5 Healthy Latke Recipes for Hanukkah

Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah for 2011, also known as the Festival of Lights for those of the Jewish faith. The holiday commemorates an ancient battle victory and the re-dedication of a holy temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah is not the most holy of Jewish holidays, but it could be called the most anticipated. It comes with a bounty of traditions – be it lighting the eight candles on the menorah, spinning a dreidel, or preparing favorite foods – that make the holiday special and memorable.

Like other holidays, be it Independence Day, Christmas, or Thanksgiving, Hanukkah celebrations are made complete with recipes, treats, and entrees that are typically enjoyed just once a year. And like other holidays, they can wreak havoc on the diets of those trying to watch their pounds during this indulgent time of year.

Latkes are a favorite. These potato pancakes are one of the foods most associated with a Hanukkah celebration. Traditionally made with deep-fried potatoes, a few recipes use other vegetables and alternative cooking methods like baking to preserve flavor while cutting calories. We’ve found a few latke recipes that are a little better for you.

Zucchini Latkes, shared with DIR by DailyBurn’s Kate Brown, use zucchini, onion, peanut oil for frying, and a dollop of Greek yogurt.

Sweet Potato Latkes, shared with DIR by The Scramble’s Aviva Goldfarb, use white and sweet potatoes, onion, and applesauce and pan-fried in a slight amount of vegetable oil.

Gluten-Free Latkes, posted by the Care2 community, use a combination of baking and sweet potatoes with gluten-free flour and are then baked for a crunchy finish.

Oven Baked Latkes, from Slash Food, use a very basic recipe with russet or Yukon Gold potatoes, sweet onion, egg and flour that is then baked to make potato pancakes that are perfect right out of the oven.

Chinese Latkes, from Care2′s Annie Bond, are a basic recipe with a tangy spin thanks to a dipping sauce made with sesame oil, soy, and garlic that replaces the traditional sour cream or applesauce.

Read more: Diet & Nutrition, Food, Hanukkah, Jewish, potatoes

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
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Melinda offline K.

7:31PM PDT on Mar 18, 2012

thanks will check out the gluten free link

send a green star

KS G.

4:11AM PST on Feb 27, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Eternal G.

1:45PM PST on Jan 13, 2012

Thank you!

Anne P.

8:39AM PST on Dec 24, 2011

My mother makes the most delicious potato pancakes. I wish I was at her house right now, enjoying a huge plateful!

Manuela B.

3:30AM PST on Dec 24, 2011

yummy they look absolutely delicious thank you!!

Winn A.

9:49AM PST on Dec 23, 2011

Yummmmmmmmmm and thanks!

Joan S.

12:14AM PST on Dec 23, 2011

yum any kind of Latkes are my kind of latkes

Howard C.

1:50PM PST on Dec 22, 2011

I've never tried a latke, I have never seen them for sale in the UK, but I'm going to have a go at making the oven baked ones, they sound really great. Thank you for the recipes.

Quanta K.

2:45AM PST on Dec 22, 2011

Thanks.

Lynn C.

8:19PM PST on Dec 21, 2011

Like Laurie D., it's not a tradition but they sound so good, think I'll just borrow them. Liked the oven baked recipe.