10 Nontraditional Latke Recipes to Try This Hanukkah

POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

This year, Hanukkah begins on the evening of Dec. 18 and ends Dec. 26. The "festival of lights" celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Chabad.org notes, and is celebrated by the nightly lighting of the menorah and saying Hanukkah prayers. It's also a tradition to eat foods fried in oil to commemorate the story of the Hanukkah miracle: that a small supply of oil that should have only lit the Holy Temple's menorah for one day instead lasted eight. And the most well-known Hanukkah treat is the delicious latke, a potato pancake that is often eaten with applesauce or sour cream.

Traditional latkes don't really need to be improved upon. But of course, professional and amateur chefs have been creating their own spins on potato latkes for as long as they've been fried. These 10 recipes offer up some truly intriguing variations, including a latke that's fried in duck fat, one that's made with sweet potatoes, and another served with creme fraiche and caviar. Hey, the holiday is eight nights long — you have plenty of time to experiment a little. Enjoy!

— Additional reporting by Mirel Zaman

Crispy Potato Latkes
Culinary Hill

Crispy Potato Latkes

Get the recipe: crispy potato latkes

Duck Fat Potato Latkes
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

Duck Fat Potato Latkes

Get the recipe: duck fat potato latkes

Mini Sweet Potato Latkes With Greek Yogurt and Smoked Salmon
Cooking For Keeps

Mini Sweet Potato Latkes With Greek Yogurt and Smoked Salmon

Zucchini Latkes
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Zucchini Latkes

Get the recipe: zucchini latkes

Crispy Potato Latkes With Spiced Pear Compte
Love and Olive Oil

Crispy Potato Latkes With Spiced Pear Compte

Yucca Latkes With Aji Amarillo
Little Ferraro Kitchen

Yucca Latkes With Aji Amarillo

Sweet Potato and Carrot Latkes
Foxes Love Lemons

Sweet Potato and Carrot Latkes

Mini Latkes With Duck Breast and Blood Orange Gel
Jamie Geller

Mini Latkes With Duck Breast and Blood Orange Gel

Salt and Vinegar Potato Latkes
The Little Ferraro Kitchen

Salt and Vinegar Potato Latkes