Schmaltz Latkes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What oil is best for latkes? ›

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.

“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.

But, corn meal is a great substitute for matzoh meal and will also make your latkes gluten-free and nice and crispy.

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.

Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is known for its light, clean flavour. This quality makes it a great choice for using in your pancake recipes.

Canola oil and peanut oil are two common choices. A neutral oil won't affect the flavor of your fries, and an oil with a high smoke point (the point at which an oil starts to break down when heated) will be stable throughout your frying process.

There's nothing worse than grating your potatoes only to find them turning almost immediately a brownish gray. This happens because they oxidize when they come in contact with air. Luckily there's an easy solution… Immediately after grating (and I mean immediately) cover the potatoes with cold water.

Fry the latkes no more than an hour or two ahead of serving. You can warm them by placing the latkes in a single layer on a sheet pan in a very low (200 F) oven. If they stay there too long, they will no longer be as crisp, but they will still be very appealing.

Your Latkes Fall Apart

Luckily, the fix for both of these problems is the same: add some more starch — ideally in the form of matzo meal — which will soak up that extra moisture and bind the ingredients together more tightly. Flour works too, but it sticks together and makes for denser latkes.

Its Modern Hebrew name, levivah (לְבִיבָה levivá), plural levivot, is a revival of a word used in the Book of Samuel to describe a dumpling made from kneaded dough, part of the story of Amnon and Tamar.

What is the difference between German 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.

After allowing the latkes to drain on the wire cooling rack, place them on an ungreased, unlined cookie sheet. 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.

When you're making latkes, you can grate the potatoes up to about 3 hours ahead. They will turn pinkish brown, but they are about to be fried into golden perfection, so it doesn't matter.

Storing and Freezing Latkes

Latkes will keep in the fridge for 5 days. Just wrap them in foil and reheat in one layer on a rimmed baking sheet, uncovered, in a 375°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes. Latkes will freeze well for one month, wrapped in foil and tucked inside a ziptop freezer bag.

The best oil to cook latkes in is one with a high smoke point, like avocado, canola, peanut or sunflower oil, which all have a smoke point of 400°F or higher. Because latkes can take a while to cook, this ensures that your latke can have a nice crispy and golden exterior without getting burnt.

"This also allows the pancakes to get an even color and cook all the way through without burning." The key is to use an oil with a neutral flavor, like vegetable oil, and use it sparingly, so the pancakes maintain a nice texture and aren't too hard on either side.

Canola oil is one of the best oil for chips fries and is often used for fat-free potato chip recipes.

Heat the olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. When you see the oil shimmer, test if it's hot enough by putting a small strand of potato in. If it immediately starts to sizzle it's ready to fry your latkes. Put about ⅓ cup of potato mix into the oil and lightly press into a small pancake shape about ½ inch thick.