What’s a Jewish holiday without food? While there are standard items that help make for a perfect Hanukkah, when it’s your turn to host the actual meal, you may want to think outside the box. Use the limited kitchen space you’ve got in your apartment for maximum benefit by planning smart. Keep the standbys on the menu, but try out these additional Hanukkah dinner ideas to elevate the holiday meal into something unique and memorable. Most don’t ask for too much extra effort when it comes to preparation, either.
1. Make a brisket without using the oven
Brisket is a mainstay of many Jewish holiday meals. Its heartiness and warmth make it a perfect main course for Hanukkah, as well. Even if the holiday falls close to Thanksgiving, you won’t have to worry about meat overload since everyone just gorged themselves on turkey and its leftovers.
Even better is when you find a brisket recipe that cooks in the slow cooker. No hot oven, no mess and the ability to set it and forget it. You even free up your oven and stove for other Hanukkah dishes this way.
The only drawback is the amount of forward-thinking required. Some slow cooker brisket recipes take over eight hours to cook. You definitely need to plan ahead for this space-saving Hanukkah main course.
2. Have sour cream and applesauce battle it out
If you’re feeling like your Hanukkah dinner ideas are getting stale, don’t fret. Take the old faithful — latkes — and add a twist. This quintessential part of the meal means fried potato and onion goodness, but there’s not much to do to change them up. This is mostly because people expect latkes to taste a certain way.
Instead, tackle the big Hanukkah question with a taste test battle — “Do I want savory or sweet with my latkes?” It’s a question people are passionate about. Those who want sweet, top their latkes with applesauce. Those who lean toward savory use sour cream.
Ask your dinner guests to try each and take a table poll. You may not change any minds, but it will put a different spin on the meal.
3. Put on the pasta
Another Jewish dish that can go sweet or savory is kugel. This egg noodle casserole pops up on Shabbat each Friday, but also on major Jewish holidays. The base is the same, but you can add additional ingredients to change up the flavor.
First, boil the noodles, then bake with sugar, eggs and some combination of dairy ingredients like sour cream and cottage cheese. Modifications can include adding things like raisins or dried cherries. Cinnamon also often appears as an ingredient in sweet noodle kugel.
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4. Focus on dessert
A holiday meal is all well and good, but Hanukkah has something special going for it — sufganiyot. A hard word to pronounce, what we’re really talking about is jelly donuts.
This sweet treat didn’t become part of the Hanukkah tradition until the 1920s, but it’s here to stay. Some families swing by their favorite donut shop and pick up a dozen to round out dinner, while others attempt to make them at home, which is no easy task.
If you want to try something a little different this Hanukkah, take a stab at some homemade sufganiyot, and wow your dinner guests with an impressive end to your holiday meal.
5. Take advantage of soup weather
When Hanukkah falls in the heart of winter, all you may crave for your holiday meal is soup. Of course, there’s a Jewish version. Typically seen at Passover, matzah ball soup is also perfectly at home during Hanukkah.
Serve it as a first course, or make it the focal point of your meal. This soup is home in a bowl, and most families have their own recipe to use. It will easily enhance the warmth you already feel from the glow of the Hanukkah candles.
6. Make it from scratch
Having at least one, from-scratch element in your Hanukkah dinner is nice. However, with eight nights to the holiday, you may end up ordering out at some point. You’re covered if you thought ahead and made some homemade applesauce.
Even as you defrost your frozen, store-bought latkes (Trader Joe’s has the best ones) and wait for food delivery, puling out the homemade applesauce will add just the right flair to the meal.
Most applesauce recipes are quick, easy and make very few dirty dishes. It stays fresh in the fridge, so one batch could last the whole holiday.
7. Celebrate Shabbanukah
Again, with eight nights of Hanukkah, one night is bound to come on a Friday. Combine Shabbat and Hanukkah together for a dual-holiday meal. Add challah and some wine in with your latkes, a simple protein and a few easy sides.
This extra special meal will most likely bring even more guests to your dinner table since Shabbat is a natural time for families to gather each week. Plus, who doesn’t love the opportunity to have two celebrations at once?
8. Roast it
When it comes to your Hanukkah dinner’s main course, if you’re not doing brisket, think about chicken. Roasting a whole chicken not only makes plenty of food but is a one-dish meal. You prep it, toss it into the oven and let it do its thing.
Chicken is also a pretty universal dinner dish for those who might not enjoy all the traditional foods accompanying the meal.
Protein is also a staple in Jewish cooking, so it will be a friendly addition to your Hanukkah table.
9. Find a kosher fish
Even if you don’t keep Kosher, there’s nothing wrong with cooking a Kosher fish for dinner. Salmon, flounder and sea bass all fit into this category. Shrimp and other shellfish do not. Kosher fish hit every price point at the store, so find one that fits your budget.
For preparation, baking the fish will keep it moist with minimal clean-up. It’s one of the great week-night Hanukkah dinner ideas.
10. Make it vegetarian
Thankfully, Hanukkah dinner ideas don’t always have to include meat and fish. Should you prefer a vegetarian holiday meal, opt for something hearty like a vegetable stew or consider frying some vegetables in oil. Eggplant, thickly cut, will hold up really well to the frying process.
Frying in oil may feel a little unhealthy, but using oil to cook your Hanukkah meal is another way to celebrate the holiday itself. Using the oil in this way symbolizes the miracle the holiday honors. Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of a single day’s worth of oil lasting eight days when the Jews returned home after their city was destroyed.
11. Toss in some simple sides
Look to the oven once again for simple side dishes. Roasting carrots or any favorite vegetable is quite easy. For something raw, go for a simple salad.
When it comes to Hanukkah side dishes in general, leaning toward Mediterranean or Middle Eastern flavors always seems to complement the tone of the Hanukkah meal. Since the story of Hanukkah took place in this part of the world, the spices of these regions make sense.
A great seasoning to use is za’atar. This spice blend can vary, but typically includes:
- Oregano
- Thyme
- Marjoram
- Sumac
- Toasted sesame seeds
It’s gaining in popularity here in the U.S. and is much easier to find today.
12. Introduce a little Israel
If you’re going to use za’atar in your Hanukkah dinner, you should also consider other ways to infuse your meal with a little Israel. The Jewish homeland, Israel has a distinct culinary flavor and style. You can find pieces of it here in the states to bring into your dinner.
The easiest way is to create a side with Israeli couscous. Available in almost any grocery store, tasty both warm or cold, it’s a versatile ingredient.
Be’teiavon
You’ve planned and executed an amazing meal with these Hanukkah dinner ideas. Now, all that’s left to do is light the menorah, say the prayers and sit down to eat. Every other day, you’d say bon appétit, but tonight, say be’teiavon, the Hebrew version.
Eat up, because next, it’s the dreidel game and then on to planning your next fancy dinner. There are a lot more celebrations to be had.
