Hanukkah may be nicknamed the Festival of Lights, but if you ask us, it’s also a Festival of FOOD! Because Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of a small amount of lamp oil keeping the Second Temple’s Menorah alight for eight days, foods fried in oil are traditionally eaten to celebrate the holiday. When partnered with other traditional Jewish American foods, a Hanukkah feast can be one worth looking forward to all year long.
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What Do You Serve at A Hanukkah Party?
The two most popular Hanukkah foods are latkes and jelly donuts, both symbolic of the oil that kept the lamp burning. Gelt, little foil-wrapped chocolate coins, are also usually found at Hanukkah parties. After that, it’s up to you! Many families will also serve braised brisket and other family favorites, but there are really no rules.
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Latkes
Latkes, also known as potato pancakes, are the one food most closely identified with Hanukkah. They’re made by forming shredded potatoes (usually combined with a little onion) into patties and frying until golden brown, and are traditionally served alongside applesauce and sour cream (We’re partial to topping them with crème fraîche and smoked salmon).
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Jelly Donuts
Jelly Donuts, called Sufganiyot in this context, are the second most traditional Hanukkah food.
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Matzo Ball Soup
No soup is more synonymous with Jewish celebrations than matzo ball soup. All that’s needed for a soup to be called matzo ball soup is chicken broth and a matzo ball or two – big, round dumplings made by binding matzo meal with some eggs and fat (either oil or chicken fat) – but many versions also include chicken, noodles, vegetables like carrots and celery,or a combination thereof.
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Challah
Challah isn’t a traditional Hanukkah food in the strictest sense, but it’s a welcome addition to any Jewish festivity.
This article originally appeared on Goldbelly.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org
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