Great Grandma's Traditional Potato Latkes
Great Grandma's Traditional Potato Latkes are the tastiest part of Chanukah with their crispy golden brown exterior and hint of salt and onion.
Equipment
- Cheese Grater * or *
- Food Processor (for grating potatoes and onion)
- Bamboo Paper Towels (optional)
Ingredients
- 2 lbs russet potatoes 2 lb = roughly 4 medium-sized potatoes
- 1 large yellow onion
- 1 large egg
- 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour + more as needed
- ½ - 1 ½ cups mild olive or vegetable oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh parsley or cinnamon for garnish optional
Instructions
- Peel your potatoes and shred them with a cheese grater or food processor.2 lbs russet potatoes
- Cut the onion around the core. Remove the outer paper-thin layers and discard the core and peels. Shred the onion with a cheese grater or food processor, too.1 large yellow onion
- Mix the shredded potatoes and onions together. Then, use a cheesecloth to drain excess liquid over the sink.
- Add the egg, flour, and a crack of salt and pepper and use clean hands to mix well.1 large egg, 1 ½ tablespoons all-purpose flour, salt and pepper to taste
- Get the oil hot over medium heat. You should have about 1 inch of oil in your pan. After a couple of minutes, make sure your oil is hot by tossing a piece of potato in. If it starts sizzling right away, your oil is ready!½ - 1 ½ cups mild olive or vegetable oil
- Shape the latkes with your hands by grabbing a handful and forming into round balls. At this point, you can assess the consistency. If the latkes seem too wet, add a little extra flour.
- Carefully drop the latkes into the hot oil and use a spatula to press down to flatten them. When you see the edges starting to brown, flip and cook until crispy and golden brown on both sides (about 5 minutes each side). As you continue to cook more latkes, add more oil as needed.
- When the latkes are ready, transfer them onto a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, garnish with parsley (optional) and serve with sour cream or garnish with cinnamon and serve with apple sauce.
Video
Notes
- Always make sure your oil is hot before adding your latkes!
- Keep adding oil as needed
- Reheating these is easy! Just put them in the oven at 400°F until crispy and warm all the way through- usually 8-10 minutes.
- Consider these bamboo paper towels for a more sustainable paper towel option.
- Potatoes are the perfect anchor to any meal! Check out the collection of my best potato recipes.