Mandy Patinkins Moms Potato Latkes Recipes

MOM'S POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Mix potato, onion, eggs, crackers, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl.
• Pour enough vegetable oil into a skillet to fill about 1/2-inch deep; heat over medium-high heat.
• Drop spoonfuls of the potato mixture, first pressing potato mixture against the side of the bowl to remove excess liquid, into the hot oil; slightly flatten the latkes into the oil with the back of your spoon so they are evenly thick.
• Cook in hot oil until browned and crisp, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Drain latkes on a plate lined with a paper towel.

MOM'S NORWEGIAN POTATO LEFSA

Steps:

• Heat cream and shortening until shortening is melted. Cool and then add to riced potatoes. Sift flour, sugar and salt and add to potato mixture. Take a piece of dough as for pie crust (I use a piece a little smaller than a tennis ball), Roll the dough in a circle on a floured cloth rolling as thin as possible.
• Using a lefsa turner (a long thin stick) to lift the rolled lefsa dough, bake on top of a lefsa or pancake griddle that is pre-heated to 425 degrees F. Bake until light brown on both sides. Serve warm or cooled spread with butter and sugar and rolled up.
• Cut into one-fourths, for serving.

CLASSIC POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• In a medium heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat, pour in about 1/4 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.