Gail Simmons's Hanukkah Favorites
Fried Baby Artichokes
Fried foods are a highlight of Hanukkah meals, especially foods fried in olive oil. Both are a nod to the holiday, which celebrates a lamp in a destroyed Jerusalem temple that burned for eight days on very little oil, according to Jewish history. This recipe is based on a preparation that originated in Rome’s Jewish ghetto.
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Fried Parsnip Ribbons
Fried foods, like these crispy parsnip ribbons, are a highlight of Hanukkah meals.
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Herb-and-Lemon-Roasted Chicken
Gail Simmons’s family likes their roast chicken, a classic Hanukkah dinner, with lots of lemon and herbs. This recipe is foolproof and fantastic, versatile enough for a weeknight dinner or dinner party.
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Renée's Latkes
Gail Simmons’s mother, Renée Simmons, uses a food processor’s shredding disk to get long potato strands that fry up extra-crispy. Serve with Ivor’s Pink Applesauce.
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Horseradish-Crusted Roast Beef
Brisket or a juicy roast beef is a tradition on many Hanukkah tables. This roast—deliciously crusted with horseradish and black peppercorns—is perfect hot out of the oven, but it's also amazing cold on a sandwich: Thinly slice the roast beef and serve it on white bread with horseradish mayonnaise and tomatoes.
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Doughnuts in Cardamom Syrup
Doughnuts and other fried treats are a Hanukkah classic. Flavored with cardamom, these are a nod to Sephardic Jewish tradition.
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Creamy Leek and Potato Soup
Gail Simmons likes to start her Hanukkah meal with a “rich and creamy” vegetable soup like sweet potato, squash or this simple potato leek recipe.