Do you wanna learn how to make the crispiest potato latkes you've ever tasted? Keep reading! We have some great tips, including some by one of the best chefs in the Philadelphia area!
How to make the crispiest potato latkes
1. Choose the right type of potato
- Use a starchy potato-like the Russet variety, instead of red or yellow potatoes. If you want crunch, starch is your friend!
- Make sure to weigh the potatoes, so you're measurements are accurate. If you don't own a scale, weigh them at the market if and place each pound in a separate bag.
2. Prepare your working station
- Prepare a bowl of cold or ice water to place the peeled potatoes, so they don't turn color. Chef Yahuda Sichel, former chef of Abe Fisher in Philadelphia, and now ched owner of Huda in Philadelphia recommends shredding them when the rest of the ingredients are ready and the oil is heating up. This will keep the potatoes from oxidizing.
- Shape all the potato latkes at once, so they're ready to be fried. This way they will all cook at the same time.
Tips on how to fry potato latkes
- Chef Sichel also recommends not squeezing the water out of the shredded potatoes. The starchy water makes the latkes really crispy!
- Use a cast-iron skillet if you have one. If not, don't worry! Any other skillet will work.
- Don't crowd the pan. 4 potato latkes for a 7" skillet is a good amount.
- We don't recall exactly which blogger, mentioned it, but there is a cool tip to keep the frying oil cleaner: simply place a piece of carrot or a baby carrot in the oil while frying the latkesl. That's it!
- For the recipe we are sharing today, we followed Chef Sichel's advice on cooking the potato latkes 10 minutes per side. We fried them in medium heat. Because all stoves a different, make sure to test the temperature of the oil before frying. A good way to do it is to drop a small amount of latke mixture in the hot oil and cook it for 10 minutes per side. If it turns golden brown without burning, you have the right temperature. Another trick is to place the tip of the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil. If small bubbles form slowely around it the oil is ready for frying, if the bubbles rise to the surface quickly the oil is too hot, lower the temperature.
- While testing this recipe, we noticed that spiralized potatoes make for even crispier latkes. Alternatively, you can shred them using a box grater or a food processor. Potato latkes made with shredded potatoes will need to be cooked less time, just test one.
- Keep the potato latkes warm and crispy by placing them in a baking sheet in a 250F oven.
Spiralize the potatoes for crispier potato latkes
Ingredients for potato latkes (regular and vegan options)
Here's the ratio we used for our potato latkes: (see full recipe below)
- 1 pound of potatoes
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp salt
For our vegan version:
- 1 pound of potatoes
- ¼ cup vegan mayo
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1 tsp salt
To read more about Chef Yehuda Sichel's tips, check out this great article on Food & Wine magazine.
What do you eat with potato latkes?
Traditionally potato latkes are eaten with:
- Apple Sauce
- Horseradish
- Sour Cream
If you like latkes, give these other latke recipes a try, too!
- Asian Inspired butternut squash latkes
- Vegan potato latkes
- Carrot and parsnip latkes
- Potato and apple latkes with Tahini and Silan
The Crispiest Potato Latkes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 20 1x
Description
Do you wanna learn how to make the crispiest potato latkes you've ever tasted? Keep reading! We have some great tips, including some by one of the best chefs in the Philadelphia area!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs russet potatoes, peeled
- 2 eggs ( see note 2 for our vegan version)
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour (See note 3 for gluten-free)
- 2 tsp salt
- ¾ cup oil for frying
- A baby carrot or a piece of carrot to keep oil clean (optional) (read tips above)
Instructions
- Place the peeled potatoes in a large bowl and fill it with cold water. Set aside
- Heat the oil in a skillet ( preferably cast iron), over medium heat
- Mix the eggs, flour and salt in a large bowl and set aside
- Spiralize the potatoes (you can also shred them by hand or in the food processor ), making sure to cut them into smaller strands.
- Add the potatoes to the egg mixture and mix well until the potatoes are well coated
- Working with ¼ cup of mixture at a time (you may have to cut the strands shorter, again) form a loose ball and flatten it to form the latkes
- To check if the temperature of the oil is correct, drop one small potato latke on the skillet and cook 10 minutes per side. It should turn golden brown without burning. If it burns or is too dark, reduce the temperature; if it's too light and soggy, increase it. See Note 4
- Place the cooked latkes in a plate lined with 2 paper towels to absorb the excess oil
- Potato latkes are best enjoyed when freshly made. To reheat, place them in a 300F oven until warm and crispy
Notes
- We calculated calories based on how much oil the potato latkes absorbed while frying.
- Use ¼ cup of vegan mayo per pound of potatoes
- You may replace flour for 1 to 1 gluten free flour. You may also use chickpea flour
- Potato latkes made with shredded potatoes will need to be cooked less time, just test one.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Hannukah / Chanukah
- Method: frying
- Cuisine: Jewish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 potato latke
- Calories: 71
- Sugar: .3
- Sodium: 241
- Fat: 3.3
- Saturated Fat: 0.6
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.6
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 9.3
- Fiber: .8
- Protein: 1.8
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: latkes for hanukah, crispy latkes,
AILUY says
How many latkas would this recipe make?
★★★★★
Vicky & Ruth says
Hi, it makes 20 latkes. We just added it to the post. Enjoy!
Shanna says
Any thoughts on baking these?
Vicky & Ruth says
Hi Shanna, we did not try baking them, Chanukah is the only time when we allow ourselves to fry. We would probably add a little olive oil to the batter, spray the latkes with cooking spray and bake them at 400F until crispy. Now that you asked we will try baking them and we will let you know the results. Let us know if you try it first.