What foods are eaten to represent Hanukkah?

Three popular foods eaten on the Jewish holidays include loukoumades, pancakes, and latkes. Loukoumades are deep-fried puffs dipped in honey or sugar to represent the cakes the Maccabees ate, along with sufganiyot and zelebi.

Why are oily foods eaten at Hanukkah?

Why Are Fried Foods Eaten for Hanukkah? Fried foods are an important part of the traditional Hanukkah dinner because they represent the small amount of oil that miraculously burned for 8 days instead of just one when the Jews rededicated the Temple after overcoming oppression.

What is the most popular Hanukkah food?

fried potato pancakes
Latkes, or fried potato pancakes, are one of the most well-known traditional Hanukkah foods that celebrate the oil that kept burning for all eight days.

Why are there jelly donuts for Hanukkah?

Why do we eat latkes (fried potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) on Chanukah? The short answer is because the holiday of Chanukah is about the small jar of oil miraculously lasting for eight days and therefore, frying foods in oil commemorates that miracle.

What main dish goes with latkes?

Go Deli-Style: For a filling Hanukkah meal, make latkes the main course and serve with corned beef or pastrami, sauerkraut, mustard and any other favorite deli toppings.

Why do Jews eat donuts for Hanukkah?

On Hanukkah, Jews observe the custom of eating fried foods in commemoration of the miracle associated with the Temple oil. These sofganim were likely syrup-soaked fried cakes, akin to modern zalabiya in the Arab world.

Why is cheese a Hanukkah food?

We count cheese as a Hanukkah miracle. Did you know that in addition to foods fried in oil, we also eat dairy on Hanukkah to commemorate the bravery of Judith? Her courage—fueled by bravery, salty cheese and wine—led to the Maccabee victory.

What is a sufganiyot and what do they symbolize?

These traditional Jewish jelly doughnuts are cooked in oil and used to symbolize the oil lamps that burned for eight nights in the Hanukkah story.

Is Challah eaten during Hanukkah?

This Challah bread is a staple during Hanukkah, but it’s also great for sandwiches and French toast!