Potato Latkes Recipe - Belly Full (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Irish potato pancakes and latkes? ›

The potato pancake is much simpler, with nothing but raw grated potatoes, egg, and all-purpose flour. The latke, on the other hand, adds baking powder, matzo meal, and even a splash of milk, according to Cooktoria.

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.

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.

Tart and fruity applesauce—unsweetened is best—cuts through the grease and lightens them right up, leaving you feeling perfectly satisfied, but not stuffed. Sure, sour cream is tart too, but since it's dairy, it can weigh down the latkes—adding unwanted heft to an already filling meal.

Of course we associate potato latkes with Hanukkah, but in reality latkes descends from Italian pancakes that were made with ricotta cheese. The first connection between Hanukkah and pancakes was made by a rabbi in Italy named Rabbi Kalonymus ben Kalonymus (c. 1286-1328).

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.

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.

Officially, though, a latke is simply a pancake—the word itself comes, via Yiddish, from a Russian word meaning "little pancake." Latkes can in fact be made from almost any vegetable, bean, cheese, or grain.

Vegetable oil or canola oil is usually best, because of its high smoking point. Latkes were traditionally made with schmaltz, or chicken fat, so if you have access to it, you should certainly add it in, because it does contribute to the flavor.

That's because applesauce is parve and unlike sour cream you can eat it with your meat meal. Personally I prefer applesauce. The latkes are cooked in oil, and they remind us of the miracle story associated with this holiday of national liberation.

What is the difference between latke and knish? ›

LATKE (pronounced 🙃 LAT-ka) is like a Jewish hash brown. It's also called a potato pancake! 👌Served with sour cream & apple sauce. POTATO KNISH is pastry dough on the outside & 😜mashed potatoes on the inside!

Latkes are just fried potatoes, so they're basically a blank canvas of crispy deliciousness. Pick any of our top latke recipes and try a new topping this year. Applesauce and sour cream are the traditional accoutrements for latkes.

I will have to travel with them for two hours and latkes are only good as soon as you fry them. What can I do to keep the potato batter from turning brown? A: When shredding the potatoes be sure to add some acidity (such as a teaspoon of white wine vinegar or concentrated lemon juice to the water.

“Canola oil is the oil I grew up frying my latkes in. It makes for crispy, light latkes with a soft inside. Canola oil can also heat up to a high enough temperature to cook the whole latke through.” Canola gets bonus points because you can reuse it.

Potato pancakes are softer thinner than latkes. This comes from the way they are prepared. Pancakes are made from finely grated potatoes, whereas, latkes are larger gratings. This makes the latkes crunchier than the pancakes.

Solanum tuberosum (Irish Potato, Irish Potatoes, Pomme de Terre, Potato, Potatoes, White Potato, White Potatoes) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

We call them Irish potatoes because the potato was first brought back to Europe in the 1500's and developed as a crop there. The Irish immigrants brought the culture of potato to the United States.

In the industry and with USDA, russets are often referred to as 'white' potatoes. Russets are the primary variety group grown in Idaho, representing approximately 50% of the 315,000 acres grown annually. Ireland grows numerous potato varieties. The country is partial to their yellow and red skin varieties.