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5 recipes to celebrate Hanukkah

by Genevieve Halbert

published on 2 December 2021

In the Jewish tradition Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, is a time for singing, rejoicing, and gathering with loved ones. It can also be seen in Nigella Lawson’s terms, as: “a divine ordination to eat deep-fried foods”. Since the central miracle of Hanukkah involved oil, the foods traditionally eaten in celebration of the festival tend to be deep-fried. Ashkenazi Jews typically eat potato latkes, Sephardi Jews eat syrup-drenched fritters (called zalabia or loukoumades), while in Israel soufganiot (jam-filled doughnuts) are common. If you’re planning a party or gathering to celebrate the festival this year, take a look at our collection of Hanukkah-inspired recipes, including a slow-cooked brisket, a comforting kugel recipe, and, of course, some delectable deep-fried foods, from Nigella Lawson’s mini doughnuts to Jessie and Lennie Ware’s latkes.

Table Manners Latkes

Jessie and Lennie Ware’s Latkes

by Jessie Ware, Lennie Ware

Latkes are akin to potato rösti or hash browns: little potato cakes, deep-fried until crunchy on the outside and meltingly soft on the inside. They can be paired with anything from apple sauce to caviar.

From the book

Jessie Ware, Lennie Ware

Claudia Roden

Claudia Roden’s Lokshen Kugel (Savoury Noodle Pudding)

by Claudia Roden

A traditional Ashkenazi dish, commonly served on Jewish holidays, kugel is a baked pudding that can be made with noodles or potato, and can be sweet or savoury. This savoury lokshen (or noodle) version from Claudia Roden includes a sweet, Israeli-inspired variation. You can serve this with Jessie and Lennie Ware’s brisket, below.

The Book of Jewish Food
From the book

The Book Of Jewish Food

Rukmini Iyer Rugelach Recipe

Date and Walnut Rugelach

These tender, crescent-shaped biscuits can be filled with jam, nuts, or chocolate, according to you preference. Rukmini Iyer rolls hers up around a swet date and walnut filling.

Brisket in Cola | Roast

Jessie and Lennie Ware’s Brisket in Cola

by Jessie Ware, Lennie Ware

Like Kugel, brisket isn’t specific to Hanukkah, but is served at a range of Jewish holidays, particularly in America. Jessie and Lennie Ware’s version is cooked in cola for four hours until falling apart. Serve it with Claudia Roden’s kugel (above).

nigella lawson doughnuts

Nigella Lawson’s New Year Doughnuts

These are not traditional soufganiot, the jam-filled mini doughnuts served in Israel during Hanukkah. However, if you want to try something a little different this year, these Dutch-inspired doughnuts from Nigella Lawson fit the bill nicely.

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