Lacy Golden Latkes

By The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

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This recipe makes 22 latkes servings

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The plates are ready, the skillet hot and the latkes — crisp potato pancakes — are sizzling up lacy and golden brown, ready to be devoured with dollops of applesauce and sour cream. Latkes, the Yiddish word for pancakes, are the most anticipated dish at the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. But latkes are so deliciously addictive that it would be a shame not to make them year-round.

Ingredients

5 baking potatoes , (2-1/2 lb/1.25 kg)5 5baking potatobaking potatoes, (2-1/2 lb/1.25 kg)
2 small onions , quartered2 2small oniononions, quartered
3 eggs 3 3eggeggs
3 tbsp all-purpose flour 3 3tbsp tbspall-purpose flour
3/4 tsp salt 3/4 3/4tsp tspsalt
1/4 tsp pepper 1/4 1/4tsp tsppepper
Vegetable oil , for cookingVegetable oil, for cooking
Sour cream Sour cream
Applesauce Applesauce

Preparation

Peel potatoes. By hand, or in food processor using shredder blade, alternately shred onion quarters and potatoes. (Shredding alternately with onions prevents potatoes from discolouring.)

Transfer potato mixture to colander. With hands, squeeze out as much moisture as possible and discard liquid. Transfer mixture to large bowl.

Mix in eggs, flour, salt and pepper; let stand for 5 minutes. Pour out any liquid. In large skillet, heat 1/4 inch (5 mm) oil over high heat until hot but not smoking.

To skillet, add 1/4 cup (50 mL) mixture per latke, leaving about 1 inch (2.5 cm) between each latke. Flatten slightly with back of spoon.

Fry latkes for 3 minutes or until well browned and crisp around edges. With slotted spatula, turn latkes over and fry for 2 to 3 minutes longer or until crisp and golden brown.

Transfer latkes to paper towels and drain well. Repeat with remaining mixture, removing any cooked bits from skillet and adding more oil as necessary. (Latkes can be frozen for up to 2 weeks. Partially thaw and reheat in 450°F/230°C oven for 5 to 8 minutes.) Serve immediately with sour cream or applesauce.

Additional information :

Tip: Because of low moisture content, long oval baking potatoes, such as Russet Burbank, Norgold Russet and Shepody, are ideal for latkes. The potatoes can also be pur? to make smooth, dense latkes. You can substitute 1/4 cup (50 mL) matzo meal for all-purpose flour.

Variations
Sage and Parsley Latkes: Add 1/2 tsp (2 mL) dried sage and 1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped fresh parsley to batter along with eggs.

Carrot Latkes: Substitute 1 cup (250 mL) grated carrots (about 4) for 1 of the potatoes. Add to shredded potato and onion mixture.