Holidays

What to Serve with Latkes to Round Out Your Holiday Meal

There’s no bad option. But here are some ideas to get you started.
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Published Dec. 14, 2022.

In the world of holiday foods, latkes are my absolute favorite. 

Creamy in the middle with a supercrispy exterior, my ideal latke is basically a thin layer of mashed potatoes wrapped in Potato Sticks. What’s not to love?

In addition to everything about their flavor and texture, my favorite part about latkes is their versatility. They can be a side dish or the main event. 

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Their versatility is on full display at my family’s annual Hanukkah Harry party. (That’s a gift exchange, not a celebration of Jon Lovitz’s character on SNL.)

My brother prefers applesauce or sour cream on his latkes. I pile on both. My dad sprinkles sugar on his. My mom finds something in the kitchen (chives, caramelized onions, smoked paprika) to mix into her sour cream and dollops it on top. My sister and her husband pair theirs with cocktails and insist we call it a “vodka and latke” party.

And that doesn’t even cover the other food at the party, which varies year to year. Some years we just stick with latkes and a variety of toppings. Others we put together a whole spread where latkes are the featured side dish. Deciding what to make is part of the fun.

If you're planning your latke menu for Hanukkah, here are some ways to dress them up and some other dishes to consider making. You really can’t go wrong.

Learn the tricks that keep our Crispy Latkes very crisp and not greasy.

What to Serve with Latkes

Elevated Applesauce

Savory Applesauce with Beets and Horseradish

Transform just about any apple variety into flavorful, rosy applesauce in less than 30 minutes. Our secret weapon: the peels.
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Latke Dip

Smoked Trout Pâté

An exceptionally easy, delightfully delicious appetizer or party snack.
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Pair with Sour Cream and Capers

Gravlax

Unlike its cousins smoked salmon, lox, and nova, which are all usually brined and then smoked, gravlax relies on a one-step process.
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Fresh and Flavorful

Cilantro-Mint Chutney

This chutney adds a pop of color and a whole lot of flavor to a Hanukkah spread.
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A Make-Ahead Salad

Kale Salad with Radishes, Grapefruit, and Candied Pepitas

Accompanied by pops of bright citrus, a zingy dressing, crisp raw vegetables, and candied nuts, kale can be downright festive.
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Showstopping Salad

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Pistachios

With their sweet, earthy flavor, juicy texture, and ruby-red hue, these roasted beets are real showstoppers, and our technique to prepare them could not be simpler.
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Sophisticated and Filling

Carrot and Smoked Salmon Salad

This hearty salad uses every part of the carrot.
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Sweet and Satisfying

Curried Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

This satisfying soup made with sweet, caramelized roasted butternut squash is finished on the stovetop, but the flavor is built in the oven.
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Super Simple Recipe

Slow-Roasted Salmon with Chives and Lemon

The secret ingredient for supermoist, perfectly cooked salmon? Time.
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Perfect for Entertaining

Onion-Braised Beef Brisket

When this notoriously tough cut finally turns tender, it's often dry as a bone. Could we have our brisket both ways?
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Turn Latkes Into a Full Meal

Chicken Thighs, Rosemary Applesauce & Latkes

Frying latkes while the chicken roasts in herbed applesauce brings all the components of this meal together at the same time.
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