Achieve the Perfect Classic Latke
Gather your ingredients. You'll need:
5 potatoes (The starchier the potato, the crispier the latke. Russet potatoes are high in starch. Idaho or Yukon Gold potatoes are also good.)
1 small onion (Use Spanish onions for a sweeter taste.)
1–2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
pepper, to taste
Add a drop of celery salt for flavor.
Do not add flour — it makes the latkes gummy. If absolutely necessary, add a little matzoh meal. I don’t.
Chop your onion by hand very finely and place in a large bowl. If you grate it in the food processor, it gets too watery.
Prepare a bowl with water and ice cubes in it. After grating your potatoes (by hand/food processor), thinly or thickly depending on preference, put them in the bowl. This prevents discoloring and makes them crispy.
Drain the grated potatoes in a salad spinner or wrap them in a clean towel a few handfuls at a time and wring out the towel very well (over the bowl of water) until not a drop of water is left. You don’t want mushy latkes.
As the grated potatoes lie in the water, some of their starch seeps out. Once you squeeze them out, let the water stand a few minutes (if you have the time!), and carefully spoon out the starch that settled on the bottom and add it to the potatoes.
Quickly add the potatoes to the bowl of onions. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
On to the frying:
Use a heavy cast iron skillet or stainless steel pan for the most even heat distribution. It’s not recommended to use nonstick pans.
Heat your pan first, without oil. Use oil that won’t burn easily at high heat, such as canola, peanut, or corn oil. Add oil and allow to heat up to the point at which it shimmers and thins out. Turn the heat to medium/high because if it’s too high, it’ll sear the outside and the inside will be uncooked.
Use about 1/4 cup of batter per latke. (Do not crowd the pan as it brings down the temperature of the oil.) Flatten latke slightly with a spatula to ensure that it fries evenly. Drain latkes on paper towels on a cooking rack, so they don’t get soggy.
Allow 30 seconds or so between batches to let the oil heat back up to right temperature, especially if you’re adding oil.
Serve with a dollop of sour cream and/or applesauce on top or on the side. Sprinkle with chopped chives or parsley if desired.
When preparing your latkes in advance, fry each latke until it’s 90% cooked through and no more. Place latkes vertically in a pan, like a deck of cards. Cover tightly. Refrigerate until using. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and reheat uncovered for 15–20 minutes or until heated through.
