While there are slight variations from recipe to recipe, the basic idea behind making latkes is pretty much the same: grate potatoes, add egg and flour or matzah meal and fry the patties in oil.
You can add grated apple, zucchini, sweet potato, parsnip or carrot to the grated potato (or a whole lot of other fruits and vegetables), but the idea is still the same. The big debate is usually how fine to grate the potato: I prefer shredded, though some like the more dense latke that comes from finely grated potato.
The question I am asked more than any other when it comes to latkes is: How can I make them ahead?
The absolute purist would say you can’t. And I agree (as would anyone, I am sure!) that a latke is at its best just out of the fry pan. But frying is messy and requires the cook’s complete attention– which means you can’t enjoy a room full of latke-eaters if you’re the cook. (Also, if you dress at all nicely for the room full of latke-eaters, you are bound to get oil splatters on your nice sweater.)
There are a few ways around all this. First, you can do what I did and marry a man who will fry the latkes while you host the party. Or, you can grate the potatoes hours ahead and store them submerged in water in the refrigerator. Drain them well and make the batter up to two hours ahead. (It doesn’t matter if it discolors– when you fry them the latkes turn a beautiful golden brown). Fry the latkes no more than an hour or two ahead of serving. You can warm them by placing the latkes in a single layer on a sheet pan in a very low (200 F) oven. If they stay there too long, they will no longer be as crisp, but they will still be very appealing. The proof is that they will disappear from the platters as quickly as you can set them out.
Latkes
Some of my favorite variations include: substitute 1 pound of potatoes with 1 pound of sweet potatoes; grate 2 unpeeled Gala apples with the potatoes and add a pinch of cinnamon to the batter; replace 1 pound of potatoes with 8 ounces zucchini and 8 ounces carrots for very pretty and equally tasty latkes.
2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled
1 medium onion (about 3 inches in diameter), peeled
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup flour
10 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
1. Cut the potatoes and onion lengthwise in pieces that fit through the chute of the food processor. Using the shredding blade, grate the vegetables together.
2. Beat the eggs lightly with a fork in a large bowl. Add the shredded vegetables, salt and flour and toss well.
3. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Use a 1/3-cup measure to scoop shredded potato mixture into 5 patties in pan, spreading each to about 3 inches in diameter. Cook until golden brown on undersides, about 3 to 4 minutes; turn and cook until again golden brown, about another 3 minutes. Repeat, adding no more than 2 tablespoons of oil for each batch, until all the potato mixture is cooked.
Makes 8 servings (24 latkes).
Nutritional analysis per serving (3 latkes): 277 calories, 4 g protein, 24 g carbohydrates, 2 g fiber, 19 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 334 mg sodium
FAQs
Or, you can grate the potatoes hours ahead and store them submerged in water in the refrigerator. Drain them well and make the batter up to two hours ahead. (It doesn't matter if it discolors– when you fry them the latkes turn a beautiful golden brown). Fry the latkes no more than an hour or two ahead of serving.
Can latkes be prepared ahead of time? ›
You might try an experiment for keeping the latkes crisp, cook off ahead of time, place covered in layers on paper towels and refrigerate or chill. Then two hours later, transfer to a sheet pan in the oven at 300-325 degrees and warm. Should stay crispy this way.
How to keep latke batter from turning brown? ›
When peeled, potatoes begin immediately to oxidizeand turn brown. One of the tricks to reduce discoloration is squeezing out all of the potato water (See tip #7). Another trick is grinding the potatoes with onions; they help keep the potato mixture white. More onions are added later for flavor.
What is the best oil for latkes? ›
Vegetable oil or canola oil is usually best, because of its high smoking point. Latkes were traditionally made with schmaltz, or chicken fat, so if you have access to it, you should certainly add it in, because it does contribute to the flavor.
How to keep latkes from falling apart? ›
Luckily, the fix for both of these problems is the same: add some more starch — ideally in the form of matzo meal — which will soak up that extra moisture and bind the ingredients together more tightly. Flour works too, but it sticks together and makes for denser latkes.
How do you keep latkes crispy when reheated? ›
Oven Reheating: An oven circulates heat evenly around the latkes, preventing sogginess and promoting an all-around crispiness. It's advisable to preheat the oven to 350°F and arrange the latkes in a single layer on a wire rack placed on a baking sheet.
Can I Grate potatoes the night before? ›
You should avoid peeling and cutting potatoes ahead of time for any recipe that calls for finely diced or grated potatoes. "Because all potatoes are rinsed of surface starch when soaked in water, grated potatoes would lose even more starch," says Welsh.
Why does my day old pancake batter have black spots? ›
Note: Pancake batter will keep for 3 days, refrigerated. Little black dots may form on the batter's surface on days 2 and 3 — they're a harmless result of oxygenation. Just stir to combine. Add mix-ins such as nuts, fresh or dried fruit, or chocolate chips to the batter just before cooking.
How to keep latkes from turning grey? ›
When you grate raw potatoes, you release starch that can cause them to oxidize, or turn dark. The best way to keep that from happening is to cover the potatoes with cold water, then drain them very well and pat them dry before cooking.
How do you keep potato pancakes crispy? ›
When I asked her how she gets latkes so crispy and delicious, she gave me a pretty simple answer: Just squeeze all of the water that you possibly can out of the potatoes before frying them. (This trick also works for shredded hash browns, which are almost the same thing as a latke.)
Potato pancakes have a creamy, almost mashed-potato-like center, with a thin, golden, crisp exterior. Latkes, on the other hand, should have a deeply browned crust, with wispy, lacy edges. Latkes also aren't hash browns.
What kind of potatoes are best for latkes? ›
Russet potatoes: Russet potatoes, or baking potatoes, are high in starch and have a dry, mealy texture. This type of potato is best for latkes because the dryness of the potato is partially responsible for that desirable, crispy texture. Yellow onion: Yellow onion adds a savory flavor to the latkes.
How to drain potatoes for latkes? ›
In a colander set over a large bowl, toss the potatoes with the onion and squeeze dry. Let the potatoes and onion drain for 2 to 3 minutes, then pour off the liquid in the bowl, leaving the starchy paste at the bottom.
Can you refrigerate latke batter? ›
Pre-Mix: Prep latke batter and keep in a sealable container in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. 4. Pre-Fry: Day of: Fry and keep at room temp.
Why are my potato pancakes gummy? ›
If you don't drain the moisture, they won't crisp as easily and that may be why your potato pancakes are gummy. Feel the Heat. Sufficiently heating oil in the pan prior to placing the patty in the pan is the key to a properly crispy pancake.
Why are my latkes not crispy? ›
Trying to cook too many at one time crowds the pan and makes the temperature of the oil drop, which will result in soggy latkes. Flip them when you see the bottom turning golden brown around the edges. Give them adequate time to brown– the less you flip latkes the better.
Can you prep new potatoes ahead of time? ›
For dishes that require boiling or steaming, you can prep potatoes a day ahead and store them submerged in water, covered, and in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, Tiess says.
Can you prep potatoes ahead of time for camping? ›
Preparing potatoes ahead of time can save you valuable time and effort at the campsite. Wash and dice potatoes at home and store them in airtight containers or resealable bags to keep them fresh during transit.
Can you prepare potatoes the day before Christmas? ›
If you know you are going to be pushed on Christmas Day, then it is possible to half-roast the potatoes the day before (see Preparing Ahead, below). On Christmas Day the potatoes just need to be re-roasted in a hot oven for about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7.
Can you keep latke batter overnight? ›
Pre-Mix: Prep latke batter and keep in a sealable container in the fridge for a few hours or overnight. 4. Pre-Fry: Day of: Fry and keep at room temp.
