Candle lightings, family time, an abundance of gifts, and indulgent holiday foods. Oh yeah, you know what time of year it is … Chanukah! As my family and I get ready to celebrate this holy eight-day “festival of lights”, I’ve compiled a quick list of traditional Chanukah foods and the ways I flexibly serve them. Enjoy and happy holiday!
A Healthier Twist On Latkes
Traditionally made by shredding potatoes, mixing with a few other ingredients, and deep frying, latkes are one of the most popular Chanukah foods. At my house, though, I like to apply a flexible approach to latke making! In THIS recipe, I swap out the heavy potatoes for fresh zucchini. Plus, I change up the cooking method by shallow frying in olive oil and then finishing them off in the oven. But don’t stop at this variation. Get creative with your latkes by playing around with other healthier ingredients — think sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, cabbage, carrots, or cauliflower as the base. You can even find recipes for 100% baked latkes.
Potato Chip Brisket Bites
I’ve been seeing this idea pop up all over the internet — cook up a brisket following your favorite recipe, thinly slice the meat, and then serve it on top of a potato chip. Now, how is that for meat and potatoes?! I share my favorite melt-in-your-mouth brisket recipe in my upcoming cookbook, FOOD YOU WANT For The Life You Crave , order it here and get the recipe! A couple tips to make your meat amazing: Get it from a reputable butcher, avoid very lean cuts that tend to be tougher, and slice your brisket very thin to help with softer bites.
Jelly-Filled Doughnuts
Nothing says Chanukah quite like a jelly-filled doughnut (AKA sufganiyot). Last year, I revealed a shocking secret right here on the TFC blog. I had never made homemade jelly doughnuts before! After a lot of experimenting and taste-testing, I compiled a list of my favorites. Click here for the best versions I could find online and how I tweaked them to create gluten-free versions when necessary.
Gluten-Free Doughnuts With Salted Caramel
I was introduced to this amazing recipe a few years back when my good friend Lisa Roukin first posted it on her website. Well, it’s since become a favorite of mine. They’re gluten-free doughnuts drenched in an indulgent dairy-free caramel sauce. Crowd-pleasing and guilt-free: the perfect combo. Enjoy them!
What Chanukah foods are you serving up this year? Share your family traditions and ideas with me on Instagram!
