It is customary to eat food fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil burning in the Menorah for eight days. (Please consult your physician regarding oil consumption.) Latkes, which are fried pancakes made of grated potato, grated onion and eggs are usually eaten (with applesauce or sour cream). In Israel, deep-fried jelly donuts, called sufganiyot, are the quintessential Chanukah delicacies.
On Chanukah it is also customary to eat dairy foods to remind us of the heroism of Judith (Yehudit), daughter of Yochanan the High Priest. When she was taken to be defiled by the Greek ruler Holofernes, she served him cheese, to make him thirsty, and wine, to quench his thirst. After getting him drunk she eliminated this enemy.
