Latkes, Pakoras and a Hanukkah Round-Up

  In our household we love finger foods, such as fritters, potato pancakes and other pick me ups, thereby extending to the fact that we do indeed love Hanukkah, a festival that offers us the perfect excuse to indulge in all of this. Such is the universality of food where we can all enjoy and partake in something so different and yet feel connected.

Hanukkah, is a joyous festival and fits nicely with the other winter solstice holidays, making it a fun filled holiday.  Hanukkah begins on 25 Kislev of the Jewish calendar. It celebrates two miracles – a great Jewish military victory and a miraculous supply of oil for the Temple. The eight day festival is also called the festival of lights as it is symbolized with a menorah, and a candle is lit for each passing day, so one for the first day, two for the second day and so on. Children are given gifts, and they often play with the dreidel a four sided spinning top.  Potato pancakes and other fried foods, offer us the opportunity to celebrate the miracle of oil.

So, here are my selection for your holiday table, along with a video for how to make gluten-free, vegan, radish and scallion pakoras.

So,

1. Harvest Latkes – Perfect for this time of the year, with all kinds of roots thrown in with the potatoes.

2. Sweet Potato Latkes – Adding in the sweetness of sweet potatoes into the mix.

3. Tandoori Cauliflower Latkes – This one is a little lighter on the carbs.

4. Sweet Potato and Tapioca Cakes – Another beautiful and seasonal creation that is perfect, for your holiday table.

5. Alu Tikki with Green Beans – My mother-in-law’s traditional potato cakes, this one just might end up replacing those potato pancakes forever, actually, not likely, if I cannot do it, nor can you.

6. Radish and Scallion Pakoras – This is one of my signature recipes from the Spices and Seasons cookbook. And here is the video on how to do this.

7.  Kale and Red Onion Pakoras – Yes, another seasonal favorite that is really hard to beat!

8. Sweet Potato Bondas – These were a great hit for our Thanksgiving table, and I say, why save all the goodness just for one holiday, when there is so much more to go around.

9. White lentil and Red Onion Fritters – Now, if you do not mind adding some good protein packed lentils into the mix, you can have yourself a gorgeous vada, that might love hanging out with the latkes on your table.

1. Last but not the least, where there are latkes, you have to have some applesauce.