Max Bennys Potato Latkes Recipes

ADAM AND MAXINE'S FAMOUS LATKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Peel potatoes. Using the large holes of a box grater or the grater disk on a food processor, grate potatoes and onions. Transfer to a large kitchen towel. Gather ends of towel; twist over sink and squeeze firmly to wring out as much liquid as possible. Open towel; toss mixture to loosen. Gather towel; wring out once more.
• Whisk eggs, breadcrumbs, salt, baking powder, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend. Add potato mixture. Using your fingers, mix until well coated. (Latke mixture should be wet and thick, not soupy.)
• Line a large rimmed baking sheet with several layers of paper towels. Set a wire rack inside another large rimmed baking sheet; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons schmaltz, if using, and 2 tablespoons oil (or 4 tablespoons oil if not using schmaltz; fat should measure about 1/8") in a 12" nonstick skillet over mediumhigh heat. Drop a small amount of latke mixture into pan. If the fat sizzles around the edges, it's ready. (Do not let fat smoke.)
• Working in batches and adding more schmaltz and oil to skillet as needed to maintain 1/8" fat, drop large spoonfuls of mixture into pan, pressing gently with the back of a spoon or spatula to flatten slightly. (If mixture becomes watery between batches, mix to incorporate; do not drain.)
• Cook latkes, occasionally rotating pan for even browning, until golden brown and cooked through, 2 1/2-3 minutes per side. (If small pieces of potato floating in the oil start to burn, carefully strain out.)
• Transfer latkes to paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain, then transfer to prepared wire rack. Place sheet with latkes in oven to keep warm and crisp while cooking remaining latkes.
• Serve warm latkes with applesauce and sour cream.

MAX & BENNY'S POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl until consistency is smooth.
• Scoop out 3 oz portion in a sprayed frying pan apx.
• 2-3 minutes each side.
• Remove and set aside.
• After all pancakes are done, put them in another pan with canola oil to fry them golden brown.
• Served with applesauce and sour cream.

MANDY PATINKIN'S MOM'S POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and onion. (If not using immediately, place in cold water.) Grate with the shredding blade of food processor.
• Put grated potatoes in a large strainer and press out liquid. Pour cold water over the potatoes and press out liquid once more. Transfer to large mixing bowl. Add onions.
• Beat eggs and egg whites until thick. Add to potatoes and onions. Add flour or matzo meal, baking powder, and seasonings. Mix well.
• Heat oil in frying pan. When ready, drop batter by large soup spoonfuls to form oval shapes. Fry over moderate to high heat until brown on one side; turn to brown other side. Remove from frying pan and drain on paper towels.
• Serve with sour cream or applesauce.

MAXINE'S LATKES

Steps:

• Grate the potatoes and onions by hand, using the large holes of a box grater. Place the grated potatoes and onions in a dish towel and wring out the excess liquid. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, bread crumbs, salt, baking powder, and pepper. Stir in the potatoes and onions and mix well. Heat schmaltz and/or vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Drop the mixture by spoonfuls into the pan. Flatten latkes slightly while cooking, and turn only once. Remove from the pan when latkes are crisp and golden. Serve hot with apple sauce or sour cream.

KAY DEE'S RECIPE FOR POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes and onion into a bowl, and stir in eggs, salt, and flour as needed to make the mixture hold together. With wet hands, scoop up about 1/3 cup of the mixture per patty, and form into flat round or oval shapes.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it shimmers, and gently place the patties into the hot oil. Fry until the bottoms are golden brown and crisp, 5 to 8 minutes, then flip with a spatula and fry the other side until golden.
• Line a colander or strainer with 2 paper towels, and drain the cooked latkes in the colander. Serve hot.

MY GRANDMOTHER'S POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes, if your not going to use them right away, put them in a bowl and cover them with cold water.
• Grate the potatoes into a bowl, It really doesn't matter which holes of the grater you use. Larger holes are the only ones that will do the job some people think, since they produce crunchier latkes. Others insist on using medium sized holes for smoother latkes, It's up to you, watch your knuckles though.
• Grate the onion into the same bowl. Of course peel the skin off first.
• Get rid of the liquid that has collected in the bowl.
• Beat the eggs in another bowl and then add to the potato/onion mixture.
• Add the flour, salt and pepper, Mix well.
• Turn oven on to 250°F This is so you can keep the first latkes you fry warm while your cooking the rest.
• Pour enough salad oil into the bottom of a large frying pan so it's about 1/4 inch deep. Heat the oil, and keep it hot at medium to medium high heat. Put a tablespoon of the batter into the oil and press it with a slotted pancake turner to a thin pancake. Do as many as these as the pan will hold. Each latke gets turned once.
• You can tell when they're ready to turn because the edges get brown. You should cook the latkes so they're golden brown and crisp on each side. As they're done, put them in a shallow pan lined with some paper towels and keep them warm in the oven. I serve them with applesauce -- Enjoy!