Life
7 Easy Hanukkah Food Recipes to Impress Your Jewish Mother
Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights (it’s also The Feast of Dedication, if we’re getting technical). The story revolves around a miracle: when the Macabee brothers led a revolt against the Greeks (in one of the many early instances of Jews resisting assimilation) and set out to re-consecrate the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough oil in the Temple to burn for one night. The oil stayed lit for eight days and nights. Thus, to celebrate the role that oil played in the miracle, traditional Hanukkah food (like everyone’s favorite, latkes) is fried — something I suspect even gentiles will appreciate. And since Thanksgiving overlaps with Hanukkah this year, the creative eating opportunities are endless.
Are you wondering how to approach this hybrid holiday? Desperate to branch out from traditional latkes? Trying to impress a Jewish mother or father? Looking to actually contribute to your family's Hanukkah feast for once? Eager to replace that less-than-delicious dish your grandmother insists on making every year? Having your first Hanukkah on your own? If any of these things are true, we're here for you. We've scoured the internet for simple, delicious, Thanksgivukkah recipes to spice up your table and score you points with even the most overzealous of Jewish mothers.
Image: My Name is Yeh
Kale and Roasted Beet Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing
This awesome recipe from The Shiksa In The Kitchen (for the uninitiated, shiksa means "non-Jewish woman" and is often used to describe gentile girls who date and/or marry Jewish boys) combines wintery flavors and Thanksgiving accents into a delicious, healthy salad.
Brussel Sprout Latkes with Balsamic-Dijon Sour Cream
Yes, these are real. From the brilliant mind behind My Name is Yeh comes this recipe for an unbelievably delicious and unbelievably original take on traditional latkes.
Cauliflower, Hazelnut, and Sage Soup
Ok,so this recipe from What's Cooking Good Looking can be time consuming. But it's a great take on a winter soup that would add some serious originality to your Thanksgivukkah meal.
Keftes de Espinaca
Hanukkah is a celebration of all things fried, and from the Sephardic tradition, by way of The Shiksa In The Kitchen, comes this recipe for spinach keftes, which are a great way to diverge from traditional latkes.
No-Stress Challah
Challah is classic Jewish comfort food. It's also notoriously a massive pain in the ass to make. Wow your family with your baking abilities with this easy recipe from Couldn't Be Parve.
Pumpkin Pie Bars
From Your Cup of Cake comes this festive recipe that combines Thanksgiving flavors with the caloric intake of a holiday devoted to frying things in oil.
Last But Not Least, Classic Latkes
Finally, the main event. This is why Jewish kids everywhere love Hanukkah. This recipe, from My Name is Yeh, has all the key ingredients to creating perfect latkes: potatoes, onion, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
To make it even easier, you can use pre-cut potatoes (try refrigerated packs of hash browns) which eliminates the need for a food processor.
