Potato Pancakes Latkes A La Cohen Recipes

POTATO LATKES I

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a cheesecloth and wring, extracting as much moisture as possible.
• In a medium bowl stir the potatoes, onion, eggs, flour and salt together.
• In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil until hot. Place large spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot oil, pressing down on them to form 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick patties. Brown on one side, turn and brown on the other. Let drain on paper towels. Serve hot!

MARCY GOLDMAN'S WORLD FAMOUS POTATO PANCAKES LATKES

Steps:

• The best way to fry these are in tiny dollops, dropped from a spoon (or I use metal kitchen tongs and pick up small clumps of batter) and use a deep wok. the cooking method is so important so follow the directions exactly for perfect results.
• Place potatoes in a medium saucepan and just cover with cold water. Turn heat to high and allow to come to boil. As soon as potatoes are boiling, put a kitchen timer on for 10 minutes. When timer rings, remove potatoes from stove and cover with cold water. Drain immediately, then cover again with cold water. Let sit five minutes. Remove potatoes and pat dry.
• Using a hand shredder (best) or food processor fitted with a medium disc, shred potatoes (with skins on). The potatoes should be slightly softened, but still firm enough to produce shreds. If the peel separates from the potato, discard it. If the peel gets grated in with the potatoes, it's fine and just incorporate it into the mixture. I like the hand grater best. When I use the processor, I use two thirds shredded then pulverized potatoes and one third shredded for a mixture than is bulky but still has shreds. Worth the trouble.
• In a large bowl, blend shredded potatoes, grated onion, eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Place newspaper on work surface (near frying area) and cover with a few paper towels. In a large deep skillet (I like to use a wok), pour in enough vegetable oil to fill about two thirds. If using an electric fry pan, set the temperature to 350°F or 375°F (depending on how fast you want the pancakes to cook). Drop potato batter by teaspoons (for small ones) or soup spoonfuls in small dollops, flattening slightly with a metal spatula if desired. I use large metal tongs for dropping and turning. Brown one side, turn once, and complete cooking on other side. These cook quickly. You're looking for a puffy centre while retaining some crisp shreds of potato on edges.
• Serve immediately or freeze. To reheat, place latkes on a large wire cake rack on a cookie sheet. Warm at 250°F until crisp. For freezing purposes, fry them a little underdone to allow for browning in the re-heating stage.

POTATO PANCAKES/ LATKES A LA COHEN!

Steps:

• The secret to these crisp delights, is to use bread crumbs instead of flour as other recipes suggest!
• Cut the washed,unpeeled potatoes into chunks.
• Peel the onion (medium)and cut into chunks as well.
• Mince the garlic.
• Put this in batches through the shredding disk of a food processor(not too fine). If you do not have a processor, use a blender but place one egg into the bottom first with each batch and pulse several times.
• Empty contents into a large bowl and drain off some of the liquid.
• Now stir in all the remaining ingredients except the oil. The batter should be thick enough to hold its shape. You may need to add extra bread crumbs.
• Pour enough oil into a large skillet to about 1/8 inch deep.
• Heat over medium high heat, about 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Drop in the batter by heaping tablespoons (I like them larger).
• Flatten them out a bit and cook until nice and brown on the underside, then flip and repeat. You may need to add more oil as you proceed. They should be crisp on the outside and soft but cooked on the inside. I always cook one and taste it. :-) Check if you want to add a little more salt.
• Have your oven heated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit; line several loaf pans with double paper towels.
• Stand the cooked pancakes in them on end and keep warm in the oven.
• You should get 20 to 30 depending on size. I allow at least 4 per person. :-) Enjoy!

TEN TOPPINGS FOR POTATO PANCAKES OR LATKES

Steps:

• Prepare your favorite latkes and top with your choice of toppings.

SUPER SIMPLE LATKES (POTATO PANCAKES)

Steps:

• Defrost grated potatoes in a medium-size colander. Press with paper towels to remove excess moisture. There won't be much.
• Add onion, eggs, salt, pepper and flour. Mixture should be thick and cohesive.
• Pour about 1/4 inch of oil into a heavy-bottomed frying pan. I use an electric frying pan at 375 so it doesn't get too hot and burn the latkes.
• Use about 2 Tablespoons potato mixture and place in the oil and press into a patty.
• Fry for about 3 minutes. Flip and fry for another 3 or so minutes. If pancake cooks too fast, reduce oil's temperature. If it takes longer, turn the oil up so they don't get soggy. Repeat with remaining potato mixture.
• Drain on paper towels and serve immediately, or keep in a 250 oven on a baking sheet.

LATKES (POTATO PANCAKES)

Steps:

• Wash and peel the potatoes.
• Grate the potatoes with a grater or food processor.
• (You can grate them into a bowl of salted water to keep them from discoloring. Otherwise they discolor about as fast as you can grate them, although it doesn't hurt anything if you use them right away). Drain off all liquid, and squeeze the excess liquid out by hand.
• (Do this even if you don't soak them in the salted water.) Beat the eggs and mix with the grated potatoes and other ingredients, except the oil.
• Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a skillet over medium high heat until very hot.
• Drop potato mixture by heaping tablespoons into oil (about 4 at a time).
• Use a pancake turner to flatten them out.
• Fry to golden brown on both sides (about 3 minutes per side).
• Drain on paper towels.
• Serve topped with applesauce or sour cream.

POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Grate potatoes in long strips, using smooth strokes to run potatoes across grater into a large bowl of ice water. Using a strainer or slotted spoon, transfer potatoes, reserving liquid, to another large bowl lined with a clean kitchen towel; gently squeeze dry.
• Set reserved liquid aside for 10 minutes to allow starch to sink to the bottom; carefully pour liquid from the bowl, reserving milky residue (potato starch) and discard. Transfer potatoes back to bowl with potato starch.
• Add onions to bowl; stir in eggs, beer, flour, salt, and pepper.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels; set aside. In a heavy nonstick skillet, heat 1/4-inch of oil. Spoon 1/2 cup of potato mixture per pancake into skillet. Make a few at a time, being careful they don't run into each other.
• Fry on both sides until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer to prepared baking sheet to drain. Keep warm in oven while preparing the others. Serve hot with applesauce, or sour cream and caviar, if desired.

BLENDER POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Assemble blender.
• Put eggs, onion, salt, flour, baking powder and 1/2 C potato cubes into blender container.
• Cover and process at#7 until smooth.
• Add remaining potatoes, cover and process 2 cycles at#9.
• Pour into a hot, well greased griddle.
• Drain on absorbent paper.