Smothered Potato Latkes

For the crispiest latkes, don't overlook the instructions in Step 5. After you drain the excess moisture from the potatoes and onion, you'll see a milky white substance at the bottom of the bowl. It's potato starch—and including it in the latke mixture not only helps them hold together, but also makes for crispier results. A topping made with brisket leftovers makes these even more special. Read more about this recipe.

Smothered Potato Latkes
Photo: Eric Wolfinger
Active Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
8

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

  • 2 small onions, 1 thinly sliced and 1 quartered, divided

  • 2 tablespoons water

  • 8 ounces white mushrooms, quartered

  • 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided

  • ¾ teaspoon ground pepper, divided

  • 1 ½ cups shredded Braised Brisket with Tomatoes & Onions (See Associated Recipe)

  • 2 ½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled

  • 2 large eggs, separated

  • 1 tablespoon matzo meal

  • 1 cup canola or grapeseed oil

  • Chopped fresh chives for garnish

Directions

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in water, scraping up any browned bits. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is brown and soft, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate.

  2. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and mushrooms to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 8 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Return the onion to the pan, add brisket and mix well. Cover and set aside.

  3. Preheat oven to 300°F. Set a wire rack on a baking sheet and place it in the oven.

  4. Using a food processor fitted with the shredding disk, shred potatoes and quartered onion, alternating them. Transfer to a bowl and let stand for 5 minutes.

  5. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the shredded vegetables to a clean kitchen towel set over a large colander. Set the colander in a large bowl and twist the towel to squeeze the moisture out. Carefully pour off the liquid from the bowl, taking care to leave behind the white, starchy paste at the bottom. Add the squeezed vegetables to the bowl with the starch.

  6. Add egg yolks, matzo meal and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to the potato mixture. Mix thoroughly to combine. Beat egg whites in a medium bowl with an electric mixer until they are shiny and form stiff peaks. Fold the whites into the potato mixture.

  7. Heat canola (or grapeseed) oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it reaches 375°F. Working in batches, drop several golf-ball-size spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot oil. Using a spatula, press down to make latkes about 1 1/2 inches wide. Cook, flipping once, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer to the rack in the oven while you fry the remaining latkes, making sure the oil returns to 375°F before cooking each batch.

  8. Reheat the reserved brisket mixture, if necessary. Serve the latkes topped with the brisket mixture. Garnish with chives, if desired.

Equipment

Candy or deep-fry thermometer

Associated Recipe

Braised Brisket with Tomatoes & Onions

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

442 Calories
23g Fat
36g Carbs
21g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Serving Size 1/3 cup topping & 3 latkes
Calories 442
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 36g 13%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 21g 42%
Total Fat 23g 29%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Vitamin A 194IU 4%
Sodium 639mg 28%
Potassium 1201mg 26%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

Related Articles