Guide Note

Though Hanukkah does not have a firmly organized ceremonial meal like the Passover holiday, there are several festive and traditional foods eaten annually. Since the story of Hanukkah is rooted in the strong supply of oil, fried foods are common, especially potato pancakes, or latkes.

Fast Facts

1. Traditional dishes: Applesauce, Brisket, Latkes
2. Latkes originally made from cheese
3. Israeli bakeries compete to have the best "sufganiyah"
4. Fried foods commemorate the supply of Temple oil in the Hanukkah story

The holiday lasts for eight nights, providing opportunities for several main courses. Beef Brisket is common, served with potatoes in a thick gravy.

Latkes are made with peeled potatoes and chopped onions, held together with eggs, and fried until golden brown. The pancakes are served with sour cream and applesauce, most commonly.

The fried foods theme continues with jelly doughnuts, also called sufganiyot. In traditional Yiddish cuisine, they are eaten warm, and frequently consumed in Israel in the weeks leading up to Hanukkah.

Rugelach are pastries made with cream cheese, butter or jelly fillings. Though they originated in Austria, they have since become a worldwide Jewish dessert associated with Hanukkah.