Rons Parsnip Latke Brulee Recipes

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.

PARSNIP-POTATO LATKES WITH CINNAMON APPLESAUCE

Steps:

• Make the applesauce: Cut the apples into 1-inch pieces. Remove 3 wide strips zest from the lemon with a vegetable peeler; transfer to a saucepan and squeeze in the lemon juice. Add the apples and cinnamon stick, cover and cook over medium heat until soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover and increase the heat to medium high. Continue to cook, mashing and stirring the apples, until they thicken, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick, then pass the apples through a food mill or puree in a food processor. Set aside until ready to serve.
• Meanwhile, make the latkes: Grate the potatoes, parsnips and onion using the medium grater attachment of a food processor or the large holes of a box grater. Squeeze the mixture by the handful over the sink to remove any excess liquid. Mix with the garlic, eggs, parsley and chives in a large bowl, then add the flour and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Shape into 12 thin patties, squeezing to remove any remaining liquid as you form each one; lay on a sheet of parchment.
• Heat 1/4 inch of peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the latkes in batches until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels and season with salt while hot. Serve with the cinnamon applesauce.

CREME BRULEE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix the egg, egg yolks, and 1/2 cup of the sugar together on low speed until just combined. Meanwhile, scald the cream in a small saucepan until it's very hot to the touch but not boiled. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the cream to the eggs. Add the vanilla and orange liqueur and pour into 6 to 8-ounce ramekins until almost full.
• Place the ramekins in a baking pan and carefully pour boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the custards are set when gently shaken. Remove the custards from the water bath, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until firm.
• To serve, spread 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly on the top of each ramekin and heat with a kitchen blowtorch until the sugar carmelizes evenly. Allow to sit at room temperature for a minute until the caramelized sugar hardens.

RON'S RASPBERRY RUGELACH

Steps:

• For the classic cream cheese dough: Combine the butter and cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Switch to low speed and gradually add in the flour. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl and beater to make sure it is well mixed. The dough will be sticky. Divide the dough into three portions, wrap each in plastic wrap and flatten to a disk. Refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight.
• For the filling: Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Chop the almonds to small bits and toss with the raisins and sugar-cinnamon mixture.
• To assemble the rugelach: Dust the work surface with the flour and roll each dough portion to a 10-inch circle. Lightly brush each circle with the melted butter. Spread a third of the preserves or jam on each circle, leaving a clearance of 1/4-inch on the perimeter so the filling won't ooze out while baking. Sprinkle a third of the almond-raisin-sugar mixture on top of the preserves and press in slightly to help adhere.
• Using a pizza wheel, divide each circle into four quarters. Divide each quarter into three thin triangles, for a total of 12 wedges. Roll each triangle from the curved side to the point and place on a parchment-lined or nonstick baking sheet. Refrigerate the sheets for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 350 degrees F. Note: The rugelach can be frozen on the trays and then stored in a zip-top bag in the freezer for baking fresh later.
• Carefully brush each rugelach with the egg wash, trying to avoid drips. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until deep golden. Cool on a rack and store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

CELERY ROOT-PARSNIP LATKES

Steps:

• Place grated celery root, parsnips and onion in a large bowl. Sprinkle in matzo meal and toss mixture together with your hands. Add parsley, eggs, salt and pepper and combine again using your hands until ingredients are incorporated.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high. Take a heaping tablespoon of the mixture and flatten between your palms. Fry latkes, without moving them, for 4 to 5 minutes, checking that they don't over-brown. (You should be able to fry them in batches of 11 to 12, depending on pan size.) Flip latkes, turn heat down to medium-low and fry another 4 minutes, or until well browned and tender. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with additional salt. Serve warm.

PARSNIP LATKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine onion, orange zest, salt, cayenne, and black pepper. Add eggs, and stir until incorporated. Stir in flour until incorporated. Add parsnips and potato, and toss until combined and evenly coated.
• Fill a large skillet with about 1/2 inch oil. Place over medium heat until oil is almost smoking. (To test, drop a small bit of batter into the skillet; it should sizzle upon contact.)
• Working in batches so as not to crowd skillet, carefully spoon about 2 tablespoons batter into oil for each latke. Lightly tamp down to flatten. Cook, turning once, until golden on each side, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spatula, transfer to a paper-towel-lined wire rack to drain. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve immediately with sour cream and applesauce.

PARSNIP AND CARROT LATKES (VEGETABLE PANCAKES)

Steps:

• Peel and remove ends from parsnips and carrots.
• Grate parsnips and carrots by hand or with your food processor's grater attachment.
• Place in large bowl.
• Puree onions and garlic in food processor and add to vegetable mixture.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Heat 1/2 inch of olive oil in a heavy pan until right before the oil's smoking point.
• Add 1/4 cup of batter at a time to the hot oil, pressing gently with the back of the spatula until each pancake is 1/2 inch thick.
• Cook until the exterior is crispy and a dark golden brown in color (approximately 2 minutes).
• Flip and cook on the second side.
• Remove with slotted spatula and place on plate lined with several layers of brown paper or paper towel.
• Serve hot.