Celebrate the Festival of Lights in a much healthier way this Hanukkah with a totally plant-based, vegan menu that offers incredible taste. Don’t worry… you can still indulge in the decadent flavors of this 8-day celebration (with fried foods and even tasty desserts), but you can minimize the calories, sugar, and unhealthy fats by sampling our list of 10 delicious vegan Hanukkah recipes, below.
Our list of flavorful, nutritious dishes will surely be loved by vegans and meat-eaters alike. For a vegan Hanukkah celebration to remember, check out the list of recipes, below!
MAIN DISHES
1. Best-Ever Vegan Meat Loaf
© Photo By Delish
If you’re new to a vegan lifestyle, you may be skeptical to try a plant-based “meatless” loaf this Hanukkah – but we assure you it’s so full of flavor, you won’t even miss the meat. This particular vegan loaf uses chickpeas – an excellent plant-based source of protein. In addition, you get essential vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, natural digestive enzymes and antioxidants from yellow onion, celery, carrots, baby mushrooms and chopped parsley.
Using extra-virgin olive oil in this dish (instead of canola oil), takes the health factor way up, since this particular olive oil is considered one of the healthiest fats out there – with fatty acids and antioxidants offering disease-fighting benefits. Dig into this tender, juicy, meatless holiday loaf!
Get the Vegan Meatloaf Recipe here.
2. Vegan Roasted Cauliflower With Tahini Sauce
© Photo By Cooking Journey
If you’re looking for an exciting dish that also looks beautiful on your dinner table, this whole roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce is truly a win-win. Vegans and non-vegans alike will appreciate the roasted, spicy taste of this nutritious veggie, which is high in both vitamin C and vitamin K.
The recipe features an interesting blend of flavors including cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, turmeric, cumin and lemon pepper. Top it all off with parsley, pine nuts or pomegranate seeds (or all three), for a mix of fresh, crunchy and bold flavor.
Get the Roasted Cauliflower Recipe here.
3. Vegan Matzo Ball Soup
© Photo By Connoisseurus Veg
Matzo Ball Soup is a favorite dish in the Jewish culinary experience any time of year, but in particular during the Hanukkah holiday. While traditional versions of the recipe use eggs and chicken fat, this lighter version is completely vegan-friendly.
The matzo balls are created using a mixture of chickpea flour, tapioca starch and unflavored almond milk in addition to matzo meal and oil. The soup also features a variety of hearty veggies and herbs including leeks, carrots, cloves, frozen peas, and fresh dill, all added to vegetable broth. The end result of this dish is an addicting-ly tasty, warming meal.
Get the Vegan Matzo Ball Soup Recipe here.
SIDE DISHES
4. Savory Vegan Noodle Kugel
© Photo By 86 Eats
If you’ve never had kugel, this is a great vegan Hanukkah recipe to try it for the first time – resembling a mix of macaroni and cheese and a creamy casserole with various spices. The recipe features extra-wide egg-less pasta ribbons with vegan butter, cottage cheese, and sour cream mixed with onion, garlic, and smoked paprika. It’s incredibly indulgent, offers interesting flavor, and is much lighter than other kugel recipes.
Get the Vegan Kugel Recipe here.
5. Vegan Latkes With Sour Cream
© Photo By Lazy Cat Kitchen
Latkes are a classic, beloved Hanukkah recipe, and you don’t have to miss out on them when following a plant-based diet. This recipe offers addicting, crispy texture in each bite of latke, and features a healthy lemony cashew cream on top. The recipe starts with grated potatoes mixed with onion and wholegrain mustard… then, aquafaba (or chickpea brine) and potato starch are used for binding. Choose a healthy oil for your frying or baking (like avocado, coconut or olive oil).
Get the Vegan Latke Recipe here.
6. Vegan Roasted Brussels Sprouts
© Photo By Delish
Few dishes are as simple yet downright delicious as this vegan Hanukkah recipe for roasted Brussels sprouts. If you’ve never made them before, all you have to do is slice fresh Brussels sprouts down the middle and add them to a pan with a generous drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil. Add a sprinkle of sea salt and black pepper, pop them in the oven for 30 minutes, and presto… they’ll have a crispy outside, tender inside, and perfect caramelized flavor!
Get the Vegan Brussels Sprouts Recipe here.
7. Vegan Instant Pot Apple Sauce
© Photo By Delish
This instant pot homemade applesauce recipe is sure to be a hit with your Hanukkah crowd. With just a few simple ingredients included, and everything cooked on high for just 5 minutes (with 10 minutes of natural release), you’ll have a nutritious, high-fiber side to balance out the oil in your fried latkes. The recipe uses granny smith apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon for a slightly tart, sweet and spicy taste.
Get the Vegan Apple Sauce here.
8. Vegan Challah
© Photo By 86 Eats
If you didn’t think you could make traditional challah vegan, (without using eggs), think again! All you need is some aquafaba (or whipped chickpea water), to replace the eggs in this beloved bread recipe. The end result is a lightly-sweet, addicting challah loaf that’s golden on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. It wouldn’t be Hanukkah without this adored bread!
Get the Vegan Challah Recipe here.
DESSERTS
9. Vegan PB&J Thumbprint Cookies
© Photo By Minimalist Baker
Ready for dessert?! Great! Skip the fried donuts and try these PB&J graham cracker thumbprint cookies instead. This vegan Hanukkah dessert recipe is made plant-based by using flaxseed meal mixed with water to create a “flax egg” that’s used in place of a regular egg. In addition, it uses vegan butter or coconut oil instead of regular milk-based butter. These cookies are soft and chewy with a decadent, fruity strawberry jam filling. Feel free to indulge!
Get the Vegan PB&J Thumbprint Cookie Recipe here.
10. Vegan Rugelach
© Photo By That's One Tough Cookie
Finally, there’s nothing like the cinnamon/chocolaty-sweet taste of homemade rugelach, and having a way to make the dessert vegan makes Hanukkah that much better. In this vegan Hanukkah recipe, you simply switch out the dairy with plant-based options (such as vegan butter, cream cheese and sour cream). Surprisingly, these delicious cookies are very easy to make… Just knead the dough, roll up each cookie, add the toppings and bake! Try to contain yourself with these and don’t eat too many!
Get the Vegan Rugelach Recipe here.
Which vegan Hanukkah recipes are you going to make this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below!
Looking for more healthy vegan recipes? Browse tons of delicious, nutritionist-approved 310 recipes here!
