Classic Potato Latkes Recipe (2024)

By Melissa Clark

Classic Potato Latkes Recipe (1)

Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
5(5,712)
Notes
Read community notes

This recipe is for a classic, unadorned latke; no kohlrabi or cumin here. Serve them hot and make more than you think you need. They go fast.

Featured in: How to Make Classic Potato Latkes

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Ingredients

Yield:About 3 dozen

  • 2large Russet potatoes (about 1 pound), scrubbed and cut lengthwise into quarters
  • 1large onion (8 ounces), peeled and cut into quarters
  • 2large eggs
  • ½cup all-purpose flour
  • 2teaspoons coarse kosher salt (or 1 teaspoon fine sea salt), plus more for sprinkling
  • 1teaspoon baking powder
  • ½teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Safflower or other oil, for frying

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Using a food processor with a coarse grating disc, grate the potatoes and onion. Transfer the mixture to a clean dishtowel and squeeze and wring out as much of the liquid as possible.

  2. Step

    2

    Working quickly, transfer the mixture to a large bowl. Add the eggs, flour, salt, baking powder and pepper, and mix until the flour is absorbed.

  3. In a medium heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat, pour in about ¼ inch of the oil. Once the oil is hot (a drop of batter placed in the pan should sizzle), use a heaping tablespoon to drop the batter into the hot pan, cooking in batches. Use a spatula to flatten and shape the drops into discs. When the edges of the latkes are brown and crispy, about 5 minutes, flip. Cook until the second side is deeply browned, about another 5 minutes. Transfer the latkes to a paper towel-lined plate to drain and sprinkle with salt while still warm. Repeat with the remaining batter.

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Lisa Romantum Schwartz

This looks identical to my ol' (Russian-American) Pops' recipe. But you've gotta use a box grater because I think knuckle skin is the secret ingredient that makes this recipe transcendent.

Debbie

I’ve used this recipe for years, but with one trick: brush each side with oil, flatten and bake in a 425 oven until crisp on both sides. You can do all of them at once and not have used oil to deal with later. They come out crispy and perfect each time!

Fiona

A good friend, her husband always makes the latkes, gave me this tip. After grating (whether in food processor or box grater), rinse and spin dry in a salad spinner.I have done this every since, it makes The crispiest latkes.

DrPat

Over many years of delicious latke-making, I always grate twice - using a food processor to coarsely grate the potatoes, then putting them quickly back through with the propeller-like chopper blade, before draining and squeezing out the excess liquid. Eliminates the hashed-browns look and feel, makes it more like finely hand grated. Yum!

Also, I use matzoh meal, not flour. Unpeeled potatoes work fine.

Yum!

Benjamin Ben-Baruch

All purpose flour? Safflower oil? Where did your bubbe come from?Hanukah latkes have to be made with left-over matzah meal. This is critical! All of the left-over matzah meal must be used before next Passover because that is the tradition! More importantly, using matzah meal in the latkes connects one holiday of freedom to another holiday of freedom giving the latkes extra special taste!

Matt Miller

I have made many, many potato pancakes in my day, and I can assure you, no matter how hard you have tried, you haven't yet squeezed enough water out of the potato shreds. That is all.

Katie Olmstead

I think I made this up but it is very helpful. After the batter is all put together (with or without bloody knuckles), put it in a colander and put the colander in a bowl. By doing this, there are no soggy latkas at the end. All the potentially pooled liquid has slipped through the colander holes.

Deborah

.Absolutely delicious but no way this recipe makes 36 latkes. My first batch yielded 12. Even making tiny ones that would have produced 24. For 36 fairly small latkes, double the recipe. I had 40 people to my hanukkah party. I made them in the afternoon and stood them on their sides in rows in an aluminum pan so they didn't get soggy. Popped the pans in the oven at 350 for around 15 minutes before serving. 130 latkes gone in maybe 20 minutes. Next year I'll make more!

Roc Rizzo

I have used a box grater on the coarsest side to make these before there were food processors! I am sure that many a Jewish grandma did the same. BTW- I am only Jewish by osmosis. I grew up in Brooklyn in an Italian-Jewish neighborhood.

Setenaya

A good, classic recipe. I'm in the matzoh meal camp myself. As to the grated knuckles, I firmly believe that if my grandmothers had had access to food processors, you can bet they would have used them and would have thought foolish anyone who didn't.

Kathleen

I use Yukon gold potatoes. They have less starch so they don’t turn color on you and they fry up to a delicious brown.

Judy

Please no flour or baking powder. It makes them gluey. Matzoh meal or dry bread crumbs.

Brad

I followed the recipe except I baked them at 350 for 30 minutes, then broiled each side for 2 minutes using a light brushing of evoo.They were perfect, not oily and the house wasn’t overwhelmed by the hot oil bath smell. Try it, you’ll like it!

Erin

Can I prep these so that all I have to do is fry at dinner time?

Adah

I use matzah meal instead of flour, and put everything in the food processor. It is a little simpler, and just as good.

John McAward

anybody tried panko breadcrumbs instead of flour or matzoh meal?

agw

really good this timeused russets, squeezed out watermed to med low

Erin

Can I prep these so that all I have to do is fry at dinner time?

Andrea

DO NOT SKIP OUT on sprinkling with salt!!!! Really brought them to the next level.

Claudia

Hand-grate with a box grater, use matzo meal instead of flour, and fry in schmaltz. These were amazing! My family went bonkers for them.

s y

Matzo meal

Joanna Sherwin

I made them medium sized I got about a little less than 2 doz.

Joby

These were delightfully crisp and light, made with gf flour blend and grated onion/potato without using the grater but processing until achieving a course mince. Such a marvelous way to translate a family tradition to my college age daughter! Many thanks!

Jmk

Warning: makes only about 20 latkes if you like them medium sized. Good recipe though.

Lisa S

I used matzoh meal instead of flour and it was perfect! I'm making them again, bite-sized, for a Christmas party, topped with sour cream and a strip of lox. Latkes at Christmas? Who knew!

Deborah

.Absolutely delicious but no way this recipe makes 36 latkes. My first batch yielded 12. Even making tiny ones that would have produced 24. For 36 fairly small latkes, double the recipe. I had 40 people to my hanukkah party. I made them in the afternoon and stood them on their sides in rows in an aluminum pan so they didn't get soggy. Popped the pans in the oven at 350 for around 15 minutes before serving. 130 latkes gone in maybe 20 minutes. Next year I'll make more!

Suki

I thought these were perfect -- best latkes I ever had or made

Loving/Living Cooking

I've made this terrific, basic recipe several times this past year. Nothing like Latkes for breakfast with a little sliced apple or sour cream and cranberry sauce on the side! For the flour, I generally substitute a combo of sprouted whole grain spelt and teff flours--anything to up the iron and micronutrient content in a recipe my kids will gobble up, regardless!

Candace Lieberman

Only 2 potatoes? For 36latkes? Also, you have to run them through the processor twice or the it not sufficiently grated.

Melissa

These are small - only 1 tablespoons of batter per cake. But you can make them bigger if you like.

Judith

How could two russets (however large) possibly make three dozen latkes (however small)?My father, who made the world's best potato latkes, never, ever added baking powder and used matzo meal instead of flour.Squeezing grated potatoes/onions in cheesecloth works beautifully. Have never tried a salad spinner, but next chance I will.

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Classic Potato Latkes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the best oil for potato pancakes? ›

The Best Oil for Cooking Potato Pancakes

While I usually love cooking with olive oil, to pan-fry the potato pancakes, we need to use an oil that has a neutral flavor and high smoke point (olive oil is neither of these!). Canola oil, vegetable oil, peanut oil, and grapeseed oil would all work.

What were the original latkes made of? ›

Of course we associate potato latkes with Hanukkah, but in reality latkes descends from Italian pancakes that were made with ricotta cheese. The first connection between Hanukkah and pancakes was made by a rabbi in Italy named Rabbi Kalonymus ben Kalonymus (c. 1286-1328).

Is there a difference between potato pancakes and latkes? ›

Potato pancakes have a creamy, almost mashed-potato-like center, with a thin, golden, crisp exterior. Latkes, on the other hand, should have a deeply browned crust, with wispy, lacy edges. Latkes also aren't hash browns.

How much oil for latkes? ›

While those doughnuts hang out in the oil, let's take a quick detour to talk latkes. You can deep-fry latkes, but most recipes call for shallow-frying them in a skillet. One recipe I love instructs to “heat ¼ cup oil in a 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking.”

How do you keep potato pancake batter from turning brown? ›

What can I do to keep the potato batter from turning brown? A: When shredding the potatoes be sure to add some acidity (such as a teaspoon of white wine vinegar or concentrated lemon juice to the water. This is one dish where doing the prep work the night before can ruin the meal.

What kind of potatoes are best for latkes? ›

Russet potatoes: Russet potatoes, or baking potatoes, are high in starch and have a dry, mealy texture. This type of potato is best for latkes because the dryness of the potato is partially responsible for that desirable, crispy texture. Yellow onion: Yellow onion adds a savory flavor to the latkes.

Is latke Hebrew or Yiddish? ›

A latke (Yiddish: לאַטקע latke; sometimes romanized latka, lit. "pancake") is a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah.

Why do Jews eat applesauce with latkes? ›

Tradition says so

Latkes are usually served at dinnertime along with a meaty main, like brisket. Mixing milk and meat at the same meal is a no-no for those who keep kosher, so sour cream would be out as a latke condiment leaving the underdog apple sauce victorious.

Are latkes good for you? ›

Latkes are easily one of our favorite holiday foods, but considering they are traditionally fried in lots of oil, they're not necessarily the healthiest!

Can you grate potatoes ahead of time for latkes? ›

Or, you can grate the potatoes hours ahead and store them submerged in water in the refrigerator. Drain them well and make the batter up to two hours ahead.

What country invented potato pancakes? ›

Although many Americans associate potato pancakes with Hanukkah, they have more broad origins. They originated in the eastern European countries of Germany Austria, Russia and Poland as a peasant food. Potatoes were cheap, plentiful and easy to store, making them a staple and necessitating inventive potato recipes.

What can I substitute for matzo meal in latkes? ›

But, corn meal is a great substitute for matzoh meal and will also make your latkes gluten-free and nice and crispy.

Can I fry latkes in olive oil? ›

One of the most popular foods eaten during Hanukkah are latkes, which are fried potato pancakes. Choosing extra virgin olive oil – low in saturated fat – to make this dish, will ensure your guests receive a healthy dose of antioxidants or polyphenols too.

What oil should I use for pancakes? ›

Using a healthier oil in preparing/ cooking them can give a nutritious boost to your pancakes. Olive oil is a great alternative because it is high in healthy fats that can lower your risk of heart diseases. Coconut oil is another butter or shortening substitute with potential health benefits.

Which oil is good for potato fry? ›

Olive OIl is suitable for frying Potatoes and other veggies. 1. Extra Virgin Oil is obtained from the first cold press of Olive from. It is in a more crude form but very healthy and it posses all its natural character.

What oil is best for potatoes? ›

Neutral, low-cost oil such as vegetable oil, canola oil, safflower oil, peanut oil, corn oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc., work well for roasting. These oils have a high smoke point, allowing the potatoes to get very hot to achieve maximum crispiness.

What is the significance of the oil used to cook the latkes or potato pancakes? ›

Choosing the right oil makes all the difference between latkes that are golden and savory and ones that end up oily and rancid. Using schmaltz, aka rendered chicken fat, is the traditional way to fry latkes, imparting a rich flavor to the potato pancakes.

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