In the world of holiday foods, latkes are my absolute favorite.
Holiday
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.
By Published Dec. 14, 2022
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.Get the Recipe
Latke Dip
Smoked Trout Pâté
An exceptionally easy, delightfully delicious appetizer or party snack.Get the Recipe
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.Get the Recipe
Fresh and Flavorful
Cilantro-Mint Chutney
This chutney adds a pop of color and a whole lot of flavor to a Hanukkah spread.Get the Recipe
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.Get the Recipe
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.Get the Recipe
Sophisticated and Filling
Carrot and Smoked Salmon Salad
This hearty salad uses every part of the carrot.Get the Recipe
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.Get the Recipe
Super Simple Recipe
Slow-Roasted Salmon with Chives and Lemon
The secret ingredient for supermoist, perfectly cooked salmon? Time.Get the Recipe
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?Get the Recipe
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.Get the Recipe