Papa Leo’s traditional potato latkes (pancakes) are the perfect dish to serve for Hanukkah or any day of the year!
When Hanukkah rolls around every year, I have a hard time straying away from the traditional potato latke recipe passed down from my Papa Leo.
Crispy, salty, savory potato pancakes in all their glory – it doesn’t get any better than this, folks.
We top them simply with a little sour cream (or Greek yogurt) and apple sauce. That’s it. End of story. There is nothing else needed – this is your one way ticket to latke perfection.
A few tips I’ve learned over the years:
- Using a food processor with the grading attachment to shred the potatoes and onions will save you time and prevent bloody knuckles. Trust me on this one.
- Squeeze out as much water as possible from the grated potatoes. Paper towel or a kitchen tower work really well. Keep squeezing until you can’t squeeze any more. Note: If using a food processor, do the potatoes separately from the onions so you can squeeze them. Onion juice = flavor. Potato water = soggy sadness.
- Make more than you think you’ll need. More than likely, you’ll only make these once a year. Go crazy and make a double batch. Your family will thank you.
Potato Latkes
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Papa Leo's traditional potato latkes (pancakes) are the perfect dish to serve for Hanukkah or any day of the year!
Course:
Entree
Servings: 4
Calories: 720 kcal
Ingredients
- 4 russet potatoes peeled and grated finely water squeezed out
- 1 medium onion grated finely
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup matzo meal or more if needed
- canola oil for frying
- sour cream and apple sauce for serving
Instructions
-
Using a food processor or cheese grader, grate the potatoes and place in a bowl using a paper towel to remove excess water.
-
Grate the onions then add to the potatoes.
-
Add egg, salt and matzo meal to the potato/onion mixture and mix well with a fork. If mixture seems too watery, add more matzo meal.
-
Heat 2-3 inches of oil over medium-high heat In a deep pan (or cast iron skillet). Add a drop of the potato mixture to test the heat of the oil. If it bubbles, it's ready!
-
Using an ice cream scoop or large soup spoon, drop potato mixture in to the oil being careful not to over crowd the pan. Flatten the pancakes with a metal spatula to ensure even cooking.
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After 3-4 minutes, check for color and flip once browned on one side. Flatten again with the spatula and cook until browned on both sides.
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Lay cooked latkes on plate or baking sheet lined with paper towel to absorb excess oil.
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Continue working in batches until all of the potato mixture is gone.
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Serve with sour cream and apple sauce.
Recipe Notes
Keep potato latkes in oven heated to warm to keep hot until dinner is served.
Nutrition Facts
Potato Latkes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 720
Calories from Fat 515
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 57.2g
88%
Saturated Fat 4.2g
21%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 53g
Cholesterol 45mg
15%
Sodium 610mg
25%
Total Carbohydrates 47.8g
16%
Dietary Fiber 3.8g
15%
Sugars 2.8g
Protein 7.1g
14%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
From someone who’s never made latkes…when you say 4 russet potatoes, how many pounds should I use? The sizes vary greatly! Thanks so much.
Hi Kim – This recipe is very forgiving so no need to be that precise. Just look for 4 typical sized Russet potatoes and you’ll be ok! :)
i just love latkes! great recipe. if u dont have a food processor, u can use a blender. growing up in a household of 9 many hands to help. in my late 20s my kids helped, then i got carpel tunnel in both hands and by 30 & 40’s just couldnt grate it anymore. plus my mom who is 25 years older than me, neither one of us good grate anymore :( well i didnt want to give up on this great food so i came up with a blender and tadah!! problem solved. home it helps for others.
Good idea about the blender!!!
Potato latkes and sufganiot… but the smell of fried food is permeating in our apartment. Aside from opening all the windows while frying, any other ideas to clear the air, lest the odor/aroma will linger long after Chanukah is gone… when I’ll need to start my diet!
Yumm..these look Perrrfect!!! And I love how you add the NI (or not?) haha
Oh, I love when my hubs makes latkes!!!! In fact, this will be in my tummy soon… thanks for the reminder!
I hate to say it, but I wish McDonalds double cheeseburgers and fries had zero cals!! Yep.
They look so crispy!
Donuts!
I just made a huge batch of latkes last night, happy chanukah to you.
Latkes rock!
Any fried food lol I fall for em all.
These are basically the latkes we made, although I made a quadruple batch. I freeze them and then serve them throughout the year.
And although I don’t really like fried foods, I would be OK with these having no calories for my once a year dinner.
Jelly doughnuts! Too many calories, but soo good!
Lattes from Starbucks. They are my addiction.
chocolate ganache!
I have only tried latkes a few times and neither were a great success. I can’t wait to try yours and so many other Hanukkah recipes to try! Thanks for sharing.
I wish my deep fried wontons had no calories
Fried chicken. I’d love to be able to eat non stop fried chicken!
Love that last image in the frying pan!
donuts.
I’m with you – latkes!
Latkes…or sufganiyot.
I wish all fried food would be calorie free!!
I am totally eyeing these. I’m ready with my potatoes and my deep fryer, but haven’t figured out what recipe I’m going to use! Happy Chanukah!
Mmmm … crispy latkes … I can smell them frying!
Potato Chips ;)
I don’t eat too many fried food, but topping the list are latkas and doughnuts – so if I could have them without the calories? Yum!
This is tough, because I love fried foods! Probably Krispy Kreme raised glazed. These don’t present a problem to me now because there aren’t any in the state I live in, but if I come across one……
I wish falafel had no calories. I love falafel.
latkes would be right up there – any kind of veggie fried up latke style actually …. the possibilites are really endless.
I wish fried chicken had no calories : )
I wish sufganiyot had no calories!!!
I just made Eddie’s Moms recipe for latkes yesterday – almost the same! They were SOOOO good, and yours look amazing, Liz! xx
I can’t even visually tell these were made in the food processor, you can always tell w/mine! Love the addition of matzo meal, we use bread crumbs.
I would have to agree and say that latkes with no frying would be wonderful.
I love latkes so much it’s ridiculous. I don’t deep fry mine but the crispy edges are by far the best part so they are a must! Happy Hanukkah friend :)
I am a sucker for crispy edges!! Thanks friend!
Liz, your latkes look amazing!
Donuts. definitely donuts. :) Just got a mini deep fryer and it was so easy to make fresh donuts and even easier to eat them up!
you can never go wrong with a traditional recipe. My fiance would prefer your latkes over mine because they look so crunchy. Looks so delicous!
haha – I make them super crunchy!!!
Don’t caramel sufganiyot have no calories already? ;)
So glad you joined the blog party – can’t wait to see how you used the printables! http://thekosherhome.com/chanukah-sameach/
Shelley from The Kosher home!
Awesome shot of the fryer- I’d be afraid to get my camera that close! I would say latkes too!
These latkes look amazing!
I wish donuts had no calories. Specifically caramel donuts with chocolate glaze. Or maybe custard donuts. Or cinnamon twist donuts. Ok, skip that. Any donut. All donuts. Just donuts!
Can you tell I hate dieting on Hanukkah??
Loving that you stuck with tradition for this post. It balances out the “shake up the norm” approach I took with my post for this blog party!
Thats exactly the ratios I use when I make my potato latkes, except I don’t use any matzah meal. Russet potatoes are the best when making latkes!
Your latkes take me straight back to my childhood! I wish chicken fried steak had zero calories!
I’m so glad to hear!!! :-)