Straight from Thanksgiving right into the Festival of Lights, my healthy Hanukkah Dinner Menu pleases many palates.
Healthy Hanukkah Recipes
These fabulous, yet healthy Hanukkah recipes will keep you in the spirit of the holiday tradition without drowning you and yours in a sea of burnt oil and carbohydrates.
What Do You Serve at Hanukkah?
Wondering what do you serve at Hanukkah?
We love low-carb latkes, an herb roasted chicken recipe, homemade applesauce, a fun lightly fried dessert smothered in vegan vanilla ice cream made from cashews, and more.
Healthy Hanukkah Dinner Menu: Latkes Recipe
Of course my healthy latkes recipe below is the star of the Hanukkah dinner menu show.
But fear not, I have built a complete set of recipes to satisfy your healthy cravings for the holiday!
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SCD Diet Butternut Squash Latkes
I created these Butternut Squash Latkes two decades ago when my older son was 5 and on the SCD Diet to heal severe gut dysbiosis.
These gluten free latkes are made with low carb butternut squash, onion, salt, and oil.
Another low carb, SCD diet alternative? My Carrot Scallion Latkes recipe.
Homemade Applesauce Recipe
All you need to make this Homemade Applesauce recipe is two ingredients (apples and cinnamon sticks) and an oven.
The boys grew up on homemade applesauce, and we make it just about every time they come home for a visit –especially at Chanukkah.
For us, it isn’t Chanukkah without gluten free latkes slathered in applesauce and buckets of sour cream.
Roasted Chicken
I like roasting a whole chicken at Chanukkah to keep the protein dish on the simple side while frying all those latkes!
The boys love my roasted chicken recipes. Sometimes, I mix it up and make my festive Roasted Chicken with Olives and Prunes.
Oven Roasted Broccoli
Roasting broccoli florets is another simple and healthy Hanukkah dish that graces our table.
A simple seasoning for broccoli of olive oil and salt is all I use for this nutritious oven roasted broccoli recipe.
Apple Fritters with Cashew Milk Ice Cream
Looking for delicious yet healthy Hanukkah desserts? Apple desserts are the answer here.
My Fried Apples dipped in almond flour are a lower carb hit at Hanukkah, but so good we make them for special occasions throughout the year.
Homemade Hanukkah Gelt: Healthy Candy
The term “healthy candy” need not be an oxymoron.
When it comes to Hanukkah gelt, use my homemade chocolate recipe, or simply melt some organic dark chocolate and pour into a gelt candy mold.
Avoid sugar laden milk chocolate that spikes your blood glucose and provide your family with low carb dairy free candy for Hanukkah.
Hanukkah Gifts
Contrary to public opinion, Hanukkah is not a holiday that traditionally involves a lot of gift giving.
When the boys were younger, I often kept the holiday simple and on point –a celebration of light during the darkest time of the year.
Hanukkah Gifts at Heifer International
We frequently chose gifts on Heifer International or Kiva.
The boys were able to buy a goat or chickens for a family to help them understand the gift of giving, though grandparents usually showered them with other Hanukkah gifts.
Slowing Down Instead of Speeding Up
This is a time of year when things get quite busy and a bit hectic. We live in a culture where we are encouraged to spend money and speed up.
In contrast, I find this a good time to slow down and be a bit more contemplative. Part of that is focusing on the things I am thankful for in my life, such as family and health.
Thankful Quotes
Along those lines, here are some of my favorite thankful quotes:
“Express gratitude for the greatness of small things.”
– Richie Norton
“Spending time in nature feeling connected with the world often elicits gratitude.”
– Diana Butler Bass
“We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.”
– John F. Kennedy
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.”
– Thich Nhat Hanh
Happy Hanukkah
We have so much to be thankful for and I love getting together with my husband and the boys and going around the table sharing what we are grateful for.
What’s your favorite part of the holidays?
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives, I first shared my Healthy Hanukkah Dinner Menu in 2010.
Pat Thames says
I am relatively new to cooking with Almond flour. My grandson and his mother, my daughter have been taken off of all grains. I started cooking gluten free to support them and discovered I do not have arthritis after all. The pain has all disappeared. I will eat gluten free from now on.
Thank you for so graciously sharing your own recipes. You are a blessing.
Shalom, Pat
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen says
Happy Hanukkah to Elana and family! I love the idea of Heifer International!
Yaelian says
Your latkes look so yummy! Happy Chanukah!
Julia says
All of these recipes look wonderful! I am not Jewish, but plan to try the recipes. I just printed them off.
Sarah (Frontier Kitchen) says
Happy Hanukkah! If a bit early… :)
I just wanted to say that I LOVE your blog. I’ve been silently stalking it for a while now and even though I don’t have gluten-free needs, I’m thinking I should start doing a gluten-free day once a week so I can try some of your tasty recipes!
Now I’ve got to go work on my own Hanukkah menu. Yay!
Angela Kilcrease says
Elana…Thanks so much for your great recipes. First place I heard of grapeseed oil. For your cookies and muffins I substitute almond flour for 1/2 ground almonds and half brown rice flour and add extra tsp. of baking powder , my fellow hairstylist can’t believe cookies taste so good and are healthy, they are also amazed at ingredients they have never heard of that are so good for you and taste great.
God Bless you,
Angela
Gina says
I made your butternut squash latkes from your cookbook last year and they are SOOOO awesome. Can’t wait to make them this year.
Gluten Free Nomad says
Elana, thanks for the menu. I’m not Jewish, but I’m really interested in what other traditions love to share at holidays. The latkes look fabulous, and I have lots of butternut squash from the garden, so I can’t wait to try them.
By the way, I tried making your almond pancakes from your cookbook (a recipe I love) with caramelized onions. They were wonderful!!!
Thanks so much for your wonderful cookbook! It’s my favorite…
Pat
Kiersti says
Elana…I am not Jewish but I LOVE latkes. A college roommate introduced me years ago and I was hooked.
However for the past couple years I have been gluten free and avoid things like potatoes and rice, etc. This cramped by latke style. And now..you introduced me to the concept of butternut squash latkes…and soon carrot. Already my mind is buzzing with ideas!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
chava says
Thank you for all the Chanukah Ideas!!! :)