Life
8 Ingeniously Updated Hanukkah Classics That'll Forever Change Your Holiday
You know what’s great about a holiday that celebrates an oil-related miracle? Fried food, of course. And, luckily, that’s what Hanukkah fare is all about. Latkes are great, and so are donuts, of course, but with the Festival of Lights dragging on for eight long nights, the same old deep fried goodies can be a little one note. Here, we have schnitzel and sufganiyot like you’ve never seen before. Big on blintzes? How about curry blintzes? Or sous vide taco-seasoned brisket? We also have matzah ball pot pie. And bourbon-cured salmon. Because we love you. And we want you to be happy this Hanukkah. Keep reading for an updated Hanukkah dish for each of your eight crazy nights.
Image: Cooking for Keeps
Challah-Crusted Chicken Schnitzel
Schnitzel — meat pounded thin, dipped in breadcrumbs, and pan-fried — celebrates the miracle of oil in a big way, and is therefore a welcome guest to any Hanukkah table. Double up the Jewishness factor by crusting chicken breasts in day-old challah crumbs, a la this recipe by My Name is Yeh. Look at you. You’re so good at this Hanukkah thing.
Image: My Name Is Yeh
Sous Vide Grass Fed Brisket
Brisket is a hugely popular Hanukkah entrée, but why not freshen up your old standby recipe? This brisket from Nom Nom Paleo is nom nom tasty with its sous vide preparation and taco seasoning. Sure, this recipe is short on oil, but sins this delicious can be forgiven, can’t they?
Image: Fotolia
Bourbon-Cured Salmon
A bagel with cream cheese and lox is a cornerstone of Jewish-American fare, and for very good reason. But there’s lox and then there’s this salmon from Crepes of Wrath. Start a new Hanukkah tradition this year by bourbon-curing your salmon and then serving it with crème fraîche atop tiny little pumpernickel toasts. Or, better yet, serve it atop your favorite latke.
Image: The Crepes of Wrath
Matzoh Ball Pot Pie
Matzoh balls make for a popular Jewish dish year-round. But a hungry Jew cannot live on soup alone. This Hanukkah, change the game with this matzah ball pot pie from What Jew Wanna Eat. No, I’m not kidding. This is a real thing, and you’re welcome.
Image: What Jew Wanna Eat
Gluten-Free Sufganiyot
Just because you have a gluten allergy does not mean you have to live in a donut ghetto. This Hanukkah, carry on your sufganiyot tradition with this gluten-free version from Gluten-Free Canteen. Made with a combination of brown rice flour, tapioca flour, and oat flour, these little guys are sure you make your stomach very happy.
Image: Fotolia
Latke Pumpkin Pie
This November, for the first time in 125 years, Thanksgiving and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same day. So let’s celebrate accordingly. This Thanksgivukkah pumpkin pie from My Name is Yeh features a potato latke crust. I have so many feeling about this recipe, and all of them are good.
Image: My Name is Yeh
Pomegranate Arancini Goat Cheese Fonduta
Hmm, what else can we deep fry? I know! How about rice? Cure your latke boredom with these fried arancini balls dipped in a rich goat cheese cream from Cooking for Keeps.
Image: Cooking for Keeps
Curry Blintzes
A blintz is not a new or revelatory Hanukkah dish. But a savory blintz? Now you’re getting somewhere. These curry blintzes from Parsley, Sage, and Sweet are just the thing to upstage your blueberry blintzes of yesteryear. Get noshing.
Image: Fotolia
