Everyone loves a latke...I mean, it's fried potato and onion, what's not to love?! This recipe is a spin off of one my mom used to make. Now to preface this, my mom was Sicilian and Spanish....not Jewish, however she married my dad, who IS Jewish (this is easy enough to follow right?) Therefore my mom learned [and perfected] many a Jewish meal.

The classic Janis Zerner latke story goes as follows....while spending Passover Dinner at my dad's best friend's house, my mom and the best friend's wife (also of the Shiksa nature) were in the kitchen preparing the dinner, and namely, the latkes. This was no ordinary Passover, for this Passover, the local Rabbi from the Synagogue was in attendance. So while cooking, the non-Jew ladies realized "we have no Oil to fry the latkes in". Insert mega culinary dilemma here. However, my mom, being the ever innovative and brilliant woman she was suggested, "why don't we just fry up some bacon and use the bacon fat?" Now, to me this sounds totally fine except.....BACON.....pork....not Kosher....Passover.... Rabbi.....got it.

Well the ladies did in fact use the bacon fat [secretly] and the Rabbi, none the wiser, exclaimed that they were the best latkes he's ever had. It was a Shiksa Passover Miracle.

So with that, I give you my version of latkes (not fried in bacon fat), however with similar ingredients that my mom used...my addition is using Chickpea (Besan) Flour as my binder. I serve mine with Sour Cream, because let's face it, I would smother my dog in sour cream if that was normal.....

Latkes

Prep Time

10 Minutes
Cook Time

30 Minutes
Total Time

40 Minutes
Yield

20-25 Latkes

Ingredients

  • 3 Potatoes (peeled)
  • 1 Onion
  • 5 sliced thin on a bias Scallions
  • 1/4 Cups Chickpea Flour
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Canola Oil (for pan frying)
  • Sour Cream (to serve with)

Directions

  • In a food processor fitted with a shredder blade, shred your potatoes and onion (if you don't have a food processor you can use a cheese grater). Place in a large bowl and mix in your scallions, chickpea flour, salt and pepper. Incorporate completely.
  • Heat up a large non-stick skillet with enough Canola Oil just to coat the bottom. Once the oil is hot, take a small handful of your potato mixture, form a 1/2" thick patty in your hand and place in the oil. Fry on both sides til golden brown, remove and let drain on a paper towel. Season the tops with a little pinch of salt.
  • Continue this process until all your potato mixture is used up. Serve hot/warm with Sour Cream or Apple Sauce. *Note: You can make these ahead of time and then just pop them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes to warm them back up!