Whether you spell it Hannukah, Chanukah, or any other variation, the Jewish festival of lights is drawing near, and with it comes an opportunity to indulge in lots of traditional holiday foods. Hanukkah fare is best known for fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), which are served in recognition of the Hanukkah story.
What’s the deal with all the fried food you ask? Well, since the story of Hanukkah involves one night’s worth of oil burning for eight nights in the Jewish Temple long ago, foods cooked in oil are consumed to celebrate! Any excuse to eat fried food sounds good to me, but it definitely poses some challenges to those of us on a gluten-free diet.
We’ve compiled a list of gluten-free adaptations of Hanukkah recipes for your enjoyment. We tend to focus on health and nutrition here at CeliAct, but when one has a healthy relationship with food, there’s always room for indulging in traditional (even fatty and sugary) foods in moderation around holidays and other occasions. In this list we’ve tried to include some healthier adaptations among the decadently oily treats.
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Gluten-Free Donuts
The traditional donut for Hanukkah is a jelly donut. These days, however, people enjoy all types of donuts on Hanukkah. Most donut recipes are deep fried, but some are baked. You can roll them in granulated sugar, powdered sugar, or cinnamon, depending on your tastes.
Gluten-Free Bunuelos (Mexican Donuts)
And if making donuts yourself doesn’t sound appealing, you can buy some gluten-free jelly donuts (as well as other kinds of donuts and donut holes) from the Katz Gluten-Free website. They are delicious!
Gluten-Free Latkes
Crisp potato pancakes (latkes) are a Hanukkah favorite, and should be served with sour cream and/or apple sauce. Which topping you select is a matter of personal preference and a source of good-natured argument in many Jewish households. Although they are “potato” pancakes, many traditional recipes incorporate non gluten-free matzo meal or flour. Luckily though, there are an abundance of gluten-free latke recipes out there for us gluten-free folk. Some even incorporate other vegetables or cheese!
Gluten-Free Parsnip & Carrot Confetti Latkes
Gluten-Free Carrot Scallion Latkes
Gluten-Free Sweet Potato-Parsnip Latkes
Other Gluten-Free Fried Food for Hanukkah
Why stick to donuts and latkes when you can also enjoy all manner of fried foods without guilt for one week out of the year? Here are some creative, outside-the-box ideas for your gluten-free Hanukkah menu:
Gluten-Free Fried Mozzarella with Marinara Sauce
Gluten-Free Fried Zucchini Chips with Lime-Mint Dipping Sauce
Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you not to forget toppings for your latkes, such as dairy-free sour cream and homemade apple sauce. And don’t be scared to adapt your favorite family recipes for Hanukkah this year – a little ingenuity goes a long way in turning traditional recipes into gluten-free recipes. With minor tinkering, you can have latkes just like grandma made them, but without the gluten. Happy Hanukkah!
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