Craving Chinese food this Hanukkah? 5 simple recipes

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The first night of Hanukkah falls on Dec. 24 this year, but don’t fret: You don’t have to choose between the family Hanukkah party and the time-honored tradition of eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve.

Instead, why not take advantage of this calendrical coincidence and embrace both customs? We’ve compiled some delicious, Chinese-inspired dishes that you can make at home, and you can serve them alongside more traditional Hanukkah treats, such as latkes and jelly doughnuts.

These recipes are so delicious, they may make you wonder why Hanukkah, Christmas and Chinese food don’t go together every year.

Green onions and chili flakes give this scallion-filled challah a Chinese (and very tasty) twist that’s so enticing you may find yourself making it long after Hanukkah. In fact, the scallion-pancake inspired bread is the perfect way to start off Shabbat dinner during the Festival of Lights.

Scallion challah (Molly Yeh)

Scallion challah (Molly Yeh)

This baked sweet and sour chicken is so simple to make, you might feel like you just ordered takeout from your favorite Chinese place. Baked directly on the bone, it’s tangy and sticky — we dare you not to take a bite before your guests arrive.

Baked sweet and sour chicken (Samantha Mattox)

Baked sweet and sour chicken (Samantha Mattox)

This is a Jewish twist on a decidedly unkosher classic: crab rangoon. This lox and schmear rangoon, however, cleverly swaps the shellfish for smoked salmon, and throws in some cream cheese for good, creamy measure. Fry until golden — then try and eat just one.

Lox and schmear rangoon (Amy Kritzer)

Lox and schmear rangoon (Amy Kritzer)

Fortune cookie cupcakes will leave you not only with a sweet taste but words of wisdom. Follow this simple recipe for vanilla almond cupcakes with chocolate frosting or pop the fortune cookies atop your favorite cupcakes.

Fortune cookie cupcakes (Samantha Mattox)

Fortune cookie cupcakes (Samantha Mattox)

If you are looking to branch out beyond Chinese food, these ramen latkes with sriracha mayo won’t disappoint. Warning: You may not want to go back to regular potato pancakes after eating this crispy, spicy creation.

Ramen latkes with sriracha mayo (Whitney Fisch)

Ramen latkes with sriracha mayo (Whitney Fisch)

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