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HANUKKAH
RECIPES:
Potato Latkes
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Potato
Latkes |
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Hanukkah favorite
from Fine Cooking, January 1999...
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4
medium |
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to
large Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes (2
lbs.), peeled |
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2
large |
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yellow onions (¾ lb. total) |
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4
large |
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eggs, lightly beaten |
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1/3
cup |
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matzo meal |
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2
tsp |
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salt; add more to taste |
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10
to 15 grinds |
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fresh ground pepper, add more to taste |
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About ¾ cup |
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peanut oil |
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1 |
Using the
medium shredding blade of a food processor,
grate the potatoes. laying them horizontally in
the feed tube to maximize the strand length.
Grate the onions (halve or quarter them first)
on top of the potatoes. The onions will turn to
mush, and their juices will help keep the
potatoes from turning brown. Pick out any
ungrated pieces of potato or onion. |
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2 |
Lay a clean
dishtowel inside a large bowl and transfer the
grated mixture into the towel. Roll the towel
lengthwise and wring out as much liquid as
possible (you can do this over the bowl,
discarding the liquid, or right over the sink).
Depending on the size of the towel (and your
muscles), you may have to do this in batches. |
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3 |
Transfer the
grated mixture to a mixing bowl. Add eggs,
matzo, salt and pepper; mix well. |
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4 |
In a large
cast-iron or nonstick skillet, pour about 1/8"
of oil and heat on medium high. The oil is hot
enough when a piece of potato sizzles when
added. Form a trial latke with a Tablespoon of
the mixture. Fry until golden brown on both
sides. Taste and, if needed, add salt and pepper
to the potato mixture. |
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5 |
To form the
latkes, scoop up about ½ cup of the mixture with
your hands and loosely pat it into a pancake
about ½" thick, leaving a few straggly strands
along the edge. (As you work, liquid will
accumulate in the bowl, so lightly squeeze out
the excess. The last couple of latkes may need a
really firm squeeze.) After shaping each latke,
slip it into the hot oil and flatten it gently
with the back of a spatula. Fry until deep
golden brown, at least 5 minutes on each side to
be sure the center is fully cooked. If the edges
darken very quickly, lower the heat. To prevent
excess oil absorption, flip each latke only
once. Add oil between batches as needed, making
sure the oil heats up again before frying more
latkes. Drain the latkes on paper towels or a
clean brown paper bag. |
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6 |
Serve
immediately with applesauce and sour cream. |
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Yield: 8 - 10
four inch latkes |
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Cooking Tips |
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*Matzo meal is found
in the Jewish section of your regular grocery store. |
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**Without a food
processor? Not to worry- you can grate the potatoes on
the largest holes of a box grater. Hold the potatoes
vertically to get longer strands. |
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***Latkes are best
served right away, but you can reheat leftovers in a 300
degree oven. Set the latkes directly on the oven rack
and bake until hot, 8-10 minutes. |
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RATE this Recipe

Ratings:
***Hey,
this one's a keeper!- would
make it again. "This is a great, basic latke recipe.
We enjoyed these with applesauce and sour cream!"
-Mansfield, MA
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