Most Americans, when they think of Hanukkah dinner, think of latkes, crispy potato pancakes fried in oil and topped with either applesauce or sour cream depending on your personal predilections.
Latkes are a special holiday treat that my family looks forward to all year. But they are not the end-all and be-all of Hanukkah foods. Not even close! In truth, any food fried in oil is traditional for this holiday. That’s because Hanukkah commemorates a miracle from the second century BCE when, after a Jewish victory over the Greek army, a day’s worth of oil used to light the eternal flame in the temple lasted for eight days.