Alayne Zatulovs Giant Vegetable Latkes Recipes

GIANT LATKE SKILLET

Steps:

• For the latke: Drape a clean dish towel (or cheesecloth) over a colander. Grate the potatoes and onion in food processor or by hand with a box grater and place inside the towel-lined colander. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt, toss around and let drain in the sink for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Squeeze as much moisture as possible out of the potato-onion mixture. Combine with 1/2 teaspoon salt, the lemon juice, lemon zest, eggs, matzo meal and 2 to 3 turns of black pepper in a medium bowl and mix to form a pasty mixture. Fold the dill into the mix. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Place a 10-inch cast-iron skillet on medium heat and allow to heat for 5 minutes. Also, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Add 4 tablespoons of the oil and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan. Flick a little piece of the potato-onion mixture into the oil; if it's hot enough, it will sizzle lightly.
• Roll the potato-onion mixture into a ball and place it in the middle of the pan. Gently press with spatula to flatten the mixture so it evenly covers the bottom of the pan. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes. Transfer to oven and bake for 10 minutes. By this time, the latke should be firm enough to flip without falling apart. Transfer the pan to the stove. Place a plate over the pan and carefully invert to flip the latke. Slide it back into the pan and bake for another 10 minutes.
• For the topping: To assemble, place the latke on a plate. Spread some creme fraiche over the latke, then lay the salmon slices on top in an even layer. Top with the eggs, a dash of hot sauce, a few more dollops of the creme fraiche, the dill and chopped scallions, a few turns of black pepper and a pinch of salt. Slice into wedges to serve.

CLASSIC LATKES

Steps:

• Grate the potatoes and onion on the large holes of a box grater into a colander set over a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper, toss well and let stand 5 minutes. Squeeze handfuls of the mixture firmly with your hands to remove as much liquid as possible. Blot dry with paper towels, then transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the beaten egg and matzo meal or flour to the potato mixture and toss well to combine. Scoop 1/4 cupfuls of the mixture and tightly pack into thin 3- to 4-inch pancakes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
• Preheat the oven to 250˚. Heat 1/4 inch vegetable oil or chicken fat in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in three batches, fry the latkes until deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per side, reducing the heat as needed if the latkes are browning too quickly. Remove to a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Keep warm in the oven while you make the remaining latkes. Serve with applesauce and/or sour cream.

GIANT LATKE

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and grate them on the large holes of a box grater into a colander set over a large bowl. Grate the onion into the colander and season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Firmly squeeze the potatoes and onion to extract as much liquid as possible, letting it drain into the bowl. Transfer the potato mixture to a separate large bowl. Add the egg and matzo meal or flour and stir well.
• Heat a medium cast-iron or other heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Add the oil or chicken fat and heat until shimmering. Add the potato mixture and press down with a spoon or spatula to make an even layer. Cook until deep golden brown and crisp on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. (After a few minutes, check to make sure the latke is browning evenly and rotate the latke in the skillet as needed. If it's sticking, loosen it with a small spatula.)
• Carefully slide the latke onto a plate using a wide spatula. Flip the latke on the plate, then quickly slide it back into the skillet, cooked-side up. Continue cooking until well browned on the second side and cooked through, 8 to 10 more minutes. (Lower the heat as needed if the latke is browning too quickly.) Remove the latke to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt.
• Wipe out the skillet and return the latke to the skillet or transfer to a cutting board. Slice into wedges and serve with assorted toppings.

ROOT VEGETABLE LATKES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and shred them in a food processer fitted with the shredding blade. Transfer to a large mixing bowl as the food processor bowl fills up. Repeat the process with the parsnips, beets, carrots and onions. Toss the vegetables together with your hands to break up and evenly disperse. Add the flour, eggs, baking powder, thyme and stir to combine. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Fill a large skillet with 1/2 inch of oil. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil is very hot but not smoking. To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a teaspoon of the vegetable mixture in the oil; if it sizzles steadily, the oil is ready.
• Working in batches, scoop the vegetable mixture by 1/4 cupfuls and add it carefully to the skillet, flattening each mound slightly with a spatula. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Be sure to return the oil to temperature between batches or lower the heat it the latkes are browning too quickly on the first side. Drain on the prepared baking sheet.
• Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200-degree F oven. Serve with the sour cream.

ALAYNE ZATULOV'S SWEET HANUKKAH FRITTERS

Steps:

• Combine raisins and wine, and set aside.
• Proof the yeast by dissolving it with sugar and water in a large bowl. When it becomes foamy, after about 5 minutes, add flour, egg and anise seeds and mix well. Cover and allow to rise for 30 minutes.
• Add raisins and pine nuts, cover, and allow dough to rise 1 hour longer.
• Heat oil for deep frying in a skillet, wok or electric fryer. Oil should be maintained at 375 degrees.
• Using 2 teaspoons held together, drop dollops of the batter into the hot oil. Dipping teaspoons in cold water will facilitate this. Allow fritters to brown on one side, and then turn to brown other side. Do not crowd fritters in the pan. As they are done, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to absorbent paper.
• Serve fritters while they are still warm, with honey syrup spooned over or dusted with confectioners' sugar.

ALAYNE ZATULOV'S GIANT VEGETABLE LATKES

Steps:

• Combine shredded potatoes, carrots, onion, celery root and apple in a bowl. Stir in eggs, parsley, flour and thyme. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat half the oil until very hot in a heavy 10-inch skillet. Spread vegetable mixture into the skillet in an even layer, covering the entire surface.
• Fry vegetable mixture undisturbed until edges begin to show color, 5 to 8 minutes. If it sticks to the pan, gently release it with a thin spatula.
• When the underside is golden, slide the pancake onto a large plate. Invert another plate over it, and flip it over. Add remaining oil to the skillet, and when it is hot, slide the pancake back into the skillet to brown the other side. Fry until crisp.

LATKES

Steps:

• Shred the potatoes and onion in a food processor or with a grater or mandoline. Place in a strainer that has been lined with cheesecloth or a damp kitchen towel. Toss with 3/4 teaspoon salt and let sit over a bowl to drain for 30 minutes.
• Gather the top of the cheesecloth and use your hands to squeeze out as much excess moisture as you can. Transfer the vegetables to a clean bowl; mix in the eggs, lemon juice, flour and some pepper.
• Heat 1/4 inch canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches so as not to crowd the pan, fry loosely packed rounded tablespoons of the potato mixture until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Add more oil to the pan and adjust the temperature as needed. Transfer to a paper towel?lined plate, season with salt and set aside.

ZA'ATAR & HERB POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Using a food processor with a grating insert or a box grater, grate the washed, unpeeled potatoes and transfer to a large bowl of very cold water. Grate the onion into a bowl.
• Scoop the grated potatoes out of the water using your hands, shaking off the excess water, and put the potato and onion on a clean, dry tea towel or muslin cloth. Thoroughly wring out the excess liquid over the bowl of water, reserving the liquid. You want the mixture to be as dry as possible.
• Transfer the potato and onion mixture to a large, dry bowl and add the egg, matzo meal, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper, the za'atar and most of the herbs. Carefully pour out the potato water from the bowl, keeping the white potato starch that will have sunk to the bottom. Add the starch to the grated potato mixture and stir thoroughly to combine.
• Pour about 1½cm depth of oil into a large frying pan, and set it over a medium heat. Allow it to get hot - a cube of bread should turn golden in a minute. Scoop heaped tablespoons of potato mixture from the bowl and press down firmly to release any more water. Flatten and carefully add to the pan, about 2cm apart. Do not overcrowd the pan or the temperature of the oil will drop.
• Flatten the latkes again with a fish slice and leave to cook until crisp and dark golden underneath - about 4-5 mins, then turn them over. Cook for a further 4-5 mins until both sides are golden brown, and the potato and onion are cooked through.
• Transfer the latkes to plates or baking sheets lined with kitchen paper and sprinkle with a little salt. If you are making a large batch, keep them warm in a low oven. Repeat until all the mixture is used up. You may need to top up the oil during the cooking process.
• To make the lemon tahini sauce, mix the tahini, yogurt and lemon juice in a small bowl. As you stir, it will thicken up and become gluey. Gradually add cold water, a teaspoon at a time, stirring after each addition, until you have a pouring consistency. Season to taste and serve the latkes drizzled with the sauce.

GARDEN VEGETABLE LATKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Place baking sheet in oven. Using food processor fitted with medium grating disk, shred potatoes, carrots and parsnips. Place towel on work surface. Spread vegetables over. Roll up towel; squeeze tightly to absorb moisture from vegetables. Blend flour, dill, onions, salt and pepper in large bowl. Add vegetables; toss to coat. Mix in eggs.
• Heat 6 tablespoons oil in large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, drop 2 heaping tablespoons batter per pancake into hot oil. Using spoon, spread to 4-inch rounds. Cook until brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to sheet in oven. Repeat with remaining batter, adding more oil to skillet by tablespoonfuls as necessary. Serve hot.

VEGETABLE LATKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, and place it on the center rack of the oven. Peel the carrots, parsnips, and potato, and grate them on the large holes of a box grater. Place the grated vegetables on a clean kitchen towel, fold it around them, and squeeze tightly to remove all excess moisture. Transfer the grated vegetables to a large mixing bowl. Add the sliced scallions, flour, and salt and pepper, and toss to combine well. Add the lightly beaten eggs, and mix well.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, and add 2 teaspoons vegetable oil. Make a few latkes at a time; for each, shape 2 tablespoons of the vegetable mixture and place in the skillet. Cook 2 minutes on each side, until golden and crisp. Transfer cooked latkes to prepared baking sheet in oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining oil and latke mixture.
• Serve the latkes warm with dollops of sour cream, and salt and pepper to taste.

VEGETABLE LATKES

Steps:

• 1. In a colander, rinse the parsnip and potatoes under cold water. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels; transfer to a mixing bowl.
• 2. Stir in the carrots, leeks (or onion), flour, baking powder, eggs, salt, and pepper.
• 3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• 4. Drop in large spoonfuls of the batter, flattening each with the back of the spoon. Cook, turning once, until brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes a side. Transfer the latkes to a paper towel-lined baking sheet in a 200°F oven until serving.