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 [1] 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 [2] or sour cream.
Traditional latkes don't really need to be improved upon. But of course, professional and amateur chefs [3] 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
Get the recipe: crispy potato latkes [5]
Duck Fat Potato Latkes
Get the recipe: duck fat potato latkes [6]
Mini Sweet Potato Latkes With Greek Yogurt and Smoked Salmon
Get the recipe: mini sweet potato latkes with Greek yogurt and smoked salmon [7]
Zucchini Latkes
Get the recipe: zucchini latkes [8]
Crispy Potato Latkes With Spiced Pear Compte
Get the recipe: crispy potato latkes with spiced pear compote [9]
Yucca Latkes With Aji Amarillo
Get the recipe: yucca latkes with aji amarillo [10]
Sweet Potato and Parsnip Mini Latkes
Get the recipe: sweet potato and parsnip mini latkes [11]
Sweet Potato and Carrot Latkes
Get the recipe: sweet potato and carrot latkes [12]
Mini Latkes With Duck Breast and Blood Orange Gel
Get the recipe: mini latkes with duck breast and blood orange gel [13]
Salt and Vinegar Potato Latkes
Get the recipe: salt and vinegar potato latkes [14]