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For the past eleven years, I’ve celebrated two winter holidays, Hanukkah and Christmas. When the boy was born, we added a third, Three Kings Day (Dia de los Reyes), in honor of my Jewish husband’s Puerto Rican heritage. Yes, it gets a little confusing. This year, though, Hanukkah is exceptionally early — falling on Thanksgiving, instead of in December. A rare occurrence — in fact it won’t happen again for over 70,000 years — it’s certainly worthy of commemorating. My mother-in-law has already ordered a Menurkey, and to get into the holiday mash-up spirit I’m joining some blogging friends in a virtual Thanksgivukkah Potluck. Read on for my recipe, and be sure to stick around to the end for links to nearly two dozen other fun holiday recipes.

I typically make latkes, the traditional fried potato pancakes, several times over the course of Hanukkah’s eight nights. The first night is always traditional Russet potato, and another time I might make sweet potato or other experimental varieties. While the first night this year is actually the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, there’s no reason not to re-purpose some turkey leftovers into a batch of these Turkey and Sweet Potato Latkes later in the week. They’d make a great day-after brunch, in fact. They’re essentially a turkey and sweet potato hash, fried in rounds. And you know I had to top them with a cranberry apple sauce.

Recipe: Turkey and Sweet Potato Latkes

Makes 8 latkes

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups cooked turkey, preferably dark meat, diced
• 1 baked sweet potato, diced
• 1 shallot, grated
• 1 egg
• salt and pepper
• oil for frying (I prefer olive or peanut oil)

Instructions:

1. Place diced sweet potato in a large bowl and mash it a little with a fork. Mix in diced turkey and shallot.
2. Lightly beat egg in a separate bowl, then fold into turkey mixture. Season with a pinch of salt and cracked black pepper.
3. Pour oil to coat bottom of frying pan. Heat over medium heat until shimmering. Use an oiled, shallow measuring cup to shape turkey mixture into 1/2-inch thick pancakes and gently place into frying pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until edges brown, then very carefully turn over with a large thin turner. Cook another 2 minutes, then remove to a paper-towel lined plate to drain excess oil.
4. Serve warm with cranberry applesauce and/or sour cream, and additional thinly sliced shallots.

Please visit these blogger friends for more Thanksgivukkah recipe inspiration — even if you don’t celebrate Hanukkah, you may find some ideas to jazz up your usual Thanksgiving menu! Have I mentioned there are doughnuts? 😉

Thanksgivukkah Tzimmes (Tsimis) Pie from Parade Magazine

Potato Latkes Topped with Turkey and Cranberry Chutney from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen

Chocolate Cranberry Cake with Gelt Glaze from What Jew Wanna Eat

Candied Sweet Potato Latkes from Everyday Maven

Butternut Squash Puree with Honey and Smoked Paprika from The Lemon Bowl

Sweet Potato Noodle Kugel from Rhubarb and Honey

Pumpkin-glazed Cronuts from MotherWouldKnow

Flamingo’s Mulled Wine Cocktail – Hot & Cold from Flamingo Musings

Thanksgivukkah Decorating from Sucre Shop

Onion Bagel and Bacon Stuffing from Very Culinary

Sweet Potato Pie Doughnut Holes from Cooking for Luv

Challah Cranberry Doughnuts from Food is my Love Language

Challah Stuffing with Turkey Sausage, Leeks and Cherries from The Little Ferraro Kitchen

Pumpkin Cranberry Maple Kugel from Farm Fresh Feasts

Pumpkin Challah from Labna.it

Thanksgivukah Pumpkin Tsimmes from {fork & swoon}

Homemade Manischewitz-flavored Marshmallows from Cupcake Project

This post also shared at Tidy Mom’s I’m Lovin’ It Fridays.