When it comes to cooking crispy latkes, David Firestone, also known as "David the Latke King," is a renowned expert. With decades of experience and a passion for traditional Jewish cooking, he has mastered the art of creating the perfect latke. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a novice in the kitchen, this article will provide you with valuable insights and a step-by-step guide to help you replicate David's crispy latke recipe. Get ready to impress your friends and family with mouthwatering latkes that embody the essence of this classic Hanukkah dish.
Here are our top 2 tried and tested recipes!
DAVID FIRESTONE'S LATKES
Back in 1992 the food writer Molly O'Neill playfully named David Firestone "the Latke King" in her "New York Cookbook," and included a recipe he had modified from his mother's and grandmother's. Mr. Firestone, who was for many years an editor at The Times, now uses a food processor to make big batches, sometimes just for the family, sometimes for 60 friends or more. As for the olive oil, it may be the liquid symbol of Hanukkah, but in his house it's imported from Italy.
Provided by The New York Times
Categories dinner, lunch, appetizer, side dish
Time 1h
Yield About 16 latkes
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place the onion in a food processor. Pulse the blade a few times until the onion is diced into crunchy bits. Remove blade and scrape the bits into a small bowl. Return the food processor bowl to the machine. No need to wash it yet.
- Scrub the potatoes with a brush, and cut lengthwise to fit into the processor feed tube. Put the medium-coarse shredding disk into the processor and turn it on. Begin feeding in the potato slices.
- When potatoes are shredded, place in a colander over a large bowl. Dump in the onion bits and mix everything around with your hands, squeezing out the potato moisture as you work.
- Pour the potato liquid out of the bowl, but leave the starch that clings to the bowl. Dump in the shredded potato and onion mix. Add the eggs, matzo meal, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir the mixture briskly, then let sit for about 10 minutes.
- In a large cast-iron skillet, pour 1/4 inch of olive oil. Over high heat, get the oil very hot. Using a 1/4-cup measure or a long-handled serving spoon, start spooning the batter into the skillet. Flatten each with a metal spatula to a diameter of 4 to 5 inches. Do not try to make the latkes uniformly round. Reduce heat to medium and cook latkes until golden brown on one side, about 5 minutes. Turn them over and fry some more, another 5 minutes or so. When crispy on the outside and moist inside, remove latkes and place on several thicknesses of paper towels. Repeat until you run out of batter.
- Serve latkes immediately, with pumpkin preserves.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 369, UnsaturatedFat 29 grams, Carbohydrate 14 grams, Fat 34 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 2 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 158 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
DAVID "THE LATKE KING" FIRESTONE'S CRISPY LATKES
These perfect latkes (potato pancakes) are from Molly O'Neill's classic, "The New York Cookbook". The recipe is from her friend David Firestone who hosts a latke party every Hanukkah in Queens. Serve with applesauce and sour cream. Makes 16 latkes.
Provided by blucoat
Categories Potato
Time 30m
Yield 16 latkes, 16 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Pulse the onion in a food processor a few times until the onion is diced into crunchy bits. Remove the blade and scrape the onion into a small bowl. Return the food processor bowl to the machine. (Don't wash it yet.).
- Cut the potatoes lengthwise to fit in the food processor feed tube. Put the medium-coarse food processor shredding disk and turn it on. Begin feeding the potato slices into the machine.
- When the potatoes are shredded, put them in a colander over a large bowl. Dump in the onion bits and mix everything around with your hands, squeezing the potato moisture out as you work. Let the mixture drip for a few minutes.
- Pour out the potato liquid from the bowl, but leave the starch that clings to the bowl. Dump in the shredded potato and onion mix. Add the eggs, matzoh meal, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir well. Then let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- In a large cast-iron skillet, pour in ¼ inch of oil. Over high heat, get the oil very hot. Using a ¼-cup measure or a long-handled serving spoon, spoon the batter into the skillet. Flatten each with a metal spatula to a diameter of 4 to 5 inches. Don't worry about them being uniformly round. Reduce the heat to medium and cook the latkes until golden brown on one side. Then turn over and fry them some more. When crispy on the outside and moist inside, about 5 minutes per side, remove and place on several thicknesses of paper towels. Keep doing this until you run out of batter.
- Serve the latkes immediately.
Tips:
- Use high-quality ingredients. Fresh, high-quality potatoes will produce the best latkes. Look for potatoes that are firm and free of blemishes.
- Grate the potatoes finely. This will help the latkes to cook evenly and crispy.
- Squeeze out the excess moisture from the grated potatoes. This will help the latkes to be crispy and not soggy.
- Use a heavy-bottomed skillet. This will help to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the latkes from burning.
- Heat the oil to the correct temperature before adding the latkes. The oil should be hot enough to sizzle when the latkes are added.
- Fry the latkes in batches. This will prevent the oil from becoming too crowded and the latkes from sticking together.
- Flip the latkes halfway through cooking. This will ensure that they are cooked evenly on both sides.
- Drain the latkes on paper towels before serving. This will help to remove any excess oil.
Conclusion:
Latkes are a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. By following these tips, you can make perfect latkes every time. Whether you like them crispy or soft, savory or sweet, there is a latke recipe out there for everyone. So next time you're in the mood for something delicious and satisfying, give latkes a try!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love