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Classic Hanukkah latkes

3

  • Prep Time20 mins
  • Total Time20 mins
  • Makes14 latkes
*PLUS Cooking time: 6 minutes

Ingredients

  • 6 small peeled potatoes, preferably Yukon Gold

  • 1 onion

  • 1 green onion

  • 3 eggs

  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp Tabasco sauce

  • 1 tsp salt

  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

  • 2 cups vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Using the large holes on a box grater or food processor, grate peeled potatoes. Squeeze as much liquid as you can from potatoes. Place on a paper towel-lined baking sheet and cover with more towels. Press down. Thinly slice onions. In a large bowl, whisk eggs with flour, baking powder, Tabasco, salt and cayenne. Add potatoes and onion. Stir to evenly mix.

  • Pour enough oil into a large deep frying pan (do not use non-stick) to come 1/2 in. (1 cm) up the side and set over medium-high heat. When hot, pack potato mixture into a 1/4 cup (50 mL) dry measure. Carefully turn into pan and flatten slightly using a fork or spatula. Repeat, fitting 2 more latkes in pan. Do not crowd pan. Fry until golden, 3 to 4 min. per side. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining mixture. Don't worry if mixture waters out. Just stir before scooping into measuring cup.


Nutrition (per serving)

Calories 165, Protein 2.5g, Carbohydrates 13.3g, Fat 11.5g, Sodium 225mg.

We adapted this from Norene Gilletz and Harriet Nussbaum's Second Helpings, Please! cookbook by the Mt. Sinai Chapter of the B'Nai Brith Women of Montreal.

PERFECT LATKES

Whether you're a seasoned latke-maker or frying for the first time, keep these tips in mind.

Forming

Bigger isn't better. To avoid greasy latkes, keep them small. This helps to create crunchy outsides and creamy centres Loosely pack mixture into a 1/4 cup (50 mL) dry measure or ramekin. Carefully drop into hot oil, then using a fork spread out and flatten to form a circle about 4 in. (10 cm) wide.

Squeezing & Mixing

To avoid soggy latkes, squeeze excess water from potatoes before mixing. This helps latkes stick together during frying. The drier they are, the crisper they will be.

Grating

For lacy edges, grate potatoes using large holes on a box grater or food processor. For a dense, smooth-edged latke, finely grate potatoes. If adding onion and veggies, do the potatoes last so they don't oxidize (turn brown) quickly. For a fluffy latke don't grate onion at all - just thinly slice, then mix in.

Potatoes

Choose high-starch potatoes so they won't fall apart in the pan. Yukon Gold or russet potato latkes crisp up golden yet stay creamy on the inside.

Frying

Latkes are shallow fried and should be done in a frying pan. Fill a large wide frying pan with oil to come 1/4 to 1/2 in. (0.5 to 1 cm) up the side. If oil is too hot, outsides and edges will burn before centre is cooked. Heat oil between 250F and 325F (120 to 160C). A good test - drop a small amount of latke mixture into hot oil - if it turns golden within 1 to 2 min., the temperature is right. Fry in small batches - 3 to 4 at a time.

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