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Ask A Denver Chef: Top Latke Recipes For Hanukkah

A latke is a traditional potato pancake that is most often served in Jewish households during Hanukkah. It is actually a very simple recipe that involves chopping up potatoes and onions into a fine patty and frying until golden brown. However, once you've mastered the basic latke recipe you can try lots of different add-ins and variations to customize the simple dish for your tastes and your family. Even if you aren't Jewish, or if you don't celebrate Hanukkah, you should definitely try some of these tasty potato pancakes.

Gerard Rudofksy
Zaidy's Deli
121 Adams St.
Denver, CO 80206
(303) 333-5336
www.zaidysdeli.com

When it comes to latkes in Denver, there is really only one restaurant in town that comes to mind. Zaidy’s Deli has been a staple of the Cherry Creek neighborhood since 1985. A second-generation family business, this delicatessen caters to all of the best traditional deli foods, including some of the most authentic (and delicious) latkes in Denver. In fact, if you love latkes, then you are sure to love the latke menu at Zaidy’s, with all kinds of sandwiches served on its fresh homemade potato pancakes. Gerard Rudofsky, one of the Zaidy’s family, offered the traditional latke recipe but also explains that apple and zucchini make great variations.

Traditional Latkes

Ingredients:

  • 5 potatoes
  • 2 onions (peeled and loosely chopped)
  • Two eggs (beaten)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper oil for frying

Directions:

  1. Peel the potatoes and place in a bowl of cold water to keep them from turning brown.
  2. Drain potatoes and place them in a food processor with the onions. Pulse until smooth.
  3. Pour the potato and onion mixture into a large bowl and add the eggs and salt and pepper. If mixture isn’t sticking together, add a little bit of flour until the mixture holds.
  4. Add about one inch of oil into a deep frying pan and heat over medium-high heat.
  5. Drop 1/4 cup of the mixture into the hot oil and flatten slightly.
  6. Fry for several minutes until golden brown, then flip and fry the other side.
  7. Once it is brown, drain on paper towels.
  8. Serve with applesauce and/or sour cream

Related: Top Ways To Celebrate Hanukkah In Denver

Apple Potato Latkes

Ingredients:

  • 4 potatoes
  • 2 onions (peeled and loosely chopped)
  • 3 eggs (beaten)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper oil for frying
  • 1 Granny Smith apple (peeled, cored and shredded)

Directions:

  1. Peel the potatoes and place in a bowl of cold water to keep them from turning brown.
  2. Drain potatoes and place them in a food processor with the onions. Pulse until smooth.
  3. Add the apples to the potato mixture and drain well. Use a paper towel to squeeze the mixture very dry.
  4. Pour the potato, onion and apple mixture into a large bowl and add the eggs and salt and pepper. If mixture isn’t sticking together, add a little bit of flour until the mixture holds.
  5. Add about one inch of oil into a deep frying pan and heat over medium-high heat.
  6. Drop 1/4 cup of the mixture into the hot oil and flatten slightly.
  7. Fry for several minutes until golden brown, then flip and fry the other side.
  8. Once it is brown, drain on paper towels.
  9. Serve with vanilla applesauce and/or sour cream

Zucchini Potato Latkes

Ingredients:

  • 3 potatoes
  • 6 small zucchini (trimmed)
  • 1 onion (peeled and loosely chopped)
  • 3 eggs (beaten)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp pepper oil for frying

Directions:

  1. Peel the potatoes and grate in a food processor. Set aside.
  2. Grate the onion in a food processor and set aside.
  3. Grate the zucchini in food processor, then combine the potato, onion and zucchini mixture together.
  4. Pour the mixture onto a large paper towel (or do this in batches) and dry out the mixture as much as possible.
  5. Mix the eggs, salt and pepper together. Add to the potato mixture. If the mixture isn’t holding, add flour (a little at a time) until it sticks together.
  6. Add about one inch of oil into a deep frying pan and heat over medium-high heat.
  7. Drop 1/4 cup of the mixture into the hot oil and flatten slightly.
  8. Fry for several minutes until golden brown, then flip and fry the other side.
  9. Once it is brown, drain on paper towels.

Related: Top Holiday Drink Ideas From Denver Mixologists

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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