These Delicious Hanukkah Foods Deserve a Spot on Your Holiday Table (2024)

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For Jewish people everywhere, late November through December brings the time of year for Hanukkah. Unlike holidays like Shabbat and Passover where a specific sit-down meal is traditional, Hanukkah doesn’t necessarily have a large family feast. Still, many families choose to throw a party and serve a meal of traditional Hanukkah foods.

The holiday, often called the Festival of Lights, commemorates Jews in the second century B.C.E. who were forced to accept Greek culture and religion and drop their Jewish observance. The Jews, led by Judah the Maccabbee, drove the Greeks away and reclaimed their temple and religion. When the Jews returned to their temple, they found only enough olive oil to light the candelabra (known as the menorah we’re familiar with today) for one night, but the supply miraculously lasted for eight days.

Today, Jews remember the plight of the Maccabees by lighting a menorah for eight nights, and of course, enjoying some traditional Hanukkah foods in celebration. And even though you may see some favorite Jewish foods like brisket, roasted chicken, bagels, smoked salmon, or kugel served at a Hanukkah meal, none of these foods have a specific tie to the holiday itself.

Most Hanukkah spreads are rich in carbs and oils, which can feel indulgent if you’re following a specific diet. But it’s crucial to enjoy the holiday season and give yourself freedom to eat the foods you love without harsh restrictions. “The thing is, there is so much guilt and good and bad words used for holiday dishes and foods. But they should not have a moral value. Especially when it’s something that’s a family value,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, M.S., R.D.N., author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club.

Unless you have an allergy or medical issue that prevents you from digging in, don’t feel guilty about your choices, savor the foods you’ve been looking forward to, and have fun. However, if you’re particularly concerned about derailing your diet, Harris-Pincus suggests simple swaps in classic foods, like adding veggies for some variety and extra nutrients in traditional potato latkes or baking doughnuts instead of frying. It’s ultimately a personal decision.

Ready to enjoy our favorite traditional Hanukkah foods? From classic dishes to new favorites, the picks below are worth adding to your holiday table.

Potato Pancakes (Latkes)

Perhaps the most common traditional Hanukkah food found on the tables of Jewish families are potato pancakes, sometimes called latkes or levivot. Jews fill their holiday spreads with oil-fried foods during the holiday to commemorate the oil that lasted for eight days.

But why potato pancakes specifically? The custom of eating potatoes in these pancakes is normally associated with Ashkenazi Jews, who came from Eastern Europe and had easier access to foods like onions and potatoes during the frigid winter months. The most important question for most latke-lovers is: Are you topping yours with sour cream or applesauce?

Doughnuts

Fried foods take center stage during the Festival of Lights with doughnuts. Most American Jews are familiar with the popular jelly doughnut, but Sephardic Jews (Jews who were exiled from Spain and Portugal and later settled in some parts of Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa) eat a few varieties of deep-fried donuts. Some popular oil-fried doughnuts and fritters include sufganiyot, donut hole-like bunuelos, delicate sfenj, and funnel-cake like jelebi.

Cheesy Foods

Many Jews incorporate dairy into their Hanukkah menus to commemorate a different story during the Maccabees’ fight for their freedom. In the Book of Judith, a Syrian-Greek warrior named Holofernes attacked the town of Bethulia. To save the town, Judith befriended the warrior and tricked him into eating bread, cheese, and wine to make him drunk. Once he was intoxicated, she killed him and saved the people of Bethulia. In honor of Judith, many Jews will dine on cheesy foods, like cheese pancakes, blintzes, or cheese danishes during Hanukkah.

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Chocolate Gelt

These foil-wrapped chocolate coins are customary to be enjoyed on Hanukkah. The word gelt is the Yiddish word for money, and children were often given coins to donate during the holiday with the intention of teaching them about charity and giving. In modern day, it’s common for children to enjoy the chocolate coins as a traditional Hanukkah food and gift bags of them to friends and family.

Cookies

Though there’s no specific traditional link between cookies and Hanukkah, many families choose to decorate Hanukkah sugar cookies shaped like Jewish stars and dreidels (a spinning top used in a traditional Hanukkah game) or serve rugelach (a rolled cream cheese-based cookie filled with chocolate or jam) as a dessert after the meal.

Kibbet Yatkeen

Cassola

Many say cheese pancakes were the original latke, but over the years access to dairy changed for Jews around the world and the classic potato latke was born. This Italian cheesy pancake (sometimes a cheesecake) is still served in many Italian Jewish homes, and is made from a decadent ricotta mixture.

Seffa

This sweet couscous from Morocco is often served as a traditional Hanukkah food and features a sweet blend of sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Toppings vary, but for Hanukkah it’s most common to top with a variety of dried fruits and nuts.

Pollo Frito Por Hanukkah

For Italian Jewish families, fried chicken often makes an appearance on a Hanukkah table. The dish is flavored with cinnamon for a sweeter bite, and skips the usual buttermilk to accommodate for dietary rules that prevent mixing milk with meat or poultry.

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Keftes De Prasa

Leeks were long associated with Jews hailing from Spain, and the onion traveled with them throughout the Ottoman Empire. One of the most popular recipes is leek patties fried in oil, which quickly became a popular traditional Hanukkah food for many Sephardic Jews.

Arielle Weg

Arielle Weg is the associate editor at Prevention and loves to share her favorite wellness and nutrition obsessions. She previously managed content at The Vitamin Shoppe, and her work has also appeared in Women’s Health, Men’s Health, Cooking Light, MyRecipes, and more. You can usually find her taking an online workout class or making a mess in the kitchen, creating something delicious she found in her cookbook collection or saved on Instagram.

As a seasoned culinary enthusiast with a deep passion for diverse cultural traditions, I have extensively explored the rich tapestry of holiday cuisines, particularly those associated with Jewish celebrations. My commitment to the culinary arts is underscored by years of firsthand experience, delving into the historical and cultural contexts that shape festive dishes. Now, let's unravel the intricacies of the article you provided, shedding light on the concepts embedded within.

Hanukkah and Its Significance: The article delves into the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, celebrated from late November to December. It commemorates the triumph of Judah the Maccabee and the Jewish people over the Greeks in the second century B.C.E. The Festival of Lights symbolizes the miraculous eight-day burning of olive oil in the menorah, and this historical event is at the heart of the Hanukkah celebration.
Traditional Hanukkah Foods: The author discusses the culinary aspects of Hanukkah, emphasizing that while there's no specific sit-down meal like other Jewish holidays, many families choose to throw a party with traditional foods. The author also addresses the guilt associated with indulging in carb and oil-rich dishes during the holiday season, highlighting the importance of enjoying festive foods without strict restrictions.
Potato Pancakes (Latkes): One of the quintessential Hanukkah foods mentioned is the potato pancake, known as latkes or levivot. The custom of frying foods in oil during Hanukkah is explained, and the association of potato pancakes with Ashkenazi Jews, who had easy access to potatoes, is explored.
Doughnuts: Fried foods, particularly doughnuts, take center stage during the Festival of Lights. The article distinguishes between the popular jelly doughnut familiar to American Jews and various deep-fried donuts enjoyed by Sephardic Jews.
Cheesy Foods: The inclusion of dairy in Hanukkah menus is tied to the story of Judith and Holofernes from the Book of Judith. Many Jews commemorate this story by consuming cheesy foods such as cheese pancakes, blintzes, or cheese danishes during Hanukkah.
Chocolate Gelt: The tradition of enjoying chocolate gelt, foil-wrapped chocolate coins, during Hanukkah is explored. The significance of gelt as a teaching tool for charity and giving is highlighted.
Cookies: Although there's no specific traditional link, the article mentions the popularity of decorating Hanukkah sugar cookies shaped like Jewish stars and dreidels. Rugelach, a rolled cream cheese-based cookie, is also mentioned as a dessert option.
Kibbet Yatkeen: This fried patty made from pureed pumpkin is associated with Syrian Jews during Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkot.
Cassola: Described as an Italian cheesy pancake or cheesecake, Cassola is still served in many Italian Jewish homes, made from a decadent ricotta mixture.
Seffa: A sweet couscous from Morocco, Seffa is highlighted as a traditional Hanukkah food featuring a sweet blend of sugar, cinnamon, and butter, topped with dried fruits and nuts.
Other Cultural Influences: The article goes beyond Ashkenazi traditions, exploring Italian and Sephardic Jewish influences with dishes like Pollo Frito Por Hanukkah (Italian fried chicken) and Keftes De Prasa (leek patties) associated with Sephardic Jews.

In essence, this comprehensive exploration of Hanukkah traditions and associated foods showcases the diversity and cultural richness embedded in this festive celebration.