Making latkes with Sabrina Ullman

Sabrina Ullman showed us how to make latkes, one of her favorite Hanukkah dishes, with plenty of quotable moments.

Here is the recipe she used:

Ingredients needed: 

  • 1 pound potatoes, peeled and coarsely grated
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ to ¾ cup canola oil
  • Toppings: sour cream and applesauce

Note: As a shortcut, you can use 1 pound of hash browns instead of having to peel and cut the potatoes.

  1. Soak potatoes and onion into a large bowl of cold water for 15-20 minutes, then drain well in a colander. 
  2. Spread grated potatoes and onion on a kitchen towel and roll up jelly-roll style. Twist towel tightly to wring out as much liquid as possible. 
  3. Transfer potato mixture to a bowl and stir in egg and salt. 
  4. Heat ¼ cup oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. The oil should comfortably cover the bottom of the pan. Working in batches of 4 latkes, spoon 2 tablespoons potato mixture per latke into skillet, spreading into 3-inch rounds with a fork. 
  5. Reduce heat to moderate and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes. Turn latkes over and cook until undersides are browned, about 5 minutes more. 
  6. Transfer to paper towels to drain and season with salt. Add more oil to skillet as needed. Keep latkes warm on a wire rack set in a shallow baking pan in oven.

Some latke recipes use flour, including this one: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/238261/chef-johns-classic-potato-pancakes/

Sabrina recommends using a little more salt and onion than the recipe calls for, out of personal preference.