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Cheryl Sternman Rule’s Thanksgivukkah Menu: A Jerusalem-Inspired Meal

Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong
Anjali Prasertong is a writer and public health dietitian focused on food systems, racial equity, and nutrition. Originally from Los Angeles, she has taught English in rural Japan, worked as a private chef in Malibu, and led an innovative city-funded corner store program in New Orleans that increased fresh food access in low-income neighborhoods. She was previously a contributing editor for The Kitchn, and currently lives in Denver with her husband and two kids.
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updated May 24, 2019
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(Image credit: Cheryl Sternman Rule)

As you’ve probably heard, this holiday season includes the once-in-a-lifetime convergence of Thanksgiving and the first day of Hanukkah, an occasion more popularly known as Thanksgivukkah. Cooks all over the country are embracing the opportunity to mix the traditional foods of two holidays on one table, and this week we are sharing Thanksgivukkah recipes and ideas from our favorite chefs and cookbook authors.

Today Cheryl Sternman Rule, author of Ripe, talks about the non-traditional holiday meal her family is planning, inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s cookbook, Jerusalem.

What will you be serving at your Thanksgivukkah meal?

My husband’s aunt is hosting this year, so I’ll be a food-bearing guest rather than a hostess myself. Even before she realized that Thanksgiving and Hanukkah collided, she decided to serve an Israeli-themed Thanksgiving since she’s so taken with Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s cookbook, Jerusalem. When her daughter pointed out how perfect the timing was, everyone got even more excited about the menu.

I’ll be bringing baba ghanouj — one of my favorite things to make since I visited Israel in 2012 — as well as the Saffron Rice with Barberries and Herbs from Jerusalem, and roasted root vegetables draped with spiced yogurt that will appear in my second cookbook (coming in 2015). My husband always makes pies, but I’m going to make sure he uses this Rectangular Pumpkin Pie recipe, which feeds a crowd — and has nothing to do with Hanukkah, but whatever.

(Image credit: Emma Christensen)

Which of these dishes are you most excited about and why?

Honestly, I’m excited about the whole meal. Since this is a non-traditional Thanksgiving menu, I can’t wait to see how all the flavors play together and to enjoy the bounty of colors and textures on the table.

Do you have any advice for planning a memorable Thanksgivukkah meal?

Absolutely: get invited to someone’s house (!) and be an easygoing and generous guest, approaching the combined holiday with an open mind and sense of adventure. There’s nothing wrong with shaking things up a little.

More from Cheryl Sternman Rule:

→ Read her book: Ripe: A Fresh, Colorful Approach to Fruits and Vegetables
→ Check out her blog: 5 Second Rule
→ Follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

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Entertaining & Gathering
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