Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Make Latkes!

Latkes are a treat at any time, but I especially love to have them when my neighbors are celebrating Chanukah. It's my own downmarket version of holy envy.

I was intimidated about making latkes for years. It helped when I figured out they're not much different than hash browns.

I grate a potato or two per person having dinner. I put the gratings in a bowl of water as I work, to keep them from discoloring. I like to put a little vinegar in the water, but then I think vinegar is the universal seasoning.

Then I put the grated potato in a clean tea towel and squeeze all the water out. (This does produce some good quality potato starch water, which I always intend to use in baking or something, but so far I never have.)

I put the drained and mostly-dry gratings in a bowl. I add one beaten egg per 3 or 4 potatoes.

(Ages ago, before I was always making these for kids, I put chopped onion in as well.)

I heat oil in a frying pan--enough oil to cover the whole bottom of the pan. Olive Oil is always delicious, but I tend to use a more ordinary, less delicate, vegetable oil. Except this year I ran out of ordinary oil (how ironic!) and had to go with the virgin olive oil.

I use a 1/4 cup measuring cup to scoop potatoes into the pan, pushing them down in the middle so the middle's not the thickest part.

I flip them when the down-side is starting to color golden.

I stack them finished ones on papertowels on an oven-safe plate, and keep them in the oven (on the lowest temperature, or "warm") until I've made all the latkes. I like to have two pans going, so I can get them all finished more quickly.

Serve with applesauce and sour cream.

5 comments:

Scarehaircare said...

Mmmmm, I have not made these in ages. Sounds pefect for this weekend.

Have you tried mixing sweet and idaho potatoes or possibly adding shredded zukes? Just wondering how to mix it up a bit.

Millie said...

I love the phrase "holy envy" - totally sums up what I've felt ever since our stake did "Fiddler."

Thanks for the recipe - I've always wanted to try these.

Heffalump said...

We had Latkes for dinner last night!
I cheat and use frozen shredded hash browns for them. I just let them thaw out and they are already pretty dry, so it works well. My kids don't mind the onion either, but they eat them with ketchup instead of applesauce (they are weird that way with their eggs).

Johnna said...

Scarehaircare, I love the idea of mixing sweet potatoes in with the idahos for a new version of latkes. I've got some yams in the bin, I'm definitely going to try that!

Hi Millie, fun to have a fellow holy envier out there. Especially after Fiddler...

Heffalump, so excited you made latkes, love the hash brown short cut. Ketchup doesn't sound strange at all, since that's the normal accompaniment for fries and hash browns around here.

I love doing this blog with you. Happy Holidays!

Unknown said...

I had no idea this veggie party was going on.

I may have to revisit this vegan idea in 2009.