20 Latkes For All 8 Crazy Nights Slideshow
20 Latkes For All 8 Crazy Nights
If there is one occasion each year that every Jewish kid looks forward to, it's the moment he or she smells sizzling oil in the kitchen and potato pancakes being fried in a pan.
Mom always made her signature recipe of delicious grated potatoes and onions accompanied by a sweet homemade applesauce. After eight nights of eating the same latkes, though, you start to get a little sick of making them and everyone gets a little sick of eating them.
What Is a Latke Anyway?
A latke is defined as a pancake, especially one made with potatoes. Its basic core recipe consists of grated potatoes, flour, eggs, and onions. However, here at The Daily Meal, we like to spice things up, so our latke recipes are a bit different from the usual ones.
2nd Ave Deli Potato Latkes
These potato latkes use fresh potatoes, matzo meal, and grated onions for the traditional Jewish pancake. Top these off with sour cream or applesauce for a refreshing sweet or tangy taste on top of your hot, greasy latke.
Broccoli Cheddar Latkes
These chunky latkes recreate a classic paring of steamed broccoli with sharp Cheddar cheese in this scrumptious potato pancake that evokes memories of the comforting soup.
Butternut Squash and Leek Latkes with Pan-Roasted Cumin
Sweet seasonal squash combines with the onion-like taste of the leeks for a crisp bite full of flavor. These orange cakes smell like warm butternut squash soup, giving your kitchen a fantastic aroma.
Click here for the Butternut Squash and Leek Latkes with Pan-Roasted Cumin Recipe.
Butternut Squash and Sage Latkes with Maple Mascarpone
These sweet latkes put a fun spin on traditional crunchy potato pancakes by using maple mascarpone and butternut squash. The shredded butternut squash gives these cakes a fresh taste that combines with sage for a seasonal treat.
Click here for the Butternut Squash and Sage Latkes with Maple Mascarpone Recipe.
Butternut Squash Hashbrown Latkes
This is a simplified version of our other butternut squash latkes because they incorporate hashbrowns, which eliminates the painstaking task of peeling and grating potatoes. The greasy hashbrowns make these latkes perfect for breakfast.
Click here for the Butternut Squash Hashbrown Latkes Recipe.
Why Do We Eat Latkes on Hanukkah?
Latkes are made with an abundance of oil to represent the oil that miraculously burned for eight days and eight nights in the story of Hanukkah. Today, people make all types of unorthodox latkes, including ones that don't even use potatoes!
Carrot Scallion Pancakes
This healthier version of a latke omits the starchy potato and replaces it with bright carrots! These make great Hanukkah snacks for your kids because they're filled with vitamins.
Fresh Corn and Zucchini Cakes
With whole wheat flour, sweet corn, and tasty zucchini, these cakes are a healthier version of the typical greasy latke. Serve these on day four of Hanukkah when everyone is tired of eating potatoes.
Garlic Potato Kale Cakes
These vegan potato pancakes use sweet roasted garlic, almond milk, and crispy kale to make an incredibly tasty vegan option if someone in your family follows a vegan diet.
Gil Marks' Homemade Potato Latkes
The late King of Jewish cuisine shares his signature Hanukkah recipe that uses parsley and garlic to enhance classic latke flavors. He typically made these on the first night of Hanukkah and would sometimes serve them with a cheesy latke as well.
What Do You Serve with Latkes?
Good question! As a greasy, fried pancake, latkes go well with sweet applesauce or tart sour cream. If you're keeping kosher and serving brisket, remember not to serve sour cream with your latkes!
Gluten-Free Potato and Zucchini Pancakes
This is a great option if someone in your family is gluten-free. With naturally sweet roasted zucchini and chia seeds, these potato pancakes will leave everyone feeling full and healthy.
Click here for the Gluten-Free Potato and Zucchini Pancakes Recipe.
Golden Potato Pancakes
Every person who has ever eaten a latke knows the key component is a golden crispy exterior that surrounds the juicy interior. This recipe uses Yukon Gold potatoes for a creamy, buttery taste.
Maple-Cinnamon Sweet Potato Pancakes
This pancake makes an unorthodox dessert latke with sweet potatoes and maple cinnamon. The aroma from these pancakes is heavenly ‑ and they are technically still potato pancakes (in case anyone questions your unique latke).
Click here for the Maple-Cinnamon Sweet Potato Pancakes Recipe.
How is it a latke different from a pancake or a fritter?
A fritter is a deep-fried cake typically coated in batter and stuffed with another ingredient, like shrimp or beef. A pancake is a flat cake made from a batter that usually has a fluffy consistency. A latke, however, is a crunchy, fried pancake made of vegetables (most commonly potatoes).
Mashed Potato Fritters
These fritters' surprise ingredients are mashed potatoes, making them an unusual take on the latke. They taste soft inside and crunchy on the outside, like the classic Jewish side.
Mexi-Latkes
These Mexican-inspired latkes give us fresh flavors of lime, cilantro, and red bell pepper for a potato pancake that tastes like a frittata. Offset the heat of the jalapeños in this cake with a dollop of sour cream for the perfect spicy, cool bite.
Click here for the Mexi-Latkes Recipe.
Potato Pancakes with Smoked Sturgeon
These greasy latkes are balanced out by a savory smoked sturgeon and topped off with milky smooth crème fraîche. Serve these potato pancakes for breakfast as a replacement for bagels and lox.
Click here for the Potato Pancakes with Smoked Sturgeon Recipe.
Red Pepper Scallops on Potato Pancakes
If you're looking for a fancier main course for Hanukkah, try these delicious scallops with sweet roasted red peppers all on top of a latke. You'll definitely impress your guests by being able to incorporate Hanukkah favorites into a delectable meal.
Click here for the Red Pepper Scallops on Potato Pancakes Recipe.
Smoky Poblano Latkes
This latke gets a Tex-Mex makeover with chipotle, cumin, paprika, and chile flavors. Top this smoky poblano pepper latke with some brisket for a spicy, yet filling dish.
Spana-Latke-Kopita
Spanakopita flavors come out in this potato pancake with chunks of spinach and creamy feta cheese for a Greek-inspired latke. Serve this with hummus and pita chips for a more Sephardic celebration.
Sweet Potato Feta Pancakes
These little cakes use sweet, syrupy sweet potatoes for a healthier latke. Feta cheese adds a tanginess that offsets the sweet potatoes.
Sweet Potato Latkes with Lime Crème Fraîche
Sweet Potatoes are used in place of regular potatoes in this more traditional latke recipe, but they're topped off with lime-infused crème fraîche for a tart bite that enhances these crunchy pancakes.
Click here for the Sweet Potato Latkes with Lime Crème Fraîche Recipe.
Tuna Tartare with Potato Pancakes
This Asian-inspired latke is the perfect elegant appetizer to serve at your Hanukkah party. You can even make a soy dipping sauce to drizzle over the tartare tower.
Click here for the Tuna Tartare with Potato Pancakes Recipe.