Virtual Advent Tour 2011: Latkes
Welcome to the 11th day of the 2011 book blogger Virtual Advent Tour. Please be sure to head on over to the tour site to get the links to all the wonderful posts that bloggers all over the world have shared.
One of the best holiday traditions from my childhood is the night we'd all go to my grandparents' house to exchange presents with my cousins and aunts and uncles. The celebration naturally included dinner, and one the traditional foods was, of course, latkes (potato pancakes).
When I was young, my grandmothers, mom, and aunts would have to grate the potatoes and onions by hand -- a messy job, during which at least one person would end up with grated knuckles. Ouch!
At some point over the years, one of my relatives discovered a faster, safer way to make latkes, thanks to a new kitchen gadget that hit the home scene. The food processor revolutionized the family recipe, and no one ever had to mess with that grater again.
There is apparently some debate about what to serve with latkes. Let me state right here and now, I've never understood the applesauce camp. I'm absolutely on the sour cream team and am not against a sprinkling of chives or scallions. Hope you enjoy our family's modern recipe.
Food Processor Latkes
Makes about 12
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups of potatoes scrubbed, skins left on, diced into 1-inch dice
- 1 medium onion
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- dash pepper
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
Place the eggs in the food processor and pulse to beat them. Add the remaining ingredients and process until there are no major lumps. Spoon batter onto a hot oiled griddle or into hot oil in a frying pan and cook until brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels and serve hot.These can be frozen; reheat in a 350F oven.
No matter what foods remind you of your childhood holidays, I wish you happy eating and much joy this December.
36 comments:
Sounds delicious! I've never tasted latkes, but based on the recipe I think I'm in team sour cream, too :)
Nom Nom. They sound lovely :)
I'm in the applesauce camp, no chives, scallions or sour cream. The debate is as good as the matzoh ball one, sinkers or floaters. I'm a sinker :)
Sour Cream for sure! I love anything potato. I have tried to make potato pancakes and they are always greasy. Maybe I make them too thick? Will try this recipe!
How funny! I actually made these for my daughter for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and I did use the food processor! They were SO good, but the kids didn't love them as much as I did. I remember having them every year in grade school during the holidays, when all the moms would get together and cook them for all the kids. They are one of my favorite foods. I am with you on the sour cream as well. That's the only way to go! Great post today! I might have to make some more of these...
What an interesting way to make latkes. I'm on Team Sour Cream as well.
I use the food processor to shred potatoes, then blanch the them before I make my latkes. I love this idea. I like mine with sour cream fruit compote.
You know what's so funny? Before this post when I thought of latkes, I thought of something similar to hash browns but smaller! I don't have a food processor but I still want to try these. I think my kids will love them.
I've never had latkes. They sound delicious. Just judging from the ingredients, I'd probably go with sour cream and onions. I'm also all for using a food processor, especially if it prevents bloody knuckles. :) Nice post!
I'm with you on the food processor question, but on the sour cream question. But that's okay. As long as there are latkes to go around, I won't complain!
I read your post out loud to my mom, the cook - and we both laughed at the grated knuckles memory.
Go, Team Sour Cream.
Happiest of holidays, Beth!
I love latkes and while I don't mind applesauce with them, I am also much more of a sour cream and chives gal. I've never actually made them, though, so I've never looked at a recipe before. Reading this now was eye-opening. I didn't realize that it is within my realm of abilities to try! Looking forward to it now.
I have had latkes with sour cream and applesauce. I even tried strawberry jam once :)
TY for the awesum recipe!
Advent Tour Day 11
The laftkes look delicious! I can imagine pre food processor that there could be some grating injuries! My mom made potato pancakes but not with onions, but very tasty nonetheless.
Sounds like it was a wonderful time to get together with your fmaily that you shared with us! I hope you and your family have a merry Christmas!
betty
Oh, that looks good! I would be in the sour cream camp as well! I might suggest making this for the boy one weekend!
I don't like sour cream in general so i'll either have latkes with applesauce or just plain with salt. Almost time for latkes and gelt! ;-) and of course dreidel (we play with M&Ms).
Wishing you and your family a very Happy (early) Chanukah!
~Jaclyn~
www.jaclynsmusings.com
I have never had these. They sound like savoury pancakes. Looks nice, but... I still don't have a food processor so I do hand grate my carrots and potatoes whenever needed. :-)
We had latkes this past week, although, we just call them potato pancakes. My daughter made them, and tweaked them slightly.
I wish we had a food processor - I can see where that would be beneficial for a dish such as this.
I love latkes and like BOTH applesauce and sour cream, but they're equally amazing just eaten plain. In fact, I want some right now!
I use a food processor to shred the potatoes and onion, but I imagine processing diced potatoes makes for a different latke texture then shredded? Might have to try that! I sometimes add parsnips to the mix, too: potato parsnip latkes from Dec. 2009.
Mmm! That sounds absolutely delicious! I think I will DEFINITELY try making them. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us!
These look delicious! Thank goodness for the food processor!
I have been planning on searching for some food processor recipes, all I seem to use it for is to make hummus, this will be wonderful. Thanks.
Those do look good like something fierce. I would probably eat with sour cream. Applesauce sounds too sweet. I will be making these before too long, it is always something that I have wanted to try.
I've never had latkes, but your photos have me drooling (it's almost time for dinner and I'm hungry)... I'd definitely top them with sour cream!
These look delicious - I didn't know how easy it would be to make them. I'll have to attempt to modify the recipe to use gluten free flour. Thanks!
my mom used to makes these all the time. Of course, being Irish, we called them potato pancakes. But we did have sour cream with them!
These sound so delicious, I think I might have to try them this year! Thanks for the recipe.
Wonderful Advent post. I love the old traditions but, some certainly call for modernization. Your family's latkes look easy enough to make during the busy holiday season. However, I would be the one who love applesauce on her latkes.
I'll have to try this recipe--and I do remember the days of grated knuckles. kaye—the road goes ever ever on
I want them NOW - with sour cream and a sprinkling of chives sounds perfect!
Yum sounds delicious, and I'd be team sour cream for sure!
Thanks for sharing :)
I've never had these but if someone showed up with a platter of them I'd eat a few. I'd go with the sour cream too.
Oh these look delicious! It has been way too long since I had some of these. Now I'm dying for some!
I love these! Yum!
What an easy recipe, thanks! I'm Polish so potato pancakes are part of my food tradition too, though no at Christmas.
I'm not a fan of onions but I bet I could leave them out and still enjoy the Latkes. :)
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