New Years Eve Latkes Recipes

SHARON'S POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• In a food processor, finely grate potatoes (don't liquefy, leave some texture). Transfer to a colander to eliminate excess liquid. Transfer to a large bowl. Finely grate onions, and mix 1 1/2 cups into potatoes.
• Add eggs, baking powder, 3/4 cup corn oil, flour, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Fold in matzo meal, blending well.
• Heat remaining 1/2 cup corn oil in a deep skillet over low heat. With a large kitchen spoon, drop batter into pan, creating pancakes about 3 1/2 inches in diameter; be careful not to crowd them. Fry until underside is a deep golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Turn and fry for 1 to 2 minutes more. Repeat with remaining batter. Drain latkes on a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Serve with applesauce and/or sour cream.

NEW YEAR'S EVE LATKES

Steps:

• Get out your food processor or sturdy hand grater and using the finest grating holes, shred the potatoes.
• You want them to be so fine that they are mushy.
• Grate your onions in the same manner and mix them with the potatoes.
• Set the shredded potatoes& onions into a mesh strainer set over a bowl and squeeze out all the water you can.
• Don't worry if the potatoes start turning pink or brown- that is just a reaction to the air.
• Dump potato mixture into a bowl and sprinkle with baking powder; mix well.
• Sprinkle in a little flour- a spoonful at a time, mixing the flour into the mixture until your potatoes stick together enough to form a thin patty- they will seem a bit dry (don't be tempted to add an egg - it isn't necessary in this version).
• You don't want too much flour, so try not to add too much.
• Heat a large skillet (to about medium or medium-high) and add about 3-4 Tbsp of oil to the pan- or enough to coat the bottom of the pan well for frying (you will need to add a little more per batch as the oil disappears).
• Form thin patties about 2-3 inches in diameter and slide them into the oil.
• Don't crowd the pan- you should only make a few at a time.
• Fry a few minutes per side until golden brown(adjust heat as needed to keep oil from splattering).
• Remove to a paper towel lined plate using a slotted spoon to drain.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve warm with sour cream and smoked salmon on the side, if desired.
• NOTE: If you prefer more texture to your latkes, shred on a larger hole.

FAMILY LATKES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in salted water and let sit for about 15 minutes.
• Grate potatoes on a medium or fine setting. Press out liquid; this should produce about 4 cups grated potato.
• Place grated potato in a bowl and stir in flour, onion, salt, and pepper. Fold in eggs.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Heat enough oil in a deep pan to reach 1/4 inch up the sides. Heat over medium-high heat until a drop of batter sizzles. Lower heat to medium.
• Working in batches, drop batter into the hot oil in desired size and flatten into pancakes; brown on both sides, 5 to 7 minutes per side. Transfer to the prepared pans and keep warm in the preheated oven while you fry remaining batter.

CLASSIC LATKES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together potato starch, baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper; set aside. Peel potatoes; place in a bowl of cold water. On the large holes of a box grater, grate potatoes and onion. Transfer to a fine sieve lined with cheesecloth and set over a large bowl.
• Gather mixture in cheesecloth and squeeze moisture out into bowl. Let stand until a white paste settles to bottom of bowl, about 2 minutes. Remove sieve; pour liquid out of bowl and discard, leaving behind white paste.
• Add potato-onion mixture to bowl and sprinkle with baking-powder mixture; toss to coat. Add eggs; stir to combine.
• Heat 1/4 inch oil in a large, heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high until hot but not smoking. (Test with a shred of potato; if it sizzles immediately, it's ready). Reduce heat to medium. Working in batches to avoid crowding, scoop a scant 1/4 cup of potato mixture into oil; flatten with a spatula to 1/4 inch thick. Fry, turning once, until golden brown and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Using a slotted spatula, transfer to paper towels set over a baking sheet. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Repeat, stirring potato mixture between batches, and adjusting heat as needed while frying. Serve immediately.