Why are foods fried in oil traditionally eaten during Hanukkah?

Foods fried in oil are traditionally eaten during Hanukkah to commemorate the miracle of the oil, as recounted in the Babylonian Talmud.21

According to this account, when the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple of Jerusalem, they found only a small jar of consecrated oil—enough to burn for only one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days until a new supply could be prepared.21

To honor this event, it is customary to eat foods fried in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts). These culinary traditions serve as a tangible reminder of the divine miracle that defines the festival.132