Author Notes
There's no unusual ingredients in these latkes, but the use of the food processor to grate the potatoes and onions results in a really pretty pancake. One of the things I used to dislike about latkes is when they turned into brown blobs. - ChefJune —ChefJune
Test Kitchen Notes
ChefJune's instructions are really good and easy to follow. She says you should use a thermometer to check the oil temperature -- I went with 350°F-375°F. The food processor makes quick and painless work of the grating. The use of baking powder in the batter adds a fluffy cakiness to the latkes that created a pleasant texture. I would recommend making them without the tablespoon of oil added to the batter -- there's enough oil in this recipe. I like the technique of preheating the oil, keeping it hot, and keeping the latkes warm while draining on paper towels, which keeps the latkes from being greasy. I halved the recipe and had 15 latkes so by my reckoning the full recipe would make more like 30, not the stated 12—maybe I make them small? These latkes were tasty, foolproof and easy, and I recommend them as an Editors' Pick. —drbabs
Ingredients
-
6
medium-sized russet potatoes, peeled
-
1
small onion, peeled
-
3
large eggs
-
1 teaspoon
Kosher salt
-
1/2 teaspoon
freshly ground black pepper
-
1/4 cup
organic all-purpose flour
-
1/2 teaspoon
Rumford's baking powder
-
1 tablespoon
safflower oil, plus more for frying
Directions
-
Have a sheet pan ready, lined with brown paper bags and paper towel. Preheat the oven at 250 degrees F. to keep the latkes warm while you fry the rest.
-
Using a food processor fitted with a medium grater, cut the potatoes to fit the feed tube horizontally. Drain and discard any water that collects in the bottom of the work bowl after grating. Grate the onion in the same manner. Put potatoes and onions into a large, non-reactive mixing bowl.
-
Beat in the eggs, salt and pepper. Stir in the flour, baking powder and 1 tablespoon of oil.
-
Place a large sauté pan over high heat until hot. Add about 1 inch of oil and heat until hot. Using a large spoon, place spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, making sure to leave 2 inches between the latkes so they will brown nicely. Brown on both sides, turning only once.
-
When the latkes are nicely browned, remove them to the paper-bag lined baking sheet to drain. Then put the drained latkes on a plate and put into the warm oven while you fry the rest.
-
Continue making latkes, adding more oil to the pan as necessary. (If your oil is hot enough, you should not need much, if any, more oil. Check the temperature with a candy thermometer before you start frying the latkes.) Once all the latkes are made, serve immediately with sour cream or applesauce or both.
30+ years a chef, educator, writer, consultant, "winie," travel guide/coordinator
See what other Food52ers are saying.