Potato Latkes Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

These classic Potato Latkes have a tender inside and crispy exterior. While they’re traditionally made for Jewish holidays, anyone can enjoy this latke recipe. With a few simple ingredients and deep fried, there’s absolutely nothing quite like them!

They are fantastic all on their own, but we love serving them with homemade applesauce.

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We’re a blended family, celebrating both Jewish holidays and Christmas every year. Since my sister hosts Christmas dinner, my mom and I take turns hosting Hanukkah. One of our favorite traditions is making potato latkes together…and every year we always regret not making a double batch, because they disappear in a flash!

What are Latkes?

Latkes – or potato pancakes, if you prefer – pronounced “lat-key,” are traditionally made for the Rosh Hashanah, Passover, and Hanukkah holidays. BUT you do not need to be Jewish to enjoy them. Their deliciousness is universal!

Latkes are small potato pancakes that are comparable to corn fritters, except the main ingredients are potatoes, egg, some sort of starch, and sometimes onion (like my recipe.) Perfect latkes have a tender inside and crispy exterior – they are beyond scrumptious!

Since there always seems to be some confusion, I feel compelled to point out that latkes and hash browns are not the same thing! And latkes are never made with mashed potatoes. (Mashed Potato Cakes, while fantastic, are completely different.)

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Best Latke Recipe

For our family recipe, here’s what you’ll need:
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)

  • Potatoes: Russet potatoes are the best potatoes for latkes because of their high starch content.
  • Onion: We include onion in ours for flavor. Onions and potatoes are perfect together.
  • Flour: Justall-purpose flour. (See below regarding matzo meal.)
  • Eggs: Beaten eggs act as a binder to hold the latkes together.
  • Kosher salt and black pepper: For flavor.
  • Vegetable oil: Use for frying.

Recipe Variations

  • Use Matzo meal: This is finely ground up matzo and can be used in place of the flour for Passover.
  • Blend in some fresh herbs: Adding some fresh herbs or a little garlic powder to the potato mixture will give you a different flavor.
  • Add another vegetable: Combining the potatoes with a vegetable is delicious! I’ve made latkes with potato and zucchini and also Potato Carrot Latkes.
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How to Make Latkes

Latkes can be made two different ways (although, I don’t completely agree with this. HA.) – one where the potato is shredded (perhaps this is where the confusion of comparing them to hash browns comes in), the other where the potato is pureed with the other ingredients (my preferred method.) Here are a few tips:
(To make this latke recipe, follow the steps below included in the printable recipe card and watch the video.)

  • Use a food processor to combine the ingredients: You want the mixture to be blended with some texture, but not clumpy.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan: I typically fit in about 4 at a time without them touching.
  • Adjust the heat or cook time, if necessary: Keep an eye on the latkes and adjust the cooking time, the heat, or switch out the oil if you notice them browning too quickly.

How to Store Latkes

Potato pancakes, like most fritters and fried food, are best eaten right away while they’re hot and crispy. You can definitely enjoy leftovers, though (if you’re lucky enough to have any!)

Can you make latkes ahead of time? You can make the batter up to 2 hours ahead of frying it (stored in the fridge.) Once fried, latkes will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
How to reheat latkes: to reheat, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet in a 350° oven until they’re crisp again, about 10 minutes.
Can you freeze cooked potato latkes? Yes. Frythem, drain off any grease, and allow to cool completely. Store in freezer bags for up to 2 weeks. Defrost when ready to use, and reheat.

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What to Serve with Latkes

Traditionally, latkes are served with applesauce or sour cream. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Homemade Applesauce
  • Homemade Ricotta Cheese
  • Everything Bagel Seasoning Blend
  • Onion Jam

More Jewish Food:

  • Rugelach
  • Noodle Kugel
  • Cheese Blintz
  • Challah Bread
  • Matzo Ball Soup

I hope you love this delicious and simple recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!

Potato Latkes Recipe - Belly Full (5)

Potato Latkes

5 from 9 Ratings

Classic Potato Latkes have a tender inside and crispy exterior. With a few simple ingredients and deep fried, there’s absolutely nothing quite like them!

Print Recipe Rate Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 30 latkes

Ingredients

  • 1 small sweet onion , peeled, stem removed, quartered
  • 2 large eggs , beaten
  • 1 pound russet potatoes , peeled and cut into cubes
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • pinch black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (see note below regarding matzo meal)
  • 1 cup (or more) vegetable oil , for frying
  • applesauce , for serving (optional)

Instructions

  • In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, combine the onion and eggs and puree until smooth and fluffy. Add the potato, using off-on pulses, process the mixture until pureed, but still retaining some texture. Add the salt, pepper, and flour and briefly process to combine – do not over process.

  • Pour the mixture into a bowl, squeezing out excess liquid if there is any.

  • Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with a double layer of paper towels.

  • Pour a solid layer of oil in the bottom of a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot enough, working in batches, spoon rounded tablespoons of the mixture into the pan (make sure they don’t touch each other.) Flatten just slightly with the back of a spoon – they should be about 2-3 inches in diameter.

  • Fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. (If they start to burn, adjust your cooking time and/or change out your oil for a clean amount.)

  • Transfer the latkes to the lined baking sheet to drain and place in the oven until all are cooked.

  • Garnish and serve immediately with some applesauce or sour cream, if desired.

  • Note: Matzo meal is finely ground up matzo and can can be used in place of the flour for Passover.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 30kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 46mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.

Other Notes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Jewish

Keyword: latke recipe, latkes, potato latkes

Did you make this recipe?Snap a picture and mention @bellyfullblog!

Potato Latkes Recipe - Belly Full (6)
Potato Latkes Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between potato pancakes and latkes? ›

Potato pancakes have a creamy, almost mashed-potato-like center, with a thin, golden, crisp exterior. Latkes, on the other hand, should have a deeply browned crust, with wispy, lacy edges. Latkes also aren't hash browns.

What is the best oil to use for frying latkes? ›

Sunflower oil has a high smoke point, which makes it suitable for frying latkes and other foods. It is rich in Vitamin E and low in saturated fat, making it a healthy pick for your latke frying. Sunflower oil has a neutral flavour allowing the delicious fried potato taste of your latkes to shine through.

What is the difference between rosti and latkes? ›

Latkes are very similar to the rösti, but also incorporate egg and flour into the pancakes, and are pan-fried in canola oil instead of clarified butter. How do I get my rösti super crispy? Frying in clarified butter is what gives the rösti its beautifully crip exterior while the interior remains buttery.

What's the difference between hash browns and potato latkes? ›

Hash browns are shredded potatoes and onions that are scattered in a pan and pan fried. They can also be formed into a patty and deep fried. When comparing hash browns to latkes and potato pancakes, hash browns require the fewest ingredients. Latke recipes include a binder like egg.

Is latke Hebrew or Yiddish? ›

A latke (Yiddish: לאַטקע latke; sometimes romanized latka, lit. "pancake") is a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah. Latkes can be made with ingredients other than potatoes such as cheese, onion, carrot, and zucchini.

Why do Jews eat latkes at Hanukkah? ›

These potato pancakes (called latkes) are meant to symbolize the miracle of Hanukkah, when the oil of the menorah in the ransacked Second Temple of Jerusalem was able to stay aflame for eight days even though there was only enough oil for one day. The symbolism comes in the form of the oil in which latkes are fried.

What kind of potatoes are best for latkes? ›

Russet potatoes: Russet potatoes, or baking potatoes, are high in starch and have a dry, mealy texture. This type of potato is best for latkes because the dryness of the potato is partially responsible for that desirable, crispy texture. Yellow onion: Yellow onion adds a savory flavor to the latkes.

How to keep latke batter from turning brown? ›

“Onions can help block oxidation by coating some of the potato cells” Don Odiorne VP of Foodservice said. That's why some cooks alternate adding potatoes and onion to the mixture rather than doing all the potatoes first.

How do you keep latkes crispy when reheated? ›

– Always serve latkes hot and fresh if possible.

When ready to reheat, place in a 375 degree oven for about 10 minutes (7 if using a convection oven) until heated through just prior to serving. A convection oven setting will produce a more crispy result.

Why do Jews eat latkes? ›

Crispy, fried, slightly oniony potato pancakes with decadent (that's a euphemism for fattening) toppings. Why latkes? The simple answer is that they're meant to remind Jews of the miracle of the oil associated with Hanukkah.

What is the difference between Boxty and latkes? ›

Boxty is different from other potato pancakes or latkes, and you'll see that once you bite into one and notice the crispy hash brown-like outside and soft, dough-like inside.

What country invented potato pancakes? ›

Although many Americans associate potato pancakes with Hanukkah, they have more broad origins. They originated in the eastern European countries of Germany Austria, Russia and Poland as a peasant food. Potatoes were cheap, plentiful and easy to store, making them a staple and necessitating inventive potato recipes.

What are Yankee potatoes? ›

In the 1800s “Yankees” in the Northeast enjoyed large. cut potatoes roasted- with crispy pan marks on the. outside and a luscious earthy center. Guests near the. kitchen could hear the slang “yanks” being yelled to.

Why are cheesy potatoes called funeral potatoes? ›

Why are they called funeral potatoes? Funeral potatoes get their unique name from being a crowd-pleasing casserole served as a side dish at after-funeral luncheons (particularly in the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).

What ethnicity is latkes? ›

Historically, Jews in Central and Southern Europe cooked kaese (cheese) latkes, and Jews in Eastern Europe made latkes from buckwheat or rye flour.

What is another name for potato pancakes? ›

Potato pancakes are associated with almost every European cuisine and are referred to as a variety of names including latkes (Jewish culture), kartoffelpuffer (Germany), bramborak (Slovakia and Czech Republic), draniki (Austria), tattifish (England) and rosti (Switzerland) (“Potato Pancake Background”, n.d).

Why do they make potato pancakes on Hanukkah? ›

According to The Jewish Book of Why by Alfred J. Kolatch, Jews eat potato latkes during the eight days of the Hanukkah holiday “because they are fried in oil, and oil symbolizes the miracle of the cruse of oil which lasted for eight days instead of one. Latkes are called fasputshes or pontshkes by some Ashkenazim.

Why do Jews eat applesauce with latkes? ›

In addition to apples' lengthy Jewish history, applesauce enjoys another key advantage: It's not dairy, so it can be served with latkes cooked in chicken schmaltz, a commonplace in the old country.

References

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