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.
Jessie and Lennie Ware’s Latkes
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.
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Claudia Roden’s Lokshen Kugel (Savoury Noodle Pudding)
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.
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.
Jessie and Lennie Ware’s Brisket in Cola
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’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.
