“Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah, come mild the Menorah. Let’s have a celebration; we’ll all dance the Horah. Spin the whirling dreidels all week lengthy. Eat the scorching latkes, sing a contented tune.” It’s Chanukah time…or Hanukkah…nonetheless, you spell it, it’s a time for festivities and scrumptious meals! Hanukkah is the vacation that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It’s a vacation of miracles, when a tiny amount of oil that ought to have solely lasted sooner or later burned for eight days. To commemorate this miracle, it’s conventional to eat fried meals reminiscent of latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (doughnuts). Whereas we most likely suppose we are able to reside on latkes and doughnuts, that is additionally a time for household gatherings and massive dinners. Make it a real celebration by placing out a conventional and superb feast of dishes that everybody will get pleasure from. Listed here are 8 methods to make your Hanukkah miraculously scrumptious.
1. Appetizers
Supply: Buffalo Roasted Chickpeas
Mushrooms make for some scrumptious appetizers and spreads. Whereas I someway survived a Jewish upbringing with out ever tasting chopped liver, I needed to give you my very own recipe for a pal who had just lately switched to a plant-based weight-reduction plan. I saved it quite simple: simply mushrooms, walnuts, and spices. The entire dish takes about quarter-hour or much less to arrange. You possibly can actually add your personal spin by utilizing various kinds of mushrooms, spices, lentils or no matter elements you favor. This makes a beautiful appetizer or dip for events, holidays or each time. Oh, and as a substitute of calling it chopped liver, it’s now Mushroom and Walnut Pate.
Put a skillet over medium warmth and add 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil. When the oil begins to ripple, add 10 oz. chopped cremini mushrooms and 1 small chopped onion to the skillet. Prepare dinner till they’re browned and softened; it ought to take round 10 minutes. Combine in ½ tsp. dried thyme, ½ tsp. dried rosemary, ½ tsp. Herbes de Provence and ¼ tsp. black pepper. Don’t add any salt but as salt takes the moisture out of the mushrooms and retains them from browning. Switch the combination to a meals processor. Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts, ½ tsp. kosher salt and 1 Tbs. water. Course of till it’s a easy paste. Style for spice changes. I discover I usually have so as to add a pinch extra of this or that till it’s good. Refrigerate in a coated dish for a few hours. The flavors actually intensify over time. Even higher, make it the evening earlier than. The primary time I made this, I tasted it instantly and thought it was okay. The subsequent day I tasted it once more and it was unimaginable. Serve with crackers or toasted bread. Yum! For extra concepts, see 10 Methods to Make Superior Vegan Dips and Spreads.
One other superb finger meals can also be an incredible get together or late-night snack. As an alternative of the standard popcorn or chips, put out a bowl of my Spiced Chickpeas. These are addictive! If you happen to make them for a crowd, make loads! Use any spice combine you want or make a wide range of flavors. Preheat the oven to 400 levels. Toss 3-4 cups of cooked chickpeas in 1 Tbs. vegetable oil, 1 tsp. smoked paprika, 1 tsp. floor cumin, ½ tsp. kosher salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Switch the chickpeas to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and organize them in a single layer. Roast for quarter-hour, shake the tray to toss them and roast for an additional 10 to fifteen minutes till they’re crisp and crunchy. Watch them fastidiously in direction of the tip so that they don’t burn. Switch them to a bowl and watch them disappear! For different flavors, attempt these Roasted Buffalo Chickpeas and these Roasted Chickpeas with Chipotle and Lime.
2. Soups
Supply: Matzo Ball Soup
I can’t even think about celebrating a Jewish vacation and not using a bowl of scorching matzoh ball soup. Serve up a bowl of custom with a vegan twist with this Matzoh Ball Soup or this Vegan Matzoh Ball Soup with a Gluten-Free Possibility. Different conventional Jewish soups embrace Lentil Vegetable Soup and Cut up Pea Soup. Reap the benefits of the season and the bounty of pumpkins and winter squash to make thick, creamy soups like my Curried Pumpkin Soup with Apple Croutons, Acorn Squash Apple Soup, Apple Butternut Squash Soup, and this Roasted Winter Vegetable Soup.
3. Salads
Supply: Seasonal Candy Fall Salad
With so many fried and wealthy meals, you wish to make sure you have a recent salad or two on the desk to lighten issues up. Relatively than simply making a easy tossed salad, use seasonal flavors and elements to show an extraordinary salad into a unprecedented one. My favourite winter-themed salad is my Apple, Cranberry, Arugula and Fennel Salad with an Apple Honee French dressing. The spicy arugula, tart cranberries and anise-flavored fennel all fall into stability with the addition of candy apples and a barely candy dressing. To make the salad: mix 6 cups of arugula and 1 head of fennel that has been sliced in a bowl. Core 1 giant apple and lower it into bite-sized items. Prepare the apples on the salad together with ¼ cup dried cranberries. To make the dressing: mix 3 Tbs. apple cider vinegar, 2 tsp. vegan honey, 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil and kosher salt and black pepper to style. Whisk till easy and blend into the salad.
Different salads that may entice folks to eat their greens embrace this Seasonal Candy Fall Salad, Uncooked Massaged Kale with Recent Figs and Oranges, Kale Salad with Apricots and Almonds and this Grilled Beet Salad with Almonds and Dried Cranberries.
4. Entrees
Supply: Portobello Wellington
Conventional entrees are typically fairly meat-centric nevertheless it’s solely potential to have a good time custom with a compassionate contact. Brisket and roasts are widespread vacation dishes. Wow everybody with this Seitan and Mushroom Bourguignon, Braised Seitan Brief Ribs in Spicy Chile Sauce, Seitan Pot Roast (which can be made with this gluten-free model of seitan), this Portobello Wellington, Gluten-Free Vegan “Turkey” Cutlets and the Unturkey Roast. No vacation goes by with out me making my Tofu with Apple and Onion Relish or Moroccan Tofu in Lemon-Olive Sauce over Spaghetti.
For much less “meaty” entrees, do that Roasted Acorn Squash Filled with Quinoa Mushroom Pilaf, Lentil Loaf, or this Vegetable Lentil Shepherd’s Pie. When holidays name for dishes that may feed a crowd, casseroles and pasta dishes come to the rescue. Do this Creamy Pumpkin and Spinach Lasagna, Ooey-Gooey Baked Ziti, Pumpkin Gnocchi in Spiced Butter Sauce with Lemon Cashew Cream and this Butternut Squash, Portabello, and Spinach Casserole with Vegan Sausage.
5. Sides
Supply: Pomegranate Balsamic Roasted Greens
Facet dishes are the most effective a part of any meal, for my part. One dish that’s at all times successful is my Roasted Lemon-Thyme Brussels Sprouts. Preheat the oven to 450 levels. Place 2 lbs. of halved Brussels sprouts on a big baking sheet. Toss with 2 Tbs. olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes till browned, rotating the pan midway via. Whereas the Brussels sprouts are roasting, put together the sauce. In a small bowl, mix the zest and juice of 1 lemon, 1 Tbs. agave nectar or maple syrup, 2 Tbs. tamari, 2 Tbs. olive oil, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tsp. dried thyme and a pinch of purple pepper flakes. Add salt and pepper to style. When the Brussels sprouts are browned, switch them to a serving bowl. Pour the lemon-thyme sauce over them and toss to coat. Serve whereas heat.
Different extra-special aspect dishes embrace my Potato and Onion Kugel with Sauteed Apples, Onion, Celery and Mushroom Stuffing, Sauteed Delicata Squash Rings, Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes with Braised Garlicky Kale, Spicy Lentil Salad, Yam Banana Mash, Sauteed Broccoli Rabe with Pink Chile Flakes, Pomegranate Balsamic Roasted Greens , and one other conventional Jewish dish, Tzimmes
6. Latkes
Supply: 5 Vegan Latkes Simply in Time for Hanukkah
There are a number of causes to welcome Hanukkah however for me, the factor I look most ahead to is per week of consuming latkes. Latkes are fried potato pancakes which are normally made with shredded potatoes and onions and dipped in apple sauce or bitter cream. Yearly I make dozens and dozens of latkes, conventional and artistic varieties. To make Conventional Gluten-Free Potato Latkes: Combine 2 Tbs. floor flaxseed with 1/3 cup heat water in a small bowl and let sit for 10 minutes to thicken. In the meantime, grate 2 giant russet potatoes. Wrap them in a clear dishtowel and squeeze the surplus liquid out of them. Switch the potatoes to a big bowl. Grate ½ of a giant yellow onion and squeeze the onion to take away the surplus liquid. Add the onion to the potatoes. Add the flaxseed/water combination to the bowl. That is your binder. Add 1 tsp. baking powder, ½ cup chickpea flour, 1 Tbs. recent chopped parsley, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. paprika, 1 tsp. kosher salt and ½ tsp. black pepper to the bowl and blend properly. Use your judgment whether or not the combination looks like it should maintain; if it feels very unfastened, add extra flour (you could possibly additionally add some potato starch in the event you needed). Style the combination to see if the seasoning wants adjusting.
Warmth 2 Tbs. of vegetable oil in a big skillet. Utilizing a tablespoon/soup spoon, fastidiously place spoonfuls of the potato combination into the pan. Flatten every latke with the again of the spoon. Prepare dinner till browned, about 4 minutes, then flip and cook dinner the opposite aspect, about 2-3 minutes. Switch the latkes to a paper-towel lined plate to empty. Sprinkle with salt. Make sure that the oil stays scorching however is just not too scorching. If the outsides of the latkes are browned earlier than the potato cooks, it’s too scorching. Add extra oil as wanted between batches. In case you are not serving instantly, place the latkes on a baking sheet with a cooling rack on it. Cowl with foil and preserve in a heat (200 levels) oven. Serve with vegan bitter cream or apple sauce (see subsequent half).
Latkes are like a clean canvas onto which you’ll paint many scrumptious flavors. Use candy potatoes as a substitute of white potatoes to make these Candy Potato Latkes with Chutney Bitter Cream and Curried Apple, Onion and White Bean Topping. Add different shredded greens reminiscent of zucchini, carrots or yellow squash. Strive these Harvest Latkes which are made with potatoes and rutabagas. Or you may omit the potatoes altogether and make latkes out of zucchini, parsnips or my new favourite, Brussels sprouts.
One other technique to play with latkes is to go world. I received formidable a few years in the past and made 5 totally different latke recipes, every with a distinct ethnic taste profile and its personal dipping sauce. My World Latkes embrace: Italian Mozzarella Latkes with Marinara Sauce, Chinese language 5-Spice Potato Latkes with Plum-Hoisin Dipping Sauce, Indian Curry Potato Latkes with Cucumber Raita, Spanish Potato Latkes with Chipotle Bitter Cream and Greek Spinach, Potato and Vegan Feta Latkes with Tzatziki Sauce. It’s like celebrating Hanukkah around the globe!
7. Sauces and Gravies
Supply: Selfmade Applesauce
Essentially the most conventional condiment eaten throughout Hanukkah is apple sauce. Whether or not it’s eaten alone, on prime of kugel or on the aspect of a plate of latkes, a great appel sauce is required. My Quick and Festive Apple Sauce is wealthy, candy from the apples and a bit brown sugar, tart from a touch of lemon juice and heat from cinnamon and cloves. It smells as great because it tastes. It’s possible you’ll by no means purchase jarred apple sauce once more. Peel, core and cube the apples. Saute the diced apples in 1 Tbs. oil for 3-4 minutes. Add the ½ tsp. cinnamon and ¼ tsp. cloves. Cowl the pot and let cook dinner till the apples are tender, about 15-20 minutes. Add water, if needed. When the apples are tender, resolve if you wish to add sugar. If you happen to do, begin with ½ Tbs. of brown sugar and use as much as 1 tablespoon. Prepare dinner till the sugar dissolves. Flip off the warmth. Stir in 1 tsp. of lemon juice. Let cool. Refrigerate if you wish to eat it chilled. For an additional recipe with maple syrup, do that Selfmade Apple Sauce. Child spinach, orange juice and chia seeds make this Uncooked Spring Energy Applesauce a wholesome alternative.
One other sauce that needs to be on the desk is cranberry sauce. Make my Straightforward Cranberry Sauce or attempt these different recipes: Orange-Infused Cranberry Sauce, Conventional Cranberry Sauce and Spiced Cranberry, Ginger and Pear Sauce. Please move the gravy! There’s nothing higher than spooning thick, luscious gravy down over your potatoes or seitan roast. Try my tutorial for making the right brown, white or mushroom gravy after which attempt these superb recipes: Straightforward Mushroom Gravy and Vegan Thanksgiving Gravy. The one factor higher than having wealthy gravy can also be having biscuits to dunk into it. Strive these Vegan Biscuits and Sausage Gravy, Gluten-Free Biscuits and Mushroom Gravy and my Gluten-Free Pumpkin Spice Biscuits with Soy Feta.
8. Desserts
Supply: Pear Crumb Cake
Do you might have any room left for dessert? I positive hope so as a result of Hanukkah requires some candy treats. Apart from all of the chocolate gelt and chocolate dreidels, it’s custom to eat sufganiyot or doughnuts. It’s straightforward to make your personal doughnuts. My Gluten-Free Pumpkin-Spiced Glazed Doughnuts are scrumptious, gentle, tender doughnuts with the nice and cozy flavors of autumn topped with a candy pumpkin glaze. They’re additionally baked as a substitute of fried so they’re considerably more healthy. Preheat the oven to 375 levels. Grease a doughnut pan with oil or vegan butter and put aside. In a mug, mix 1 Tbs. floor flaxseed and three Tbs. heat water. Stir and let thicken for five minutes. In a second mug, mix ½ cup pumpkin-spiced non-dairy milk and ½ tsp. vinegar. Stir and let sit. It should curdle. That’s what it’s presupposed to do. In a medium-sized bowl, mix 1 cup gluten-free, all-purpose flour mix, 1 ½ tsp. baking powder, ½ tsp. baking soda, ½ tsp. kosher salt and a couple of tsp. pumpkin pie spice. Combine till all the things is properly mixed.
In a big bowl, add 4 Tbs. vegan butter or oil and ½ cup brown sugar. Use an electrical hand mixer to cream them collectively. Add the milk/vinegar mixture and blend till easy. Pour within the flaxseed gel and blend once more till easy. Lastly, add 1 tsp. vanilla and blend that in. Add the dry elements in thirds to the moist elements. Combine with the mixer till the batter is easy and thick. Use a spoon to fill the doughnut pan with batter ¾ full. The doughnuts will rise so don’t fill them to the highest. Brush the tops with milk and bake for 20-23 minutes. The doughnuts needs to be agency however nonetheless spring again if you contact them. Permit the doughnuts to chill of their pan when you put together the glaze.
In a bowl, mix ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 Tbs. pumpkin-spice non-dairy milk and ½ tsp. vanilla. Use the hand mixer to beat the glaze till it’s thick and shiny. Arrange a cooling rack on prime of a baking sheet. When the doughnuts cool, take away them from the doughnut pan. Dip every doughnut within the glaze and set them on the cooling rack for quarter-hour or till the glaze hardens. Additionally attempt these Straightforward Baked Doughnuts, Baked Blueberry Doughnuts, and Pumpkin Spice Doughnut Holes for a more healthy twist on the custom.
One other conventional Hanukkah dessert is rugelach that are yummy cookies which are full of both chocolate or fruit filling. If you wish to critically impress your visitors, make my Chocolate Hazelnut Rugelach. A Jewish desk normally has a challah on it so embellish yours with my Vegan Candy Dessert Challah with Chocolate Drizzle. Finish the meal on a candy notice with this Apple of My Eye Pie with Gluten-Free Crust, Carrot Cake with Walnuts and Maple Cream Cheese Frosting, Vegan and Gluten-Free Pear Crumb Cake and an enormous bowl of this Candy Potato Apple Pie Ice Cream.
Hanukkah is among the most joyous Jewish holidays with singing, presents, video games, story-telling and scrumptious meals. At One Inexperienced Planet, we want everybody a Blissful Hanukkah full of mild, love and miracles.
