out looking perfect every time.
30. Nutella Sufganiyot by Candice Walker
Nutella Sufganiyot have a delicious, no-fuss filling inside warm fried doughnuts. Perfect for Chanukah with dairy-free and nut-free options!
31. Chanukah Beignets by Marcy Goldman
These square doughnuts are a bit more sophisticated, which makes them ideal to serve at a Chanukah gathering. Instead of yeast, you can double the baking powder for a different sort of texture that is equally as good. If doing that, then knead the dough for half as long.
32. Specialty Flavour: Pumpkin Chai Spiced Donut Poppers by Estelle Chait
My favorite donut base is spiced for the holidays! Using a Pumpkin Chai tea concentrate and some specialty spices (cinnamon, cardamom), these donut poppers really pack a fun, surprising flavour that is perfectly subtle. They are fluffy and soft on the inside, with the perfect Krispie Kreme style glaze.
Other Desserts:
33. Lemon Olive Oil Honey Cake by Family Table
Try this amazingly light recipe for lemon-flavored olive oil honey cake. It checks all the boxes!
34. Chanukah Gelt Surprise Cookies by Erin Grunstein
Making Chanukah cookies is always fun, but add a surprise in the middle and watch your kids’ faces light up!
35. Mudslide S’mores Hot Chocolate by Malky and Yossi Levine
All we can say is: “Heaven in a cup!” The sweet chocolate sauce, melted ice cream, and crunchy graham topping dress up our Mudslide S’mores Hot Chocolate for a simply spectacular dessert drink.
36. Fried Ice Cream by Menachem Goodman
I scream, you scream, we all scream for fried ice cream! This combination of hot and cold, crunchy and soft, fried and frozen is something else. I mean, this is the perfect treat for Chanukah or any other day of the year. Serve with the toppings of your choice for a final touch. Happy frying!
37. White Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake by Chaya Surie Goldberger
I have included here a basic recipe for white chocolate cheese mousse that can be used two different ways, giving you two showstopper delights. Please note, you will need only 1/4 of the cheese mousse for this recipe. Plan to use the remaining 3/4 for White Chocolate Cheese Mousse with Tropical Fruit Medley!
38. Mini Cinnamon Roll Cheesecakes by Malky and Yossi Levine
Dreaming of a delicious cinnamon bun? This dessert is for you! These mini cheesecakes are simply divine. They combine all the sweet flavors of cinnamon buns and cheesecake for a next-level dessert.
