Traditional Hanukkah Menu Ideas | D'Artagnan (2024)

FAQs

What do you serve at a Hanukkah dinner? ›

To celebrate this miracle, Jewish people eat a number of foods fried in oil, the most well-known of which are potato latkes and jelly donuts called sufganiyot. Another miracle that is often celebrated during Hanukkah is the story of Judith, a woman who enticed the leader of an opposing force with… cheese.

Applesauce and sour cream are the traditional accoutrements for latkes. Some load their potato pancakes up with both toppings, while others have strong feelings about one over the other.

Latkes and jelly donuts

Speaking of oil, eating food fried during Hanukkah is considered a symbol of the oil used to light the menorah. Hence, jelly donuts.

One of the most popular foods eaten during Hanukkah are latkes, which are fried potato pancakes. Some Jewish people eat latkes sweet, accompanied with apple sauce, while others prefer them savoury, served with sour cream.

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.

Three popular foods eaten on the Jewish holidays include loukoumades, pancakes, and latkes. Loukoumades are deep-fried puffs dipped in honey or sugar to represent the cakes the Maccabees ate, along with sufganiyot and zelebi.

Parsnips have a natural sweetness to them that makes for latkes that pair especially well with the classic side of applesauce that's usually reserved for potato latkes.

Why is applesauce served with latkes? ›

The applesauce conceals the oiliness of the potato, while creating an explosion of fall food flavors in your mouth. Meanwhile, sour cream will just make your latkes heavier and your mouth taste like milk.

Any animal that does not have cloven hooves or which does not chew its cud is forbidden to be eaten on Hanukkah. Such animals include camel, hyrax, hare, pig etc. Any product derived from a forbidden animal is also prohibited, including fat, organs, milk, meat and eggs.

Aside from latkes, the other fried Hanukkah staple is jelly doughnuts (sufganiyot in Hebrew). Saidels Bakery in Karnei Shomron is one of several places offering hands-on doughnut-making workshops before and during the eight-day Festival of Lights holiday.

Ideas include gold gelt coins (traditional chocolate coins in gold foil), a dreidel and handwritten blessings to say as the Hanukkah candles are lit. Top your gift jar with festive blue and silver ribbon.

The first night ritual is joyous. I usually cook a family dinner laden with delicious fried foods, such as fried potato latkes and jelly donuts, to honor the miracle. After dinner, our family gathers to light the menorah candles, recite blessings, and sing songs.

Stick to canola or peanut oil, which both have high enough smoke points to fry up a mess of latkes.

What wine should you drink with latkes? The classical answer is Champagne, and for a number of very good reasons.

Both latkes and pancakes use potatoes and eggs as the main ingredients. Latkes, however, also include baking powder, matzo meal, and even milk sometimes. Potato pancakes usually do not include these ingredients. Potato pancakes can be made from raw and cooked mashed potatoes.

One thing that every Hanukkah celebration has in common is the gelt. The word “gelt” means “money” in both Hebrew and Yiddish. Chocolate gelt are the chocolate coins that are typically given to children during Hanukkah.

Menorah Martini

Light up the menorah and getcha sip on. Chill and rim 2 martini glasses with sugar. Fill a mixing glass with ice, pour up the vodka, sweet vermouth and shake things up. Strain into martini glasses, splash in some blue curacao and garnish with a few bluebs.

Can you shred the potatoes for latkes ahead of time? ›

When you're making latkes, you can grate the potatoes up to about 3 hours ahead. They will turn pinkish brown, but they are about to be fried into golden perfection, so it doesn't matter. As the potatoes sit, the will leech a lot of liquid; drain and discard the liquid before mixing with flour, egg, etc.

Latkes are pan-fried potato pancakes made from grated potatoes and onion, an egg, and a binder, such as matzo meal or breadcrumbs.

The trick to latkes that stay crispy? Let them dry on a rack, instead of a pile of soggy paper towels. They cool quickly, so if you're serving them the same day you can place them on a baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven at 200 degrees while you fry the next batch.

Since latkes tend to have a milder flavor, pair these tasty pancakes with a light and effervescent Pilsner. The carbonation will help cleanse your palate, and the slight bitterness will contrast nicely with the sweetness of the applesauce.

Other than taste preferences, since latkes are traditionally served at dinnertime and often with a meaty meal like brisket, families who keep kosher wouldn't eat their latkes with a dairy product like sour cream because you can't have beef and dairy in the same meal.

A latke (Yiddish: לאַטקע latke; sometimes romanized latka, lit. "pancake") is a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah. Latkes can be made with ingredients other than potatoes such as cheese, onion and zucchini.

Strain, Squeeze, Strain: To avoid soggy latkes, you need to wring out your potato mixture really, really well. Folks have different theories about how many times you should wring out the mixture and what you should use. I favor cheesecloth if you have it. If you don't, a clean dishtowel will do the trick.

The most traditional side dishes for potato pancakes are applesauce and sour cream. They work well for breakfast as a base for eggs benedict or topped with lox and cream cheese. And you can also serve them with mains like goulash, pulled pork, or beer soup.

What side dishes go with potatoes? ›

The best dishes to serve with baked potatoes are coconut chicken curry, broccoli and cheese casserole, or Mississippi pot roast. You can also serve Mexican beans, eggplant caponata, or a creamy coleslaw. For more refreshing options, try a minty snap pea salad or a simple green salad.

Hash browns and home fries are brunch staples, so traditional potato latkes fit right in. Top with sour cream and pieces of cold-smoked salmon or even a fried egg.

Officially, though, a latke is simply a pancake—the word itself comes, via Yiddish, from a Russian word meaning "little pancake." Latkes can in fact be made from almost any vegetable, bean, cheese, or grain.

A signature dish is a recipe that identifies an individual chef or restaurant. Ideally it should be unique and allow an informed gastronome to name the chef in a blind tasting. It can be thought of as the culinary equivalent of an artist finding their own style, or an author finding their own voice.

So what's the secret behind the restaurant's incredible hash browns? Credit an ingredient added to the oil used to fry the hash browns—and those famous french fries—partway, before freezing them and shipping them to restaurants.

Pork chops – Pork and potatoes go perfectly together! Grilled chicken or chicken tenders – Chicken tastes great with everything, right? This dish is no exception. Salmon – This filling side dish tastes perfectly when paired with cooked salmon (grilled is my fave!).

Great with just a splat of ketchup, or maybe some maple syrup that meandered off the accompanying pancakes, hash browns are the ideal potato vehicle for other toppings, too.