What is the significance of potato latkes?
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 is the history of 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 is the story behind latkes?
Latkes come from the story of Judith, a fearless woman who is known as a Jewish heroine for beheading the Assyrian army’s general, Holofernes. How did she do it? Fed him some salty, cheesy pancakes and went in for the kill when he passed out drunk on her wine.
What type of potato is best for latkes?
Russets
What foods go with potato latkes?
How to Up Your Latkes with Toppings
- The Standard. You can’t go wrong with cool applesauce and sour cream.
- Smoked Salmon + Cream Cheese. For added flavor, a piece of sliced smoked salmon (lox) brings another dimension to the latke.
- Pomegranate Seeds + Honey + Greek Yogurt.
- Poached Egg.
- Pumpkin Butter.
What oil is best for latkes?
Stick to canola or peanut oil, which both have high enough smoke points to fry up a mess of latkes.
Should you peel potatoes for latkes?
For best results, use russet potatoes. They are high in starch, which is necessary to form pancakes that don’t fall apart. If you peel the potatoes before making latkes, put them in water between peeling and shredding to prevent oxidizing and discoloring.
Can you make latkes with Yukon Gold potatoes?
I made these mini latkes using Yukon Gold potatoes. They have a slightly creamy, rich flavor and they crisp up beautifully when fried. The best oil temperature for frying latkes is around 365 degrees F. If the oil becomes too hot, they burn.
How do you dry potatoes for latkes?
Your Potatoes Are Too Wet Moisture is the enemy of good latkes. After you shred the potatoes for the mixture, you want to dry them out really, really well. The easiest way to do that is to pile them into a big swath of cheesecloth and wring it out. Do it more than you think you have to.
Why do my potato latkes fall apart?
If they’re falling apart while you’re shaping them, they either need a little more flour to hold them together (QueenSashy recommends saving the potato starch that gathers at the bottom of the liquid you squeeze out of the grated potatoes and mixing that back into the potato mix) or they’re too wet and need to be wrung …
Why are my latkes soggy?
Trying to cook too many at one time crowds the pan and makes the temperature of the oil drop, which will result in soggy latkes. Flip them when you see the bottom turning golden brown around the edges. Give them adequate time to brown– the less you flip latkes the better.
What’s the difference between potato pancakes and potato latkes?
Potato pancakes are more rounded than potato latkes and you can make them uniform more easily. On the other hand, potato latkes are also rounded, but you’ll notice shredded pieces of potato sticking out here and there. Finally, potato pancakes are thinner, while potato latkes are thicker.
What protein goes with potato pancakes?
Potato pancakes are typically served as either a side dish or an appetizer. I like to serve these patties alongside a whole roasted chicken, marinated and grilled steak, or with seared pork chops. These cakes also pair nicely with sauteed shrimp or baked salmon.
Does IHOP serve potato pancakes?
from IHOP.
What culture are potato pancakes from?
Korean
How old are potato latkes?
Potato latkes are a more recent Ashkenazi invention that gained popularity in Eastern Europe during the mid 1800? s. A series of crop failures in Poland and the Ukraine led to mass planting of potatoes, which were easy and cheap to grow. But before potatoes came on the scene, the latke of choice was cheese.
Who invented pancakes?
While some suggest that Ötzi the Iceman was eating einkorn wheat in an early sort of flatbread form, most food historians say that the earliest pancake-like dish, known as Alita Dolcia (“another sweet” in Latin), was made by Romans in the 1st century CE from milk, flour, egg, and spices.