Holiday Recipes- 6 Classic Dishes That Will Take You to Hannukah Heaven

What Hanukkah's All About?

Miracles happen. Hanukkah is proof of it. This holiday commemorates the victory of a small band of Jews, known as the Maccabees, over the mighty Seleucid Empire. Led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son Judah Maccabee, the band defeated their oppressors in battle and returned to their temple in Jerusalem, only to find it had fallen to ruin. They built a new altar and prepared to rededicate their temple with a new flame -- but had only enough oil for one night's ritual. Miraculously, the little oil they had lasted eight nights -- giving us Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights.

In addition to being a time for reflection and prayer, Hanukkah is also celebrated with food. From latkes and sufganiyot to kugel and brisket, these dishes are sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. And what's not to love? They're comforting, wholesome, and delicious. If you want to try a few festive recipes this Hannukah, here are six classic dishes to make your celebrations special.

Classic Hanukkah Recipe No. 1- Potato Latkes

These fried potato pancakes are traditionally served as appetizers or a side dish. Serve them plain or topped with applesauce or sour cream.

Ingredients- 2 pounds baking potatoes (5 to 6 potatoes) (Yukon gold and russet potatoes work best), 1/2 medium-size peeled yellow onion (quartered), 2 tablespoons matzo meal or unseasoned dry breadcrumbs, 1 large egg, 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 cup chicken schmaltz or canola oil (you can also use a combination of both to dilute the taste), Applesauce or sour cream (for topping)

Instructions-

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease the cookie sheet with 1 tablespoon of oil.
   
2. While the oven is heating, grate the potatoes using either a food processor or a box grater. If you're using a food processor, pulsing it a few times should do the trick; you don't want to turn the potatoes into mush.
   
3. Transfer the grated potatoes to a colander. Rinse well with cold water. It will help remove some of the starch and make them less likely to stick together when cooking. Squeeze as much water as possible from the grated potatoes using your hands or a kitchen towel. This will give you crisp latkes.
   
4. Combine potatoes, eggs, matzo meal, and onion in a large bowl. Mix well.
   
5. For each latke, drop 2 tablespoons of batter onto the prepared cookie sheet; spread slightly with the back of a spoon.
   
6. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Serve warm with applesauce or sour cream on top.
   

Classic Hanukkah Recipe No. 2- Beef Brisket

This slow-cooked cut of beef is often served as the main course on Hanukkah. It is usually braised in wine or beer and can be served with vegetables or mashed potatoes.

Making beef brisket is a fairly simple process. But to ensure that your end result is tender, juicy, and flavorful, selecting the right beef cut is important. The best cuts will come from the front part of the cattle, near the chuck and breast area. These portions tend to be well-marbled with fat, which helps to keep the meat moist during cooking.

Ingredients- 1 (5-pound) beef brisket, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 onions (sliced), 3 cloves garlic (minced), 1 cup beef broth, 1 cup red wine, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Instructions-

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
   
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic, and saute until softened.
   
3. Place beef brisket in a large roasting pan. Pour the onion mixture over the beef, and add the red wine, beef broth, and Worcestershire sauce.
   
4. Cover tightly with aluminum foil or a lid, and bake for 3 hours in the preheated oven or until very tender when pierced with a fork.
   

Classic Hanukkah Recipe No. 3- Jelly Donuts

Fill your home with the smell of sufganiyot, or fresh doughnuts this Hanukkah. These little heavenly bites can be enjoyed plain or with different fillings -- from traditional jelly to chocolate or pumpkin spice, and they're dusted with sugar or cinnamon sugar to give them a beautiful explosion of flavor.

Doesn't matter how you like your sufganiyot, these little pastries make a delicious dessert or snack!

Ingredients-
For the doughnuts- 1 tablespoon instant yeast, 1/4 cup warm milk, 1/4 cup sugar (divided), 1 large egg yolk, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled to room temperature), 3/4 teaspoon salt, 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (plus more for the work surface), neutral oil (for frying), a pinch of orange zest (for added flavor)

For the filling and assembly- Apricot or plum preserves (or any other thick jam), piping bag fitted with a star tip (optional)

Instructions-

1. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, egg yolk, and sugar in a medium bowl. Stir in the yeast and orange zest until well combined.
   
2. In a small saucepan, heat the milk over low heat until it is warm. Pour the milk into the flour mixture and stir until everything is well combined.
   
3. Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm place for about an hour or until the dough has doubled.
   
4. Once the dough has doubled in size, turn it onto a floured surface and roll it out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut out circles using a biscuit cutter or cup and transfer them to a lightly floured baking sheet. Let them sit for another 10 minutes before frying them in hot oil.
   
5. Fry each donut for about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
   
6. Remove the fried donuts from the oil and drain them on paper towels.
   
7. Once they are cool enough to handle, use a small knife to cut a slit into each side and insert a piping bag filled with apricot or plum preserve (or another filling of your choice).
   
8. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
   

Classic Hanukkah Recipe No. 4- Chicken Soup

When it comes to holiday recipes, chicken soup is an old favorite that always hits the spot. This Hannukah recipe is the perfect way to warm up a cold night. It's packed with flavor, with aromatic vegetables and plenty of chicken. Plus, it's super healthy and easy to make.

Ingredients- 1 whole chicken (cut into 8 pieces), 2 carrots (peeled and diced), 2 celery stalks (diced), 1 medium-sized onion (peeled and diced), 6 cups of chicken broth, 1/4 cup of parsley (chopped), 1 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

Instructions-

1. Place the chicken in a large pot or Dutch oven and cover it with the chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, then add the carrots, celery, and onion. Season with salt and pepper and let the soup cook until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is cooked through (about 30 minutes).
   
2. Once everything is properly cooked, remove the pot from the heat and add the chopped parsley. Serve hot with crusty bread on the side.
   

Classic Hanukkah Recipe No. 5- Chremslach

Chremslach is fried pancakes, and they're oh-so-delicious! They make a great appetizer or side dish and can be enjoyed plain or topped with gravy or sauce. Chremslach means "to mix" in Yiddish -- and that's exactly what you'll need to do when making this dish. Be sure to thoroughly mix the ingredients before frying up your Chremslach.

Ingredients- 1 cup matzo meal, 1 teaspoon salt, 3 teaspoons sugar, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 2 eggs (beaten), 1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy), 4 tablespoons butter or margarine (melted) or vegetable oil (for frying), additional salt for sprinkling (optional)

Instruction-

1. Start by mixing whisked eggs, matzo meal, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl.
   
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and water. Add this mixture to the potato mixture and stir until everything is well combined.
   
3. Heat oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Scoop 1/4 cup batter into the pan for each pancake and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
   
4. Serve with applesauce or sour cream, and enjoy!
   

Classic Hanukkah Recipe No. 6- Veal Schnitzel

Ditch the turkey and try something new this holiday season, like this delicious veal schnitzel.

Schnitzel is essentially thin slices of meat -- typically turkey, veal, or pork -- dredged in flour or breadcrumbs and then fried. To make the perfect schnitzel, start by pounding the meat to an even thickness. This will ensure that it cooks evenly throughout. Serve your schnitzel with lemon wedges and plenty of mashed potatoes.

Ingredients- 16-ounce veal tenderloin (sliced into 1-inch thick pieces), salt and pepper (to taste), 1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 eggs (beaten), 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 10-ounce can of cranberry sauce

Instruction-

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
   
2. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper. Spread flour on a plate or in a shallow dish.
   
3. In another shallow dish, beat together eggs and breadcrumbs. Dip each pork piece in flour, and then the egg-and-breadcrumb mix.
   
4. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the pieces to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
   
5. Remove pork from the skillet, and drain on paper towels.
   
6. Place pork in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 minutes.
   
7. For added flavor, try basting the pieces with your favorite barbecue sauce during the last 10 minutes of baking.
   
8. Spoon cranberry sauce over the pieces just before serving.
   

Final Word

People in the United States celebrate Hanukkah with gusto, with a family meal and the lighting of the sacred menorah. It's a time of indulgence for Jews and gentiles alike. Markets brim with Hanukkah goods, TV specials are aired, a menorah is mounted on the White House Ellipse (a tradition that goes back to 1979), and the Restaurant Industry lays out its annual Hanukkah spread.

But do yourself a favour this holiday season. Don't take the easy way out with Restaurant Food; get into the spirit of things and have a go at these recipes instead, and make this Hanukkah a home-made celebration.