Happy Chanukah!

I know that the tradition is to cook in oil (as a special treat we fried our falafel for dinner last night instead of oven baking like we usually do ) but does anyone have some lighter festive recipes? I've decided I'm not making my future MIL's recipe for cheese blintz with a stick of butter and half a dozen eggs casserole this year. Just can't bring myself to do it. I might make some sweet potato latkes over the weekend, but please do share if you have some healthier traditions in your family!

Woohoo! Happy Hanukkah!

Vegetarian Times had some lightened up Chanukah recipes in their latest holiday issue. They should be online at their website.

How about these?

Nechama Cohen, Founder and Executive Director of the Jewish Diabetes Association (JDA) and author of EnLITEned Kosher Cooking, shares this low-carb, low-fat recipe for Cauliflower Latkes (Pancakes). Enjoy a healthy Hanukkah by preparing these Cauliflower Latkes instead of high-carb Potato Latkes.
INGREDIENTS:
2 eggs plus 2 egg whites
1 small onion, peeled
1 (2-pound) package of frozen cauliflower thawed and drained very well or
1 fresh head, steamed and drained very well
2 tablespoons soy or whole-wheat flour
salt and pepper to taste
non-stick cooking spray
2 tablespoons olive oil, for frying
PREPARATION:
1. Process eggs and onion using a food processor and knife blade, until chopped well.
2. Add cauliflower, soy or regular flour and seasonings. Mix until finely chopped; do not over process.
3. Wipe a non-stick frying pan with a paper towel dipped in oil and spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray.
4. Put on medium heat. Wait until hot and drop batter by tablespoonfuls into pan. Fry 4-5 minutes until firm and browned on both sides.

YIELD: 16 servings

TIP:
To fry EnLITEned Latkes, with each new batch, spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray and wipe the pan with oil as well. Be patient with these pancakes and fry them until they are firm and cooked through, or they will fall apart when flipped.

VARIATION: Substitute and/or combine with spinach, broccoli etc.

NUTRITION FACTS:
Serving size 1 latke, (oz) 2, (g) 60
Calories 37
Protein (g) 2.8
Carbs (g) 2.5
Fat (g) 1.8
Sat. Fat (g) 0.3
Cholesterol (mg) 21
Sodium (mg) 72
Calcium (mg) 28
Fiber (g) 1
Exchanges: Free vegetable 1 Fat 1/2

I love the idea of cauliflower latkes! I bet you could make them with lots of veggie variations. I never heard of them being made with anything other than potatoes or sweet potatoes. And pan frying with cooking spray would definitely be better than frying in oil. I wonder if I could use blended silken tofu instead of eggs? Maybe tofu and some egg-replacer type leavener (I usually use some baking soda, baking powder and flour mixed with a few T of water). I think I'll experiment with that.

Happy HANUKKAH Shan ~ I dated a jewish girl for several years way back in high school and her college years...Enjoyed many of the traditions.

I adore latkes - and only make them at Hanukkah. This is one of my "non-negotiable" foods (i.e., I don't try to make it points-friendly, but just eat less of it).

So, the other night I grated the traditional potatos and onions, used whole eggs and whole wheat matzoh meal (my only concession) and fried them in lots of oil - had two of them with unsweetened applesauce (and a couple of chocolate coins, too)

I lost 1.6 lbs this week - maybe I need to eat latkes more often! hahaha

Happy Hanukkah to all!

IANAJ, but I was reading an article in the Pioneer Press the other day about lighter and healthier Hanukkah cooking, and they said the oil is the tradition but you don't *have* to cook with it, you can use it as a condiment