Hanukkah is a joyous celebration of Jewish national survival and religious freedom.During Hanukkah, many families invite relatives and friends over to light the menorah, sing songs, play dreidel, exchange gifts and enjoy traditional Hanukkah food, especially latkes (potato pancakes). Lighting the eight candles in the menorah commemorates the miracle of light, representing how the Holy Temple had enough oil in the menorah for just one night, yet it remained lit for eight nights. Thus, oil is a key element in the Hanukkah celebration and plays a large role in cooking the traditional foods.
Traditional Fried Foods
Fried potato pancakes, called latkes in Yiddish and levivot in Hebrew, are the most popular Hanukkah food. They are shredded potatoes mixed with onion, egg, flour and seasonings, then formed into small pancakes and fried in oil. The crispy latkes are served with sour cream and applesauce on the side.
While traditional latkes are made from potatoes, today one can find many creative twists to the traditional latkes recipe. If you are looking for something a bit different, there are several internationally-inspired latke recipes, everything from curried sweet potato latkes to scallion pancakes to brandade potato latkes. Many of these contemporary latke recipes feature ingredients as diverse as pumpkin, cauliflower and the Moroccan spice blend ras el hanout.
Another fried-in-oil delicacy for Hanukkah is the deep-fried, jelly-filled donuts, called sufganiot, which are traditionally enjoyed during Hanukkah in Israel and loved by children all over the globe.
After lighting the Hanukkah menorah together, you and your guests will enjoy sitting down to a traditional meal, especially on the Friday night (Shabbat) of Hanukkah. Brisket is a popular dish featured on Jewish holiday tables and since Hanukkah is during the winter, this slow-cooked cut of meat is a hearty, warming and welcome dish. Many cooks will also include a roasted chicken along with their latkes and a green vegetable.
If you'd like to think outside the box a bit, try some of the recipes from afun, festive Hanukkah menuthat includesa fresh take on brisket, sweet potato latkes, delicious veggie sides, and no-fry pareve desserts.
Traditional Dairy Menu
One Hanukkah food tradition is eating dairy products, especially cheese, in commemoration of the Jewish heroine Judith (Yehudit)who helped secure an important military victory with the aid of her homemade cheese. If you'd like to prepare a dairy Hanukkah partymenu, consider recipes for spinach tidbit appetizers, grilled salmon, pepper, cheese and sugared pecan salad, or beet risotto with greens and goat cheese. You may also want to try an out-of-the-ordinary farfalle with blueberries, red onions and goat cheese, or aspinach, feta and mushroom piebaked in a no-roll olive oil-enriched crust.
Traditional Desserts
There are quite a variety of Hanukkah desserts, from decorated Hanukkahsugar cookies, cupcake "menorahs," traditional Hanukkah donuts and contemporary cakes. This is the perfect opportunity to try that olive oil cake you were interested in or something different like baked olive oil doughnuts or Hanukkah gelt cookies.
The eight days of Hanukkah are observed with the lighting of a menorah after sundown and meals featuring foods challah bread, kugel, potato latkes, jelly doughnuts called sufganiyot, and festive drinks.
Fried foods are an important part of the traditional Hanukkah dinner because they represent the small amount of oil that miraculously burned for 8 days instead of just one when the Jews rededicated the Temple after overcoming oppression.
"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.
Hanukkah is celebrated in several ways. In addition to lighting each day one candle on the menorah, religious rituals can include daily reading of Scripture, recitation of some of the Psalms, almsgiving, and singing of a special hymn.
The star dish for many Hanukkah dinner tables is brisket. It's a show-stopping centerpiece that's as classic as it gets, which is why we love it. For something a little different but equally as fitting, we also love a wintery braise filled with semolina dumplings.
Gift-giving is a relatively new tradition that sprung up because Hanukkah happens during the holiday season, so when bringing gifts, don't go overboard. Books, jewelry, and food can be appropriate Hanukkah presents – but make sure any food is kosher. Family gifts are always a good way to add a personal touch.
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.
There is no pork or shellfish allowed, and Jews will not mix meat and dairy in the same meal, so if a chicken is on the table, you won't find butter or cheese.
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.
Traditional foods include potato latkes, applesauce and brisket. Spinning the dreidel (a four-sided top) for “Hanukkah gelt” (gold-wrapped chocolate coins) is another part of the celebration. 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.
But this anecdote isn't the only tie between Hanukkah and fried foods. The holiday itself has deep traditions in eating all varieties of fried food because of the very oil in which they're cooked. That oil is symbolic making the holiday's fried foods also part of the symbolism.
The most traditional gift for Hanukkah is gelt, which is Yiddish for “money” — given either in the form of real money or wrapped chocolate coins. These can be used to play the popular Hanukkah game, dreidel.
Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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