Healthy Hanukkah Recipes and Menus

Featured Recipes

Plum & Apple Compote with Vanilla Custard

Jennifer Sanders of Cambridge, Ontario, came up with this winning combination of plums and apples, which she stews into a compote and accompanies with a light and comforting custard sauce.

» Plum & Apple Compote with Vanilla Custard

Ida's Mandelbrot

A tender-crisp, walnut-studded cookie (traditionally made with almonds, or mandel in Yiddish) adapted from a 1950s family recipe.

» Ida's Mandelbrot

Crispy Potato Latkes

It is a holiday tradition to fry latkes in hot oil, but here shredded potato-and-onion pancakes get a coating of matzo crumbs, are pan-fried in a small amount of oil and finished in a hot oven for a few minutes. The golden-crisp results have only 4 grams of fat and 100 calories per serving—truly a miracle.

» Crispy Potato Latkes

Oven Barbecued Brisket

A relatively inexpensive cut of meat, a brisket needs to tenderize overnight before it's baked. Here we use a full-flavored, smoky barbecue dry rub, then it's slowly baked and basted. Brisket cuts are notoriously fatty, but the flat "first-cut" section is a far better choice for healthy eating than the fattier "point cut." It may be worth calling ahead to make sure your supermarket or butcher has one on hand.

» Oven Barbecued Brisket

Bold Winter Greens Salad

For this cousin of the Caesar salad use a combination of winter greens, such as radicchio and escarole; the anchovies and lemon juice temper their bitterness. Vary the amount of garlic and anchovy according to your preference.

» Bold Winter Greens Salad


Potato latkes—the crispy golden pancakes that are symbolic of the Jewish festival of lights—are all about the oil. After all, the point of Hanukkah is to celebrate the miraculous way that one day’s worth of consecrated olive oil kept the Jerusalem temple lamp burning for eight days. Unfortunately, most latke recipes today rely on what seems like an eight-day supply of oil (or trans-fat-laden shortening products) to achieve the desired taste and crispiness. But celebrating the Festival of Lights doesn’t have to raise your cholesterol. Try one of our lighter latke recipes (or copy our techniques with your own recipe) and surprise your family and friends with less fat this year. We’ve also included some main dish and dessert recipes to round out your celebration. Have a happy, healthy Hanukkah.

Healthy Hanukkah Main Dish Recipes

Zucchini, onion, tomatoes and bell peppers stud this paella-inspired rice dish. You...
This braised brisket gets a decidedly wintery feel from the earthy-sweet flavors of...
Even if you're only feeding four, it is a good idea to roast two chickens at...
A relatively inexpensive cut of meat, a brisket needs to tenderize overnight before...
Pair turkey cutlets with roasted fennel and a rich pomegranate pan sauce for a...
Tired of the same old turkey on the holiday table? This could be the year to switch...
Creamy polenta laced with sharp Parmigiano-Reggiano makes a savory bed for sweet...
Modeled on North African stews, this aromatic vegetarian main course can be served...
Making everyone their own individual meatloaf turns an everyday food into an easy,...
Fresh orange juice and cinnamon infuse this winter squash and chicken stew. Tzimmes...
Braised root vegetables, rich with red wine, mushrooms and thyme, make a fabulous...
The bright orange carrots in this savory tart are a feast for the eyes and the...
Pheasant is a small bird with a delicate flavor that's richer than chicken. We...
Here, we sear quail in a skillet and then finish them in the oven over a bed of pear...

Healthy Hanukkah Recipes for Sides, Salads & More

For this cousin of the Caesar salad use a combination of winter greens, such as...
This pungent Greek-inspired dip is sensational on whole-wheat pita crisps or fresh...
This tangy and piquant sour-cream sauce is also a great accompaniment to steaks or...
Serve this Middle Eastern-inspired salad with whole-wheat pitas and melon wedges.
Try spreading this tangy tapende on crostini or pipe into cherry tomatoes (after...
Make plenty of these mildly sweet and salty nuts—they are great to have on hand over...
This colorful salad offers a symphony of flavors and textures. Savory black olives,...
Toasted nuts and fresh orange zest adorn these versatile green beans. Toast the nuts...
It is a holiday tradition to fry latkes in hot oil, but here shredded potato-and-...
This twist on a classic latke is baked in a muffin tin, avoiding lots of oil for...
This speedy homemade applesauce is fabulous with potato latkes or as a healthy snack...
For this sweet and tart salad, wheat berries are blended with cranberries, apples...
Tzatziki, a flavorful Greek yogurt sauce laced with cucumber, is a tangy...

Healthy Hanukkah Dessert Recipes

Sweet caramelized pears are the highlight of this comforting, custardy, raisin-...
The chocolate flavor in this rich and glossy cheesecake is deepened by the addition...
This rice pudding is dairy-free, but the bananas and rice milk make it so creamy and...
With all that delicious fruit an apple pie should be healthy, but the truth is a...
This hearty dessert is the perfect sweet ending to a Hanukkah meal. Try serving it...
A tender-crisp, walnut-studded cookie (traditionally made with almonds, or mandel in...
Our Test Kitchen created this showpiece cheesecake to celebrate one of winter's...
Use whatever fresh or frozen fruit you have on hand to make this old-fashioned...
This easy, comforting pear crumble is sure to please. Serve it as is or with low-fat...
Jennifer Sanders of Cambridge, Ontario, came up with this winning combination of...
Several readers challenged our test kitchen to come up with a tasty, but healthful,...
The traditional cookie for Purim, hamantashen is Yiddish for "Haman's...

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