Happy Hanukkah! The Jewish holiday begins tonight at sundown, and Jews across the world will be celebrating the Festival of Lights. Foods fried in oil are traditional during the holiday because the oil is a reminder of the oil that burned for eight days and nights in the Jewish Holy Temple.

 

Latkes, potato pancakes fried in oil, are as common to Hanukkah dinners as mashed potatoes are to Thanksgiving dinners. You don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy these potato pancakes, though. They’d make a great side dish for any meal.