Potato Latkes
Crispy, golden-brown potato pancakes that are a comforting and delicious tradition for breakfast or any time of year.
Ingredients
- •2 pounds Russet potatoes (about 4 medium), peeled
- •1 medium yellow onion, peeled
- •2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- •3 tablespoons all-purpose flour or matzo meal
- •1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- •1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- •1/2 cup neutral oil for frying, such as canola or vegetable oil
Instructions
- 1
Grate the peeled potatoes and the onion using the coarse side of a box grater or the grating disc of a food processor.
- 2
Transfer the grated potato and onion mixture to the center of a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.
- 3
Squeeze the towel as hard as you can over the sink to extract as much liquid as possible from the potato mixture; this is the key to ultimate crispiness.
- 4
Place the squeezed potato and onion mixture into a large bowl and add the beaten eggs, flour or matzo meal, salt, and black pepper, mixing thoroughly until well combined.
- 5
Heat the neutral oil in a large heavy-bottomed skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high heat until shimmering hot.
- 6
Drop packed tablespoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot oil and flatten them slightly with the back of a spatula to form even patties.
- 7
Fry for about 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until deeply golden brown and very crisp.
- 8
Transfer the cooked latkes to a wire rack set over a baking sheet or to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil, and repeat with the remaining mixture.
💡 Chef tips
- For extra-crisp latkes, let the grated potatoes sit in cold water for 10 minutes before draining and squeezing to remove excess starch.
- Keep cooked latkes warm and crispy in a 200°F (90°C) oven on a wire baking sheet while you finish frying the remaining batches.
- Serve hot with traditional toppings like applesauce or sour cream.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished latkes are deeply golden and wonderfully crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and savory with a rich, comforting potato flavor.