Celebrate Hanukkah with Delicious Recipes

 

Celebrate Hanukkah with Delicious Recipes and Meaningful Traditions

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It honors the miracle of a small amount of oil, meant to last one day, burning for eight. This event symbolizes God’s provision and faithfulness. While traditionally observed by Jewish families, Hanukkah is increasingly celebrated by Christians who appreciate its spiritual significance, especially as a reminder of standing firm in faith and God’s miracles.

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Top Tools for Hanukkah Cooking

1. Cast Iron Skillet
 Perfect for frying crispy latkes and sufganiyot. Look for pre-seasoned options from trusted brands like Lodge or Le Creuset.

Lodge 10.25 Inch Cast Iron Pre-Seasoned Skillet 

 Signature Teardrop Handle - Use in the Oven, on the Stove, on the Grill, or Over a Campfire, Black

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Iron Handle Skillet 

11.75" (2-3/8 qt.), Cerise

2. Potato Grater & Onion Chopper

Make latke prep a breeze with stainless steel graters and multi-functional choppers from brands like OXO or Cuisinart.

OXO Good Grips Box Grater

Cuisinart Chopper

The Cuisinart Stainless Steel Food Chopper is great for chopping vegetables, hard cheeses, nuts, herbs, garlic and more 

3. Oil Thermometer

Fry to perfection by keeping the oil at the ideal temperature. Clip-on designs by Taylor or ThermoPro work best.

ThermoPro  TP509 Candy Thermometer with Pot Clip, Instant Read Meat Analog Thermometer with LCD, Cooking Oil Thermometer

4. Dutch Oven

Slow-cook brisket to tender perfection with a 6-7 quart enamel-coated Dutch oven from Lodge or Staub.

Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven w/ Lid

Lodge Cast Iron Serving Pot Dutch Oven with Dual Handles, Pre-Seasoned, 7-Quart

Staub Cast Iron 4-qt

The Stab cocotte is unsurpassed for slow-cooking meats and vegetables to tender perfection, and for simmering hearty stews and soups. Cast iron possesses exceptional heat-retaining qualities, so the pot heats evenly throughout. The innovative lid features tiny spikes on the interior that continually release condensed liquid back onto the food, yielding moist, flavorful results

5. Jelly Injector

Fill sufganiyot easily with jam or custard. 

HANUKKAH DONUT INJECTOR

Use our food injector to fill and decorate your Hannukah donuts, cupcakes, cakes, deviled eggs, cannoli, scones, cream puffs and much more!

6. Mandoline Slicer

Get perfectly sliced sweet potatoes or zucchini for latke variations. OXO and Benriner are top picks.

Benriner Mandoline Slicer

Benriner Mandoline Slicer with Collection Tray and 4 Blades, Japanese Stainless Steel

OXO Good Grips Handheld Mandoline Slicer

7. Festive Serving Tray

Add a Hanukkah-themed glass tray for serving treats or displaying menorahs. Check out designs by Rite Lite or Aviv Judaica.

Happy Chanukah Dreidel Shaped Serving Tray

This Dreidel shaped serving tray is an elegant yet practical addition to your presentation collection that highlights the theme of Chanukah at your festive holiday celebration! 

Hanukkah Latkes Serving Plate

Aviv Judaica's Ceramic Latke Platter is the Chanukah fun, laugh-out-loud gift that everyone will love!  

Made with high-quality ceramic and oversized design, Measuring 13.75" x 10.25" you'll get some holiday cheer when you spot this one-of-a-kind Hanukkah-themed platter adding fun and joy to your Chanukah party table.

8. Mixing Bowls

Non-slip mixing bowls are ideal for combining ingredients. Look for sets from Pyrex or Rachael Ray.

Pyrex Prepware

2-1/2-Quart Glass Mixing Bowl

Rachael Ray Ceramics 2-Piece Mixing Bowls Set

The ceramic bowls feature beautifully glazed interiors, and convenient pour spouts that make it easy to pour batters and sauces without creating a mess. With comfortable-to-grasp handles, their Overall shape is stylish and modern, making these mixing bowls ideal to use as extra serving bowls. Oven safe to 500°f, the mixing bowls are also microwave, freezer and dishwasher safe for convenience.

Essential Hanukkah Recipes

Food is central to Hanukkah traditions, with dishes that honor the miracle of the oil. Favorites include:

Potato Latkes with Applesauce and Sour Cream

Celebrate the Light of Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a time for family, friends, and of course, delicious food! This year, embrace the traditions and explore some modern twists on these classic Hanukkah dishes.

Hanukkah Classics

• Potato Latkes: These crispy potato pancakes are a Hanukkah staple.

  • Ingredients:
    • 3 cups peeled and shredded russet potatoes
    • 1 cup grated yellow onions
    • 2 large eggs, beaten
    • ¼ cup matzo meal (or all-purpose flour)
    • 1 tsp. kosher salt
    • ¼ tsp. black pepper
    • 1 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
  • Instructions:
    1. Make the Applesauce: Combine 4 peeled, cored, and chopped Granny Smith apples with 2 tbsp. brown sugar, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 1 tbsp. water in a saucepan. Simmer for 20 minutes. Mash or puree.
    2. Prepare the Potato Mixture: Wring out excess liquid from shredded potatoes and onions. Combine with eggs, matzo meal, salt, and pepper.
    3. Fry the Latkes: Heat oil in a cast iron skillet. Scoop 3 tbsp. of the mixture, form patties, and fry for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on a wire rack.
    4. Serve: Enjoy warm with applesauce and sour cream

• Sufganiyot (Israeli Donuts): These soft, pillowy donuts symbolize the miracle of the oil.

  
  
  
  • Ingredients:
    • 3 cups all-purpose flour
    • ¼ cup confectioners' sugar
    • 1 cup warm water (110°F)
    • 1 tbsp. yeast
    • 2 large egg yolks
    • 2 tbsp. vegetable oil (plus more for frying)
  • Instructions:
    1. Prepare the Dough: Combine water, yeast, flour, sugar, and yolks. Knead into a slightly sticky dough. Let rise for 1-2 hours.
    2. Shape: Roll dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut into 2-inch squares.
    3. Fry: Heat oil to 350°F and fry dough pieces until golden. Drain on paper towels.
    4. Fill and Dust: Fill with jam, custard, or Nutella using a piping bag. Dust with confectioners' sugar.

• Hanukkah Brisket: This slow-cooked brisket is tender, flavorful, and perfect for a festive meal.  

  
  
  
  • Ingredients:
    • 10-12 lb brisket
    • 2 tbsp. olive oil
    • 1 onion, chopped
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 cup beef broth
    • 1 tbsp. tomato paste
    • 1 tsp. dried thyme
  • Instructions:
    1. Prepare the Brisket: Rub with salt, pepper, and spices. Sear in a Dutch oven.
    2. Add Flavor: Sauté onions and garlic, then add broth, tomato paste, and thyme.
    3. Braise: Cover and cook at 300°F for 3-4 hours.
    4. Serve: Rest and slice against the grain. Serve warm with latkes or roasted vegetables.

Modern Twists

• Swap potatoes for sweet potatoes or zucchini in your latkes.
• Experiment with sufganiyot fillings like lemon curd or pumpkin butter.
• Use Hanukkah-themed cookie cutters for festive desserts.

Recommended Tools for a Joyful Celebration

• Potato Grater and Onion Chopper Set: Effortlessly prepare perfect latkes.
• Cast Iron Skillet: A must-have for evenly frying latkes and sufganiyot.
• Jelly Injector Set: Fill sufganiyot with ease.
• Hanukkah-Themed Serving Tray: Add festive flair to your table.

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you make a purchase through the links provided, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.