A Taste Of Hanukkah: 13 Festive And Delicious Recipes

From latkes to brisket, these comforting holiday recipes will make your Festival of Lights extra bright.

1. Curried Sweet Potato Pancakes

Spiced with an aromatic blend of curry, cumin, ginger, and cayenne pepper, these exotic latkes adapted from Jewish Cooking in America by Joan Nathan double as a fabulous winter side dish. GET THE RECIPE

2. Rugelach

Delicious to eat and fun to make, rugelach are miniature crescent-rolled pastries posing as cookies. They’re made by rolling a triangle of dough around a sweet filling of fruit, nuts, chocolate, or anything your heart desires. GET THE RECIPE

3. Onion Braised Beef Brisket

This wonderful brisket recipe was originally published in The Silver Palette New Basics Cookbook in 1989 — and is the world’s most Googled brisket recipe for good reason. GET THE RECIPE

4. Egyptian Barley Salad with Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Inspired by the flavors of Egypt, this salad contains crunchy pistachios, tangy pomegranate molasses, and cilantro, all balanced by warm, earthy spices and sweet golden raisins. Chunks of feta, scallions, and pomegranate seeds adorn the top of the dish, making a gorgeous composed salad with lively flavors and textures. GET THE RECIPE

5. Chunky Homemade Applesauce

Homemade applesauce is richly flavored, tart and sweet — almost like apple pie filling. Spoon a dollop over your latkes or offer for dessert. GET THE RECIPE

6. Noodle Kugel

This traditional Jewish dish is made from egg noodles baked in a creamy custard. You’ll love the thick and crunchy cinnamon streusel. GET THE RECIPE

7. Oven-Fried Latkes

Latkes are traditionally made on the stovetop but I prefer to fry them in the oven. They’re no healthier, mind you, but they’re just as good, half the mess, and so much easier. GET THE RECIPE

8. Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls

Matzo ball soup is traditional for Passover, but I make it on Hanukkah too. It’s a bit of a “potschke,” as my mother would say, but it’s not hard — you pretty much throw everything into a pot and forget it. And the secret to delicious, light, and fluffy matzo balls? Use a mix! GET THE RECIPE

9. Sweet & Spicy Roast Chicken with Carrots, Dates and Pistachios

In this festive-looking dish, chicken is immersed in a honey, citrus, and chili-infused marinade, and then roasted with carrots and dates. Herbs, scallions and pistachios are added before serving for freshness, color, and crunch. GET THE RECIPE

10. Zucchini Fritters

On Hanukkah, it’s traditional to eat foods fried in oil. While the word fritter usually conjures up something heavy and deep-fried, these zucchini pancakes are as light and delicate as can be. GET THE RECIPE

11. Roast Chicken with Herb Butter

This easy roast chicken with herb butter is the perfect cozy dish for the holidays. Serve it with latkes, roasted carrots and applesauce. GET THE RECIPE

12. Moroccan Carrot & Chickpea Salad

Fragrant spices, bright colors, sweet and savory flavors — this Moroccan salad is a feast for the senses. It’s essentially an exotic twist on the classic carrot-raisin salad, yet you don’t need any exotic ingredients to make it. The magic is made with spices you likely already have in your spice cabinet. GET THE RECIPE

13. Grandma Annie’s Chocolate Chip Mandel Bread

My Grandma Annie made the world’s best mandel bread, a traditional Jewish cookie similar to biscotti. Serve them with coffee, milk, or hot chocolate while playing a game of dreidel. GET THE RECIPE