Latkes and Other Hanukkah Delights

Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights,” an eight-day long holiday celebrated by Jewish families, is best known for candle-lighting and gift-giving. It commemorates the miracle of one day’s worth of oil that burned for eight days when the Maccabees rededicated the holy Temple in Jerusalem after their victory of the Syrian-Greeks.

A Hanukkah menorah, a candelabrum with eight candleholders in a row and a ninth candleholder that holds the candle that lights the other candles (set a little above the others) and dreidel, (a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side)  are the main entities that symbolize Hannukah. One candle of the menorah is lit the first night, two the second, and so on, until the final night when all the candles are lit. Games are played with the dreidel.

But just as lighting menorahs and spinning dreidels are important aspects of Hanukkah, food also plays a significant role in the holiday, commemorating the miracle of oil.

Latkes. These potato pancakes are the mouth-watering essence of Hanukkah. Since they are fried in oil, a trademark of the holiday, they are a main component to any Hanukkah meal. In 165 B.C.E., to commemorate a Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy, the eight-day festival of Hanukkah was celebrated. Oil was needed to light the menorah for each day, but, as legend has it, there was only enough oil to last one day. The miracle was that it lasted eight. Latkes are typically made with coarsely or finely grated potatoes, usually with onions, and sometimes other vegetables like carrots or celery. Top with applesauce or sour cream, and you’ve got yourself a true Hanukkah delicacy.

Sufganiyot (Jelly-filled doughnuts). These are another traditional food served on Hanukkah, and are also deep-fried in oil. A traditional sufganiyot is stuffed with a sweet fruit jam, like apricot or raspberry, however you’ll often find them oozing with chocolate, cream filling, or other modern combinations. Try sprinkling the top with sugar or cinnamon, or dip it in a sauce or whipped cream. Get out all of the ingredients and get to work on your perfectly crafted sufganiyot.

Gelt. In Yiddish, the word gelt is translated into “money.” Gelt, in chocolate form, is traditionally given to children on Hanukkah as part of their gift. Sure you can’t cash these in for real money, but the treat will sure cure your craving for chocolate once you peel away its golden casing. In the 17^th century, children gave gelt to teachers. As time went on, the tradition evolved into the children getting to keep the treat for themselves. Rabbis supported the idea of children receiving gelt on Hanukkah in order to publicize the story of the oil miracle. In the 1920s, chocolatiers at an American candy company called Loft’s got creative and created the very first chocolate coin.

*All photos by Isabelle Burnet. Visit her food-tastic Tumblr at  www.cookingin5squarefeet.tumblr.com.