Hanukkah Food: Non-Traditional Ways to Celebrate

Challahs, latkes, and brisket are traditional and standard Hanukkah food items. This sacred celebration only comes once a year, so make the feast even more memorable. Give the traditional spread an updated twist with these recipes. Here are several non-traditional Hanukkah food ideas for your celebration.

Chocolate Orange Challah

 

 

This decadent recipe turns challah into a dessert. The dough has orange juice and orange zest in it, while the filling oozes chocolate. The flavors blend perfectly to create a challah your family will clamor for year after year. Non-traditional Hanukkah food has never tasted so good!

Latke Cups

 

 

Who says latke has to be flat all the time? Take your favorite pancake-like dish and turn it into adorable bite-sized cups. The recipe is similar to the latkes you know and love, with a fun twist on the presentation. The recipe from Delish uses applesauce and sour cream to make a sweet and sour garnish.

Pretzel Challah

 

 

This fresh challah recipe alternative is both visually pleasing and gastronomically satisfying. It’s a lengthy process to make this beautiful pretzel challah, with the recipe stating that it takes 4 hours to make, but well worth the effort. The dough needs to rise several times, then the braids are boiled first before they are baked. All good things come to those who wait, however, and your entire family will rave about this Hanukkah food once it does hit the table.

Matzoh Lasagna

 

 

The team at Delish have cleverly dubbed this dish a matzagna. This ingenious dish uses sheets of matzoh instead of pasta dough to make a very non-traditional Hanukkah food. Use kosher mozzarella, ricotta, and marinara sauce to make this internationally inspired plate.

Chocolate Chip Challah

 

 

Bakerita shares her recipe for this scrumptious chocolate chip challah. She shares her tips for using instant yeast to make sure that the dough is soft and fluffy. This challah is even great to enjoy later if there is any left! She advises slicing leftovers, toasting them, and smearing some butter on for a decadent treat.

Grilled Cheese Latkas

 

 

This fun recipe melds comfort foods with tradition to create a tasty dish that kids (and the young at heart) will enjoy at Hanukkah. My Jewish Learning explains that Hanukkah is traditionally celebrated with oily and cheesy foods for historic reasons.

 

On Hanukkah, we eat foods fried in oil to symbolize the oil that lasted eight days when the Maccabees rededicated the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after their victory over the Greeks. The dairy is to celebrate Judith’s victory when she saved her village from the Babylonians.

 

Japanese Style Latkes

 

 

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese term that is derived from two words. Okonomi means “how you like it” and yaki means “grill.” Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese vegetable pancake that is cooked in oil to make a fritter, much like a latke. This Asian fusion inspired twist on a popular Japanese dish comes from My Jewish Learning. The recipe on the site uses easy to find items, but the author also shares tips for specialty Japanese food items that can be used to make this Hanukkah food dish more authentic.

Vegetarian Brisket

 

 

Those who opt to avoid meat and meat products do not have to avoid brisket at Hanukkah with this creative recipe. This vegetarian brisket is made with a fruit that many have likely never heard of. Jackfruit is a dragon egg-shape fruit from the tropics. This unique fruit features a meaty center that has a hearty flavor. The cleaned fruit is available in cans at a variety of stores, so you can make this dish even if the fresh fruit is not available in your area.

So, which of these ideas for non-traditional Hanukkah food is your favorite? Do you have any other non-traditional things your family serves? For more entertaining suggestions, see our advice on how to be the ultimate host.