Traditional Jewish Comfort Food Recipes to Try This Winter

A Jewish feast wouldn’t be the same if it didn’t start out with a bowl of matzoh ball soup. Matzoh balls are giant dumplings that get plopped into comforting bowls of chicken soup. The most important ingredient is love, so when you devour this traditional Jewish food, all is right in the world.

We all holler for challah, the Jewish braided bread similar to brioche. Sure you can go to the grocery store and buy one, but why not try making it at home? It is traditionally eaten on Friday nights for shabbat or on special Jewish holidays. But let’s be honest, it’s delicious and can be eaten anytime. Leftovers can also be made into great French toast on Saturday mornings!

Kugel is basically a casserole made with either potatoes or egg noodles. It is a carb heavy dish that can be made either savoury (potato) or sweet (noodle). This recipe is a very classic take on noodle kugel, flavoured with hints of cinnamon and cottage cheese. Feel free to personalize this kugel recipe by adding things like raisins or dates or sprinkle some nuts on top.

Latkes have become a ubiquitously known Jewish classic, likely because they are so delicious. These pancakes are made from potatoes, onions and sometimes shmaltz (chicken fat) shallow fried in vegetable oil. Typically, they are eaten on Hanukkah, along with doughnuts and various other tasty fried foods. But you don’t need to wait for a holiday to enjoy them. Latkes are now eaten throughout the year and can often be seen on the menu at Jewish delis.

Brisket is the prize dish on the table during many Jewish holidays. Every family has their recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation. When making this cut of meat, the one thing you need is time. Brisket is a tough cut and the key to making it delicious is by roasting it low and slow in the oven.

Babka is a sweet loaf rolled or braided with various fillings like chocolate, cinnamon or jam. It’s a perfect compliment to a cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon or makes a great dessert. Babka is a perfect opportunity to create your own filling. Do you love nutella? Peanut butter? There is no wrong answer or limits to what can be stuffed into your babka.

Perhaps the most well-known Jewish classic: the bagel! Whether you are getting one from New York or Montreal, whether it has poppy seeds or sesame seeds, we all know what to do with a bagel: schmear it with cream cheese and top it with lox. Maybe you enjoy the simplicity of just butter — or hey, just eat it plain. No matter what, the bagel is perfect for any type of sandwich.

Rugelach are the ultimate party treat. They are about the size of a cookie, super easy and fun to make and of course, delicious! These tasty treats are small rolled cookies made with a flaky dough and filled with a variety of fillings. Classics are apricot jam, chocolate and cinnamon. This recipe uses dulce de leche because, why not?

Whether it’s shabbat or just a regular night of the week, there is no denying that a perfectly roast chicken is the ultimate comfort food. Gentle in flavour and perfectly paired with any side, there’s a reason that roast chicken is a classic in many cuisines. Everyone has their particular way of trussing, roasting and preparing their chicken. But simplicity holds supreme in this recipe.