Best New Years Eve Latkes Recipes

OVEN BAKED POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Defrost the hashed browns in the fridge overnight or on the counter for several hours. Once defrosted, place the potatoes in a strainer and squeeze out all the extra liquid. I use a paper towel or clean dish towel to get out as much moisture as possible.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl mix the potatoes, onion, eggs, flour, salt, garlic powder and pepper until well combined. If mixture seems very wet, add a couple more tablespoons of flour. Mixture should be slightly wet, but able to hold together if pressed gently.
• Grease a baking sheet with avocado oil. Don't be shy, you don't want the potatoes to stick! Scoop about a golf ball sized amount of the mixture and form a flat pancake like latke with your hands. Try to make sure the latke is the same thickness throughout so it cooks evenly. It doesn't have to be perfect, they're meant to look rustic and those crispy edges are the best!
• Bake for 20 minutes on one side, then flip and bake for 10 more minutes. You can do two batches at the same time or remove the first batch and continue. Latkes can be kept warm in a 170-200 degree oven until ready to eat!
• Serve with applesauce, sour cream or your favorite toppings!

OUR FAVORITE LATKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250°F. Set racks in upper and lower thirds of oven. Place wire cooling racks in the rimmed baking sheets and place in the oven.
• Using a food processor with a grating insert, grate the potatoes and then the onions, transferring grated vegetables to a large bowl when the bowl of the food processor is filled. Alternately, use a box grater. Working in batches, place the potatoes and onions in a clean dishtowel and thoroughly wring out the excess liquid over the sink, then transfer the potato-onion mixture to a large bowl. The more liquid you remove, the crispier your latkes will be, so take your time and use several dish towels if necessary. Reserve the potato-onion mixture.
• In another large bowl, whisk together the matzo meal, salt, and pepper. Add the eggs and whisk to combine. Add the potato-onion mixture and mix well.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, melt equal parts schmaltz and oil (or oil only if omitting the schmaltz) until a scant 1/4-inch depth of fat is reached. Drop 2 tablespoons of latke mixture into the hot fat, spacing them 2 inches apart. Flatten latkes slightly using a spatula and cook, turning once, until crisp, golden brown, and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Transfer latkes to wire racks and season with salt; return to the oven to keep warm; season with salt. As you remove latkes from the pan, replace them with fresh spoonfuls of potato mixture to maintain oil temperature. Add additional schmaltz and/or oil around the edge of the pan as needed to maintain a scant 1/4-inch depth of fat.
• Keep latkes warm in oven and serve hot with applesauce or sour cream.

NEW YEAR'S EVE LATKES

Steps:

• Get out your food processor or sturdy hand grater and using the finest grating holes, shred the potatoes.
• You want them to be so fine that they are mushy.
• Grate your onions in the same manner and mix them with the potatoes.
• Set the shredded potatoes& onions into a mesh strainer set over a bowl and squeeze out all the water you can.
• Don't worry if the potatoes start turning pink or brown- that is just a reaction to the air.
• Dump potato mixture into a bowl and sprinkle with baking powder; mix well.
• Sprinkle in a little flour- a spoonful at a time, mixing the flour into the mixture until your potatoes stick together enough to form a thin patty- they will seem a bit dry (don't be tempted to add an egg - it isn't necessary in this version).
• You don't want too much flour, so try not to add too much.
• Heat a large skillet (to about medium or medium-high) and add about 3-4 Tbsp of oil to the pan- or enough to coat the bottom of the pan well for frying (you will need to add a little more per batch as the oil disappears).
• Form thin patties about 2-3 inches in diameter and slide them into the oil.
• Don't crowd the pan- you should only make a few at a time.
• Fry a few minutes per side until golden brown(adjust heat as needed to keep oil from splattering).
• Remove to a paper towel lined plate using a slotted spoon to drain.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve warm with sour cream and smoked salmon on the side, if desired.
• NOTE: If you prefer more texture to your latkes, shred on a larger hole.