The Eight Foods of Hanukkah
Hanukkah starts tonight and we (the Jewish people) are thinking about the religious and cultural importance of this holiday. This festival of lights evokes a feeling of familial ties, thankfulness, and survival. Along with emotional ties, this eight day stretch reminds me of my thankfulness to be Jewish — and all the foods that come with it.
With that said, let the countdown begin:
1) Latke
THE classic Hanukkah dish. A light, crispy, oily potato pancake that has become a tradition in the Jewish faith around Hanukkah. While it has been known to stink up your house, this has become a staple of Hanukkah because of the use of oil, reminding us of the oil the Maccabees used that lasted for 8 days. One of the most anticipated foods for that time of year, and one of my favorites! While my mom did not grow up in a Jewish household, she definitely mastered this dish.
2) Kugel
A baked casserole or pudding made from egg noodles. This dish is a classic in my home during holiday time. I always find this dish on the dessert table adorned with a little cinnamon, raisins, and brown sugar by my Meema!
3) Sufganiyot
A delicious dessert that is synonymous with Hanukkah. This treat resembles a classic jelly doughnut that has been smothered in powdered sugar. Though they are classically consumed in Israel, American Jews also love a good festive doughnut. Dunkin donuts just can’t compete with good Sufganiyot.
4) Gelt
Whether you stuff your face with gelt or not, you know it’s Hanukkah when the family pops these little gold coins out. Nothing is better than getting a package of coins to snack on. I personally enjoyed bringing them into school to show off to my non-Jewish friends, who didn’t understand why or how, I was eating gold coins. Older traditions share children giving gelt to their religious school teachers, and then wanting some money for themselves. Gelt became a chocolate Hanukkah icon in the 20th centuries by American chocolatiers. Who knew? Gelt, while not the most lavish Hanukkah treat, still evokes nostalgia for this time of year.
5) Matzah Brei
Another Meema classic dish. Matzah brei, fried matzah and egg, is typically a Passover dish, as a great bread substitute, but in my family, we eat it during Hanukkah as well. My Meema has these down to a science, taking her maybe 10 minutes to make one. Which is a good thing because matzah brei in my house never lasts more than 5 minutes.
6) Rugelach
Rugelach is probably my favorite Jewish pastry. How can you have a Hanukkah meal without (chocolate) rugelach on the menu? While the rugelach you can find locally is delicious, nothing compares to the rugelach in Israel.
7) Matzo Ball Soup
Matzo ball soup is a classic Jewish dish, and probably one of the most famous. Matzo ball soup has expanded beyond just Jewish culture, and can be found pretty much everywhere. There is an art form to cooking and creating matzo ball soup; making a good, hearty matzo ball is a skill. In my house, we commonly have matzo balls the size of meatballs — they’re delicious. Matzo ball soup is a symbol of Jewish culture, and one of the best parts of Hanukkah.
8) Kasha Varnishkes
Kasha varnishkes is my favorite dish that my Meema makes. Her secret recipe for this dish adds onions to the kasha and noodles (YUM). This dish is synonymous with being Jewish for me. During the Hanukkah season, my Meema will make at least a pound of kasha to send over for the whole family to demolish.
What are your favorite Hanukkah foods? Do they match up with mine or do you have another to add? Let us know in the comments below!
Hayley Herzog is a sophomore studying Social Work and Global Public Health at New York University.
