Helen Arts Potato Nik Recipes

POTATONIK OR POTATO NIK EITHER WAY, IT'S DIVINE!

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast, water and sugar in a small bowl. Let rest 10 minutes (until foamy).
• Grate potatoes and onion by hand or in a food processor.
• In a large bowl, blend eggs, 2 tablespoons of oil, salt and pepper. Stir in the grated potato and onion mixture. Add flour and dissolved yeast, mix well (mixture will be thick). Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free area for about 1 hour.
• Pour oil into a 9" x 12" pan about 1/4" deep. Pour in the batter (the oil will come up and over the batter - This is good). Let the batter rest for about 20 minutes. Then preheat your oven to 375°F.
• Bake potatonik on middle rack for 45 minutes. Brush or dip a paper towel into some more oil and brush/pat the top of the potatonik with the oil and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown and crusty. Serve hot.
• Note: potatonik can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for 1-2 weeks. Reheat at 325° until warm, or develops a hard crust.

POTATO NIK

Steps:

• Grate potatoes and onion by hand or with grating disk of a food processor; drain in colander or strainer. Combine potatoes and onions in a large bowl with eggs, salt, pepper and bread crumbs or matzo meal.
• Put about 1/8 inch oil in a large, deep skillet, either nonstick or seasoned cast iron; turn heat to medium-high. When oil is hot (it will shimmer) put all the batter in pan, and smooth the top. Cook, shaking pan occasionally; adjust heat so mixture sizzles but does not burn. Continue until bottom is nicely browned, at least 15 minutes.
• To turn, slide cake out onto a large plate, cover with another large plate and invert. Add a little more oil to pan if necessary, and slide pancake back in, cooked side up. Cook 15 minutes or so longer, until nicely browned. Serve hot or warm.

HELEN ART'S POTATO "NIK"

Steps:

• Grate the potatoes and onion on a box grater or with the grating disk of a food processor; if the mixture is very moist, drain in a colander or strainer for a minute.
• In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the salt, pepper, and bread crumbs. Stir in the potatoes and onion. The mixture should just barely hold together if you pinch a bit; if it does not, add a few more bread crumbs.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F. Put the butter and oil in a 12-inch nonstick, ovenproof skillet over medium heat. When the butter melts and bubbles, pour the batter into it. Cook for a minute or two, then transfer to the oven. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until nicely browned on the bottom; slide the cake out onto a plate (it will hold together). Cover with another plate, then invert the plates. Slide the pie back into the pan, cooked side up, and return to the oven until the bottom is brown; this will take only 10 minutes or so. Remove from the skillet and serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.

POTATONIK (YEASTED POTATO KUGEL)

Steps:

• Sponge: In a medium bowl sprinkle the yeast over the warm water; stir to dissolve. Add the flour and mix until smooth. Cover and set aside until it puffs up (20 to 25 minutes).
• Dough: Stir down the Sponge. Scrub the potatoes, then grind or grate them with the skins on or process in a food processor into a coarse chop; do not puree. Transfer to a large bowl. Add the ground potatoes and onion to the Sponge and stir until blended. Add the stale roll, flour, salt, baking powder, and ground pepper; mix or pulse only until incorporated. Add the oil and egg and mix well. Drop the mixture out into 3 well-greased 8- or 9-inch loaf pans. Each loaf should weigh about 15 ounces. Leave room for expansion - the potatonik will rise in the oven.
• Baking: Bake with steam (see below) in a preheated 360 F oven until the crust is brown and feels firm when gently pressed in the center with your fingertips (about 1 hour). Let cool on a wire rack covered with a cloth for 5 minutes to allow the loaves to steam. Invert and tap out onto the rack. Serve warm. DO AHEAD: Potatonik can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for 1 to 2 weeks. Reheat at 325 F until warm. When reheating, I like to bake it for 35 to 45 minutes to develop a hard crust.
• Steam in Baking: Place an empty roasting pan or other heavy pan on the floor of the oven 5 to 10 minutes before baking, so it gets hot. Brush the tops of the loaves with water, place in the oven and carefully toss 6 to 8 ice cubes into the hot pan, or pour in 1 cup boiling water and immediately close the oven door. CAUTION: When using boiling water, wear a glove and keep your face away from the open oven door, since there will be a burst of live steam when the boiling water hits the hot pan. Do not open the door to peek or the steam will escape.