Pan-Fry

Orna & Ella's Sweet Potato Pancakes

by:
October  4, 2022
5
7 Ratings
Orna & Ella's Sweet Potato Pancakes
  • Serves 5
Author Notes

This recipe is my attempt to replicate the much celebrated Sweet Potato Latkes from Orna & Ella's in Tel Aviv. Enjoy! —jonaz

Test Kitchen Notes

We love the simplicity of this recipe -- originally from Orna and Ella restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel -- which really showcases the richness of sweet potatoes. The ingredient list for the pancakes is fairly short: sweet potatoes, flour, sugar, salt and pepper -- plus an unexpected yet welcome dose of soy sauce. Jonaz has you boil the peeled potatoes and drain them for an hour before using your hands, playground-style, to mash and combine them with the rest of the ingredients. Then, you use a pastry bag to form the pancakes in the pan. This can be a bit difficult, as the batter is thick and sticky, but a spatula will help you flatten and smooth the pancakes, which you then brown in butter until crisp. The Cream Dipping Sauce is bright and herbal, a great counterpoint to the suppleness of the pancakes themselves. - A&M —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • The Pancakes
  • 2.75 pounds Sweet Potatoes
  • 2 tablespoons Soy Sauce
  • 3/4 cup Flour
  • 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Fresh ground black pepper
  • butter
  • Cream Dipping Sauce
  • 3/4 cup Chives
  • 1/2 pound sour cream
  • 1/3 cup mayonaise
  • salt, pepper, mustard & lemon to taste
Directions
  1. The Pancakes
  2. Peel sweet potatoes and cut into large pieces. Remove any dark spots.
  3. Cook the sweet potatoes in boiling water until soft.
  4. Leave in a strainer or colander for at least 1 hour to drain completely of water
  5. Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl and mix with soy sauce, using your hands** (do not overmix, or the mixture will get too sticky to work with).
  6. Add flour, sugar, salt and pepper and mix with hands. Remove any hard or black parts.
  7. Keep mixing with hands until you get the right consistency. The batter should be soft, even and a bit sticky. If it is watery add some flour. DON'T OVERMIX!
  8. Put the batter into a sandwich bag or other plastic bag, tie off the end and puncture on one end to make an icing bag.
  9. Warm up a non-stick pan and add butter.
  10. Make two-inch pancakes on the frying pan. Fry on both sides on medium heat.
  1. Cream Dipping Sauce
  2. Mix all ingredients and serve with the pancakes. Enjoy!
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15 Reviews

Yvonne V.
Yvonne V. January 25, 2014
Absolutely delicious! Thank you
 
Skylor P.
Skylor P. October 2, 2012
Look... I love sweet potatoes. And I love latkes. And I am growing more and more to love you because of this recipe! Yum.
 
BellaCakes
BellaCakes July 13, 2012
made these but roasted the sweet potatoes.. pretty good!
 
Emily
Emily June 8, 2012
I made these last night and they were delicious!!! Thanks for posting this one!
 
E&A F.
E&A F. February 15, 2012
Can't believe i finally found this recipe! Had those pancakes two years ago in TA at this awesome place (best breakfast place after a drunk night too!) and tried to re-cook them ever since. I'll try this asap!
 
Patrisha
Patrisha January 15, 2012
Sounds & looks really good! I think I will grind of some of my pecans to make a nut flour to use since I am trying to shy away from regular flour. Hope it turns out and looks as good as yours.
 
Christine L.
Christine L. December 3, 2011
I can't believe I just stumbled onto this recipe. I was in tel Aviv last month and we ate dinner at Orna & Ella's and of course I ordered the sweet potato pancakes and yes, they were fabulous. So glad I found the recipe.
 
Kassandra G.
Kassandra G. July 31, 2011
I live in Tel Aviv and ate at Orna and Ella's yesterday. When I got home I made these for my boyfriend, we ate them with unsweetened applesauce, it was absolutely scrumptious!
 
dymnyno
dymnyno November 9, 2010
So , what is the deal ...this recipe is a great favorite..why do we never see another word from you ...or anything! Write soon!
 
monkeymom
monkeymom July 3, 2010
I made these with okinawan purple sweet potatoes roasted for an hour in foil. Had to add some water then fried them in coconut oil. They were beautiful and we loved them!
 
RoseTex10
RoseTex10 June 29, 2010
I made the Sweet Potato Pancakes and found them to be very salty. What a shame because the finish product look so appeziting. Maybe next time.
 
brooklyn '.
brooklyn '. February 18, 2010
my parents are israeli so i go all the time to tel aviv and this is one of my favorite treats when i go there. cant wait to try to make these
 
SueG
SueG November 16, 2009
I like sweet potatoes without added sweetener--just plain, long-roasted ones are ideal, really--and savory preparations can be fantastic. I'm sure I would like these pancakes.
 
KitchenKim
KitchenKim November 8, 2009
I can't wait to try this recipe and I love the simplicity of your directions.
 
Bladt
Bladt October 15, 2009
These better be prepared on while we are on the road...