Holiday Entertaining
Your Ultimate Thanksgivukkah Recipe: A Face-Off with the Serious Eats Community
We're challenging the Serious Eats community to come up with the ultimate Thanksgivukkah recipe -- and we need your help.
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As we're gorging on Halloween candy, as we're gnawing on a turkey leg, as we're eating cookies and carving roasts and drinking eggnog and cider and champagne, it's easy to think: it really is the most wonderful time of the year. It cannot get better than this.
Oh yes, it can.
Because this year, we have a new holiday on our hands. This holiday is Thanksgivukkah.
Thanksgivukkah is the one-in-70,000-ish-years holiday in which Thanksgiving and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same day. And, like any other holiday, it deserves a celebration. It deserves a party. It deserves a feast to go along with it.
We and our friends at Serious Eats have challenged each other to a friendly Thanksgivukkah competition -- à la the great Cherpumple-off of 2012 -- to come up with the most clever Hanukkah/Thanksgiving mash-up recipe. And we need your help.
Leave your ideas in the comments for the ultimate Thanksgivukkah dish -- mains, sides, desserts, all fair game! -- and help us out-Thanksgivukkah the fine folks at Serious Eats. We'll build our mashup based on your brilliant brainstorming, and they'll do the same. Check back on November 4th for the big reveal. Let the festivities begin!
So tell us: What would your ultimate Thanksgiving-Hanukkah mashup recipe be?
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73 Comments
Maia B.
November 17, 2013
Another idea- the focus for Hanukkah foods is really meant to be the oil. So why not a variety of wonderful dipping oils and a nice crusty bread for dipping?
Maia B.
November 10, 2013
cranberry chutney latkes with apples, pears, candied ginger and cranberries. Would they need eggs and or matzo meal to hold them together?
Adrian S.
November 10, 2013
Maia, I would do the latkes separately and serve with the chutney. Add some sweet potato to the regular potatoes and you will need matzo meal or flour and eggs to hold them together.
Maia B.
November 17, 2013
Thanks Adrian! We've always made these wonderful apple latkes from, if I recall correctly, Joan Nathan's Jewish Holiday Cookbook. I was thinking of playing with that recipe by adding some cranberries and spices. But we also make this great chutney and maybe it makes more sense to go your route and stick to what we know works!
Steve K.
November 7, 2013
"Thanksgivukkah is the one-in-70,000-ish-years holiday in which Thanksgiving and the first night of Hanukkah fall on the same day."
Err, not to be picky, but this year the first day of Hanukkah falls on Thanksgiving. The first night is actually Wednesday evening at sundown.
Me, I'm thinking pastrami-cured turkey; sweet-potato latkes with cranberry sauce, and grean beans 'n' gribenes (the crispy bits left over after rendering out chicken fat).
Err, not to be picky, but this year the first day of Hanukkah falls on Thanksgiving. The first night is actually Wednesday evening at sundown.
Me, I'm thinking pastrami-cured turkey; sweet-potato latkes with cranberry sauce, and grean beans 'n' gribenes (the crispy bits left over after rendering out chicken fat).
Lilly B.
November 4, 2013
how about a play on "chicken and waffles" but do turkey and latkes... with a cranberry maple syrup!
Kristen M.
November 4, 2013
Hi all, check out the Thanksgivukkah recipe spawned from your brilliant ideas (and what Serious Eats brought to the table): http://food52.com/blog/8864-the-thanksgivukkah-double-down-food52-vs-serious-eats-face-off#comments
Kristen M.
November 4, 2013
Oops, this is a better link: http://food52.com/blog/8864-the-thanksgivukkah-double-down-food52-vs-serious-eats-face-off
CarolineSL
November 3, 2013
Here's what I've been thinking about:
Turkey gribenes
Pumpkin or chestnut cream sufganiyot
Challah stuffing (although maybe this year I'll omit the oysters!)
Sweet potato latkes w cranberry
Thanksgiving veggie latkes of potatoes & Brussels sprouts
Too many ideas! Only 1 meal...
Turkey gribenes
Pumpkin or chestnut cream sufganiyot
Challah stuffing (although maybe this year I'll omit the oysters!)
Sweet potato latkes w cranberry
Thanksgiving veggie latkes of potatoes & Brussels sprouts
Too many ideas! Only 1 meal...
Adrian S.
October 28, 2013
Pastrami spice brined Turkey. Would be great if it was deep fried, but that is too scary for me, Apple cranberry fritters, pumpkin kugel or butternut squash latkes.
Couldn't B.
October 27, 2013
These are two ideas I came up with. Both are dairy free to accomodate people who keep kosher and are eating turkey.
Cranberry apple hand pies shaped like dreidels http://www.couldntbeparve.com/2013/10/thanksgivikkuah-hand-pies/ and pumpkin pie filled sufganiot (doughnuts) http://www.couldntbeparve.com/2013/10/pumpkin-pie-sufganiot/
Cranberry apple hand pies shaped like dreidels http://www.couldntbeparve.com/2013/10/thanksgivikkuah-hand-pies/ and pumpkin pie filled sufganiot (doughnuts) http://www.couldntbeparve.com/2013/10/pumpkin-pie-sufganiot/
susan G.
October 22, 2013
Here's my pick, from food52: http://food52.com/recipes/1625-sweet-potatoes-anna-with-prunes. I've eaten it befoe. This time I'll make it.
molly Y.
October 22, 2013
and pastrami and challah stuffing! http://blogs.forward.com/the-jew-and-the-carrot/166360/a-pastrami-sandwich-in-stuffing-form/
vrunka
October 22, 2013
yes!! that was exactly what I was thinking of! sounds amazing. Stuffing is my favorite part of T-day, too.
molly Y.
November 16, 2013
Hi Julie! Here: http://m.forward.com/blogs/the-jew-and-the-carrot/166360/
molly Y.
October 22, 2013
sufganiyot stuffing! http://mynameisyeh.com/mynameisyeh/2013/10/recipe-sufganiyot-stuffing-with-bacon
Rachel T.
October 21, 2013
-Donut Stuffing
-Deep Fried Stuffing Patties
-Sweet Potato Casserole with Chocolate Gelt
-Latkes with Gravy
-Green Bean Casserole Topped with Crispy Latke Pieces
-Cranberry sauce chocolate gelt challah bread pudding, have made this one
-Doughnuts Filled with Cranberry Sauce
TurLatNut: Jelly donuts stuffed with cranberry sauce, stuffed into a turkey along with latkes.
-Gluten Free Turkey Sandwich: Two Latkes with Sliced Turkey & Cranberry Sauce
-Thanksgivukkah Snack Mix, have made this one
-Deep Fried Stuffing Patties
-Sweet Potato Casserole with Chocolate Gelt
-Latkes with Gravy
-Green Bean Casserole Topped with Crispy Latke Pieces
-Cranberry sauce chocolate gelt challah bread pudding, have made this one
-Doughnuts Filled with Cranberry Sauce
TurLatNut: Jelly donuts stuffed with cranberry sauce, stuffed into a turkey along with latkes.
-Gluten Free Turkey Sandwich: Two Latkes with Sliced Turkey & Cranberry Sauce
-Thanksgivukkah Snack Mix, have made this one
Julie B.
November 16, 2013
Is there a recipe for Thanksgivukkah snack mix? Can you post a link? What is in it?
Rachel T.
November 16, 2013
Julie,
Here is the Thanksgivukkah Snack Mix recipe! http://www.oogiah.com/1/post/2013/10/mix-it-up.html
Thanks!
Rachel
Here is the Thanksgivukkah Snack Mix recipe! http://www.oogiah.com/1/post/2013/10/mix-it-up.html
Thanks!
Rachel
vrunka
October 21, 2013
Also, I think adding some diced pastrami to your (challah?) stuffing would be amazing -- just think of all that smokiness and spice permeating the turkey. Yum.
realfoods
October 21, 2013
Pre-dinner snack: Chestnuts, roasted like garbanzo beans, with pumpkin pie spice.
vrunka
October 21, 2013
I know charoset is not a Hanukkah thing, but being so similar to mincemeat, it's always struck me as the perfect base for a Thanksgiving day pie. If you minced everything very fine and bound it with honey, you could fill up a pre-baked crust and I think it would slice up nicely. Or you could do serve charoset as a fruit salad -- or even a warm dressing to go with the turkey. You could use the usual apples, walnuts (or pecans!), honey, sweet wine -- then maybe add cranberries (fresh or dried) or pomegranate arils to make it even more festive.
savorthis
October 21, 2013
It also happens to be my birthday this year so I get to enjoy the holiday even more this year. My friend's mother always brings me blintzes during Hannukah so for Thanksgivukkah I plan on doing a sweet potato/cream cheese blintz with a honey syrup and toasted nuts (and some burnt marshmallow folded in to honor my dad). I have to redeem myself for a brisket gone wrong many Hannukahs ago so I'm considering doing a brisket (smoked of course as we'll be in Austin) with some sort of orange/cinnamon/cranberry glaze. And a candle.
Judi S.
October 21, 2013
My Sephardic Thanksgivukah menu:
1st "pre-sert"- Banana cream pie (we keep kosher and eat my husband's family's traditional Thanksgiving dessert half an hour before dinner because it's made with dairy ingredients; our guests never seem to mind)
Israeli salad with chopped rosemary
Turkey roasted with Moroccan spices & stuffed with olives and preserved lemon, served with laffa
Challah stuffing with pomegranate seeds, flavored with rose water
Curried sweet potato kugel
Pan roasted string beans with pistachios
Leek and shredded brussels sprout latkes with cilantro, topped with zaatar and harissa with ground dried cranberries
Bunuelos with honey syrup for 2nd dessert
Rose chai tea spiked with bourbon
1st "pre-sert"- Banana cream pie (we keep kosher and eat my husband's family's traditional Thanksgiving dessert half an hour before dinner because it's made with dairy ingredients; our guests never seem to mind)
Israeli salad with chopped rosemary
Turkey roasted with Moroccan spices & stuffed with olives and preserved lemon, served with laffa
Challah stuffing with pomegranate seeds, flavored with rose water
Curried sweet potato kugel
Pan roasted string beans with pistachios
Leek and shredded brussels sprout latkes with cilantro, topped with zaatar and harissa with ground dried cranberries
Bunuelos with honey syrup for 2nd dessert
Rose chai tea spiked with bourbon
Maya M.
October 29, 2013
this sounds amazing. do you have a recipe for the leek and brussel sprouts latkes?
Judi S.
November 3, 2013
I'd start with a basic Sephardic leek patty recipe (Gil Marks has a decent one, you can found it here: http://jwa.org/blog/eating-jewish-sephardic-leek-patties), but I'd replace about half of the leeks with slightly caramelized sauteed shredded brussels sprouts (if you really want to go over the top, mash in a few cloves of roasted garlic- it'll augment the leeks without overpowering them like fresh garlic would).
For the accompaniment, I'd find a decent pre-made harissa (if you have an Israeli or Middle Eastern market nearby, look there)- unless you routinely make it yourself, it's not a smart use of time to do it just for this purpose- and I'd add some finely minced dried cranberries. Or, if you want it sweeter, just add some cranberry sauce; who's to judge? Sprinkle a little zaatar around and on top; the flavor will mostly get lost, but it'll come through every now and then & besides, let's face it, it looks nice.
Let me know if you try this & how it works out!
For the accompaniment, I'd find a decent pre-made harissa (if you have an Israeli or Middle Eastern market nearby, look there)- unless you routinely make it yourself, it's not a smart use of time to do it just for this purpose- and I'd add some finely minced dried cranberries. Or, if you want it sweeter, just add some cranberry sauce; who's to judge? Sprinkle a little zaatar around and on top; the flavor will mostly get lost, but it'll come through every now and then & besides, let's face it, it looks nice.
Let me know if you try this & how it works out!
Rich B.
October 21, 2013
Cranberry Topped Brie Cheese http://www.asimplehomecook.com/cranberry-topped-brie-cheese/
Lisa
October 21, 2013
One more for the mix: sweet or regular potato dauphine for a different twist on the side dish fried in oil.
But I'm all over the turkey schmaltz and gribenes for frying up some sweet potato latkes. My traditional cranberry sauce is made with granny smith apples, so I was already halfway there on the toppings anyhow!
But I'm all over the turkey schmaltz and gribenes for frying up some sweet potato latkes. My traditional cranberry sauce is made with granny smith apples, so I was already halfway there on the toppings anyhow!
Bianca
October 20, 2013
Sweet Potato Latke Kuegal with Roasted Marshmallow topping and drizzled with a Cranberry Sauce
Jenn2323
October 20, 2013
As soon as I realized our two holidays would merge, all I could think about was how my Thanksgiving meal would be the most creative yet! Thank you Food 52 for inspiring us all. I love the ideas from this comment thread. What about turkey smaltz, caraway, caramelized onion latkes with cranberry compote and creme fraiche? Potato kugel used for the stuffing in the turkey?
scott.finkelstein.5
October 20, 2013
No one wants to try frying the mandatory Thanksgiving Indian pudding?
ATG117
October 18, 2013
I'll add my vote for a pumpkin doughnut filled with cranberry jelly, or a sweet potatoe latke with cranberry sauce. Some folks eat cheese latkes, but that seems to get us too far away from thanksgiving. Though challAh, chicken soup, and kugel are Jewish foods, they're not Hanukkah foods.
creamtea
October 17, 2013
potato latkes flavored with turkey grieben (cracklings from rendering the schmaltz with onions).
jamcook
October 17, 2013
Fried Mashed potato cakes..a hybrid latke with both applesauce and cranberry sauce, and Turkey gravy too??
AntoniaJames
October 17, 2013
Latkes made with sweet potato, finely chopped pecans and Slivovitz-plumped dried cranberries, cooked in turkey schmaltz, put on a challah bun with sour cream-sage-rosemary sauced turkey bits and chopped mushrooms, along the lines of this: http://food52.com/recipes/1965-leftover-turkey-sort-of-stroganoff ). Hmmm. I'm seriously thinking about doing this on the day after Thanksgiving. ;o)
healthierkitchen
October 17, 2013
on the serious side, Mrswheelbarrow's challah stuffing and sagegreen's variegated spiced latkes are pretty appropriate and delicious just as they are! I make mrswheelbarrow's stuffing (vegetarian version) every year!
healthierkitchen
October 17, 2013
sweet potato and shredded brussels sprouts latkes! Sufganiyot (like jelly donuts) filled with cranberry filling (as Savour suggested!), sweet pumpkin pie latkes with powdered sugar.
ZombieCupcake
October 17, 2013
Cranberry Rugelach, Green Bean Kugel, and bialys instead of rolls (no I don't have a spin on them, leave'em alone they're delicous lol)
amysarah
October 17, 2013
Sweet potato kugel. And what about the best part of Thanksgiving - the leftovers? Maybe matzoh ball soup, but instead of chicken broth, use the soup you always make with the leftover turkey carcass.
Sarah J.
October 17, 2013
Blintzes filled with mashed sweet potatoes and topped with cranberry sauce and pumpkin noodle kugel.
Izzy
October 17, 2013
Pumpkin doughnuts filled with maple frosting. A play on traditional jelly doughnuts - sufganiyot - that are served on hanukkah.
Susanne S.
October 17, 2013
Just want to offer a correction: Thanksgiving this year is on the first DAY but the second NIGHT of Chanukah. Great idea for a recipe roundup.
DianaAdams
October 17, 2013
Rutabaga Latkas with creamy carrot sage sauce. Potatoes are used in the latka, 1/4 potato to 3/4 rutabaga.
Savour
October 17, 2013
Fried pumpkin sufganiyot with pumpkin butter or cranberry filling. Or maybe a sweet potato bread pudding made with donuts instead of bread and topped with marshmallows? Actually, that sounds kind of gross, but not grosser than sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows generally are.
A Latke Based turkey stuffing with sage and chestnuts?
A Latke Based turkey stuffing with sage and chestnuts?
Jessica M.
October 17, 2013
Spiced sweet potato pancakes with sage-infused honey syrup...crispy fried sage leaves garnishing of course. :)
Lisa
October 17, 2013
I'm making challah and cornbread dressing with pecans, and sweet potato latkes with cranberry-apple sauce.
dymnyno
October 17, 2013
Love the new word "Thanksgivukkah", but I don't think I will celebrate one of those holidays any differently than I do any other year.
creamtea
October 17, 2013
Maple-custard filled sufganiyot (yeast doughnuts--deep-fried, never baked).
Ahuva
October 17, 2013
First of all - I am just tickled by the the fact that Hanukkah and Thanksgiving fall at the same time this year. It's going to be an eating extravaganza. Personally I love the idea of turkey infused latkas - say potatoes with some sage, rosemary, and other favorite turkey flavors fried in some olive oil and, if you are feeling extra bold, turkey fat. Can I get an amen to that bracha (blessing in Hebrew)?!
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