Now This is a Potato Pancake!
By DianneN
@DianneN (247219)
United States
December 15, 2020 5:56pm CST
This is a potato pancake or what we call latke. Our older son made two kinds on Sunday. These and the same ones with fresh thyme.
We serve them with sour cream and/or applesauce.
My fanciest creation had bacon in them along with garlic and shredded cheese. They still aren’t as good as our son’s potato pancakes.
We are going to have a latke cook off one of these days. I’m going to practice all winter. I must win!
37 people like this
38 responses
@Marilynda1225 (79974)
• United States
16 Dec 20
If you're looking for someone to judge the contest call me 
7 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74796)
• East Tawas, Michigan
16 Dec 20
@DianneN I'd love to be a taste tester!
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
16 Dec 20
The secret is to squeeze as much moisture as you can out of the shredded potato. If possible, parboil it first (for about 3 to 5 minutes) before you shred it. If you can't do that, wring the shredded potato as hard as you can in a tea-towel until all the juice you can get out of it has drained away. Adding salt to the potato can help get the juice out.
The problem with the kind of potato latke you how here is that potato with the moisture in needs at least 20 minutes to cook properly, whatever way you do it. The egg in the fry your son has made needs only a minute or two - certainly not enough to cook the potato, let alone brown it properly, as he has done. My guess is that these were deep fried (like a pakora) but I could be wrong.
I agree that these would be very good served with sour cream or a Greek-style tzatziki (or an Indian-style raita) ... same thing except one might be soured cream and one might be yoghurt but both add cucumber, and often coriander and sometimes capers and other things to the mix.
5 people like this
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
16 Dec 20
@DianneN Yes, matzo meal would help soak up the liquid well and work as a binder. I never tried that (or breadcrumbs) in a latke, though. I agree that the oil must be as hot as you can get it and it's important to maintain the temperature, so a large heavy pan is best - and not being tempted to fry too many at a time.
2 people like this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
16 Dec 20
Thanks for your suggestions. Our secret ingredient is matzoh meal. No wringing out required. The trick is very hot oil in a cast iron pan. and only about 1/4 inch deep. 4 minutes per side is fine. We both like to use a mixture of hand grated potatoes and shredded potatoes with grated onion, an egg, salt, and pepper. And then a diet!
4 people like this
@marguicha (215883)
• Chile
16 Dec 20
As long as you don´t gain weight practicing
5 people like this
@marguicha (215883)
• Chile
16 Dec 20
@DianneN If I was around, maybe you´d teach me how to walk again.
4 people like this
@kaylachan (58284)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Dec 20
It looks good. I probably wiould eat something like that with sour cream, too.
5 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95779)
• Marion, Ohio
17 Dec 20
@DianneN I had never seen them made like that. Always had them made from left over mashed potatoes
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73749)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
16 Dec 20
I love both latkes and potato pancakes and I have made latkes with breadcrumbs and cheddar cheese too
3 people like this
@kobesbuddy (74796)
• East Tawas, Michigan
16 Dec 20
I love potato pancakes, but I don't make them very often. Yours looks so delicious!
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
16 Dec 20
@kobesbuddy I think it's a Jewish thing or not. lol
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74796)
• East Tawas, Michigan
16 Dec 20
@DianneN I have made potato pancakes, but never had them with sour cream. We used applesauce, as you did, also.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
18 Dec 20
@thelme55 I use hand grated and hand shredded potatoes, an onion grated, an egg or two, salt and pepper, and matzoh meal, but you can use flour instead. Fry in a hot pan in 1/4 inch of oil. 4 minutes per side for normal potato pancakes.
1 person likes this
