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hanukkah
Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated Dec 1, 2023
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The taste of Hanukkah promises a spread of dishes that tell the story of the holiday. We rounded up over 40 of the most-loved Hanukkah dinner recipes from our archives and made sure to include not only plenty of latkes, but also everything from homemade challah and sufganiyot for the intrepid baker to a refreshing salad to break up all that richness.
Meaty Main Dishes
The star dish for many Hanukkah dinner tables is brisket. It’s a show-stopping centerpiece that’s as classic as it gets, which is why we love it. For something a little different but equally as fitting, we also love a wintery braise filled with semolina dumplings.
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Balsamic and Brown Sugar Brisket
This holiday-worthy brisket recipe, from Leah Koenig's Little Book of Jewish Feasts, adds brown sugar and balsamic vinegar to the braising liquid, resulting in deep flavor and caramelized edges.
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Classic Beef Brisket in the Slow Cooker
Adding some enriched tomato products — in this case ketchup and tomato paste — gives the broth body and adds layers of flavor including some acidity to balance the briskets richness.
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Red’s Brisket
This simple, slow-cooked brisket is tender and rich, with plenty of juice to drizzle over roasted potatoes.
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Instant Pot Brisket
This classic sweet and tangy brisket cooks in a fraction of the time thanks to the electric pressure cooker.
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Slow Cooker Brisket and Onions
The classic flavors of brisket you crave with the ease of the slow cooker. This recipe produces the most crowd-pleasing, tender pot of brisket you've made.
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Meaty brisket is simmered in the slow cooker with a sweet and tangy tomatoey sauced laced with tender onions and just the right amount of spices.
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Braised Beef with Semolina Dumplings
This hearty winter braise is inspired by two dishes: kubbe — miniature meat-filled semolina dumplings simmered in a vegetable or meat stew — and long-cooked green beans, variously known as loubia or fasoulia.
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Short Rib Borscht
Boneless short ribs braised in beets, cabbage, and fennel create this deeply savory and comforting classic stew.
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Lemon Pepper Salmon
All you need is one baking dish, 10 minutes to mix a marinade, and 20 minutes of bake time to make satisfying and flaky lemon pepper salmon.
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Pomegranate Molasses-Roasted Skillet Chicken
Thick, tart pomegranate molasses makes an excellent foil for succulent chicken legs and crispy potatoes in this oven-roasted chicken main.
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Juicy, Crispy Schnitzel
Hanukkah wouldn't be the same without an abundance of fried foods, like schnitzel crisped up in oil to golden, crunchy perfection.
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Lemon Chicken with Za'atar
Here, all the work is done in advance, which means that the Hanukkah celebration has little fuss, and lots of happy feasting.
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Roast Chicken with Fennel, Carrots, and Gremolata
Roasting a whole chicken can be trouble-free! Cookbook writer Cathy Erway's roast chicken gets a big punch of fresh herbs — plus sweet roasted fennel and carrots, which absorb savory juices from the meat by sharing the same pan.
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Balsamic and Citrus-Braised Lamb Shanks with Whipped Parsnip Purée
The nutty-sweet aroma of the parsnips pairs perfectly with rich and meaty lamb shanks in this festive small-scale Hanukkah dinner.
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All the Latkes
Hanukkah just wouldn’t be Hanukkah without latkes. Frying up the potato version is only the beginning, however. We also are equally happy with simple riffs, like latkes made with parsnips or even spaghetti squash.
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The Best Classic Latkes
We tried 5 classic latke recipes to find a fail-proof method for latkes at home.
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Herb and Scallion Latkes
These fast and fancy latkes are filled with a handful of fresh herbs and scallions for a fresh take on the fried favorite.
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Sweet Potato Latkes Recipe
A delightful riff on the Hanukkah classic.
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Air Fryer Latkes
This super-simple air fryer latkes — made with grated potatoes, onion, matzo meal, and eggs — are just as crispy and delicious as traditional fried latkes.
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Spaghetti Squash Latkes
Here, starchy grated potato is swapped for some tender spaghetti squash and tossed it with fresh herbs, green onions, and Pecorino Romano.
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Crispy Cheesy Latkes Recipe
Everything you love about nachos and latkes combined into one, perfect, three-bite appetizer.
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Parsnip Latkes
The main difference when using parsnips for latkes is that they don’t contain as much water as potatoes. Buy the juiciest-looking medium-sized parsnips you can.
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Kimchi Scallion Latkes Recipe
Latkes inspired by gamja bokkeum, the Korean banchan made from stir-fried potato matchsticks.
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Syrian Herb and Meat Latkes (Ijeh B'Lahmeh)
Instead of the grated potato, these latkes are made with ground beef and a delightful mess of chopped mint, parsley, cilantro, and scallions.
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Everything Bagel Latkes Recipe
An everything bagel full of allium bite and toasted onion-and-spice topping walked into a potato.
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Other Great Side Dishes
It’s nice to have another side dish to go along with the latkes — especially if it lends a little veggie power to the meal. Roasted Brussels sprouts or a crisp fennel salad would be perfect additions. Having challah at the table is also an excuse to make French toast the next morning.
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Classic Matzo Ball Soup
This classic soup is make with homemade chicken stock and features extra fluffy matzo balls.
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Noodle Kugel
Sweet noodle kugel is typically the one seen most often on the table during weekly Shabbat or at Jewish holidays.
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Applesauce
Whatever type of latke you want to eat, you'll need some good toppings. This simple applesauce is here to help.
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The Best Homemade Challah Bread
Here is a bread that is as much a pleasure to look at as it is to eat. Check out that braiding! Challah is a bread that should be in everyone's repertoire.
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Roasted Parsnips
A sheet pan and dukkah spice mix basically do all the work so you can have the best roasted parsnips to eat on the side.
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Fennel, Carrot, and Leek Gratin Recipe
Fennel, carrots, and leek are mixed with an aromatic Parmesan cream sauce and topped with pecan breadcrumbs for the ultimate veggie gratin.
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Candied Carrots
A delicious syrupy glaze helps to enhance the natural sweetness of carrots in this glossy side dish.
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Potato-Parsnip Rosti with Caramelized Onion Sour Cream
If you’re looking for a starchy Hanukkah dish that’s *like* latkes but doesn’t require the patience of frying, flipping, and keeping them warm, say hello to the rosti.
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The secret to great roasted Brussels sprouts is to blanch them first, which can even be done a day or two ahead. It help's them crisp and caramelize without becoming leathery.
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Pummelo, Fennel, and Radish Salad
This is a gorgeous salad, full of crunch from fennel and radishes, plus sweet-tart grapefruit.
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Hanukkah Desserts
Equally as classic as brisket and latkes are puffy, powdered sugar-coated jelly doughnuts. Beyond that decadent treat, we also are fans of rugelach, macaroons, and fritters.
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Cocoa Ribbon Cookies Recipe
Keep a log of these chocolate-orange-flavored cookies in your freezer to bake at a moment’s notice.
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Red Wine and Prune Rugelach
For pastry chef, Caroline Schiff, the combination of red wine, prunes, and toasty hazelnuts is what evokes belonging and reminds her of family. Her brown butter rugelach filled with jammy red wine soaked prunes and toasty hazelnut are the best of tradition and nostalgia combined.
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Homemade Jelly Doughnuts (Sufganiyot)
Hot doughnuts, fresh from the fryer, stuffed with sweet jelly: this is a Hanukkah treat that everyone can enjoy and anyone can make.
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Easy Rugelach Cookies
This decadent cookie starts with a cream cheese-based dough and whatever filling you can dream up. Honey-walnut or chocolate are good places to start!
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Black and White Cookies
For over a century, the black and white cookie has been a staple item in the Jewish culinary repetoire of New York City. With this classic recipe, you can make the luscious treat at home.
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Chocolate Olive Oil Cake
This ultra-moist chocolate cake is deep and rich in flavor. For a jubilant presentation, serve with whipped cream and toasted hazelnuts.
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Halva
Sometimes, less is more. Halva is a simple two-ingredient recipe (tahini and sugar) and is a sweet and simple candy primed for Hanukkah.
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Chocolate Marble Cake
This loaf cake tastes best the day after it's made, when all of its flavors had time to get to know each other and deepen. This means you can make it ahead of time and have one less thing to worry about right before a Hanukkah meal.
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Hanukkah Cocoa Fritters
These cocoa fritters suit the spirit of the holiday since, like donuts, they’re also fried, thus commemorating the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight nights.
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Chocolate Chip Macaroon Puffs
These classic coconut macaroons are mixed with mini chips and gilded with a layer of melted chocolate.
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