Best Latkes
- 3 pounds russet potatoes
- 1 medium onion
- 4 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 6 tablespoons dried bread crumbs
- About 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- About 3 cups olive oil for frying
- 3 cups applesauce
- Creme fraiche, chopped chives, and good salmon roe such as Tsar Nicoulai's gold pearl
- Peel potatoes, rinse, and coarsely shred on a box grater, transferring to a bowl of water as you go. Shred onion into a fine-mesh colander, discarding any uneven chunks. Pour potato mixture on top and drain. Rinse and dry bowl.
- Squeeze handfuls of potatoes and onion to remove liquid, then pile on kitchen towels. Wrap and wring well. Whisk eggs, flour, bread crumbs, 1 tsp. salt, and the pepper in dry bowl. Add potato mixture and toss with hands until evenly coated.
- Preheat oven to 200u0b0. Filling a 1/4-cup measure three-quarters full, scoop potato mixture onto baking sheets. Pour 3/4 in. oil into a large frying pan with sides at least 2 in. high. Insert a deep-fry thermometer and heat oil over medium-high heat to 350u0b0.
- Put a portion of potatoes on a wide metal spatula, press into a 3-in. cake, and push into hot oil with another metal spatula. Shape 3 more latkes, sliding into oil; cook, turning once, until browned at edges but still soft in center, 2 minutes. Adjust heat to keep oil between 300u0b0 and 350u0b0.
- Transfer latkes to paper towels, then to a wire rack over a rimmed baking pan. Sprinkle with salt and keep warm in oven. Repeat to make remaining latkes; use a second pan when the first is full. Serve with applesauce, creme fraiche, chives, and roe.
- Make ahead: Hold latkes at room temperature up to 3 hours. Rewarm on rimmed pans in a 300u0b0 oven 10 to 15 minutes.
- Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.
- The Frying Guide
- USE THE RIGHT OIL: For shallow-frying latkes, Jenn Louis likes the flavor and good-for-you factor of olive oil. For deep-frying sufganiyot, she uses neutral-flavored rice bran oil or vegetable oil.
- USE ENOUGH OIL: To cook food evenly, you need about 3/4 in. oil for shallow-frying and 1 in. for deep-frying.
- WATCH THE TEMPERATURE: Between 300u0b0 and 350u0b0 for latkes and 275u0b0 and 350u0b0 for doughnuts gives you a crisp crust and tender interior. Too low, and food will suck up oil like a sponge. Too high, and it'll burn.
- GET A GOOD THERMOMETER: Taylor's classic candy/deep-fry analog thermometer ($11; amazon.com) has a sturdy clip.
russet potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, bread crumbs, kosher salt, pepper, olive oil, applesauce, crueme fraueeche
Taken from www.myrecipes.com/recipe/best-latkes (may not work)