latkes

Amys Gluten Free Pantry

We just celebrated Christmukkah last week. Just like it sounds, this mish-mash of Christmas and Chanukah is a time to decorate our tree with friends, play the dreidel game and cook latkes. My kids love to collect chocolate gelt from their friend Joel, and Joel gets his Christmas fix during Chanukah. It’s one of my favorite evenings of the season and is reminiscent of my own childhood.

Growing up, I always assumed Channukah to be the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. Only much later did I realize it was one of the lesser Jewish holidays. But for me, it’s the only Jewish holiday I celebrate each year with friends.  That my children are able to see the fun and beauty of another faith is important to me; that they can experience the taste of it too, delights me. Laden with apple sauce, they gobbled their latkes down, going back for seconds and thirds, which was a good thing because our friend Jeff used nearly 5 pounds of potatoes to feed our small army.

I’ve modified this recipe for a family of four, but it can easily be doubled or even tripled. Latkes are a wonderful side dish, but I love them as an appetizer sprinkled with scallions. Just make more than you think you’ll need because these savory treats slide down easy!

Prep time: 20 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Yield: about 12-16 latkes
Special equipment: food processor (optional – makes the job easier)

2 large russet potatoes, grated with skin on
2 eggs, scrambled
1/3 c. rice flour
1 tsp. salt
vegetable oil for frying

  1. Thoroughly mix first 4 ingredients together.
  2. In a heavy bottomed skillet (cast iron works great), cover bottom of pan with a thin layer of oil and heat until hot.
  3. Mold mixture in hands to form patties measuring 3″ in diameter and gently slide into hot oil.
  4. Fry for 3-4 minutes on each side, then drain on paper towels with a sprinkle of salt. Add more oil for frying as needed. Serve with apple sauce and sour cream, or sprinkled with sliced scallions. I like to drizzle mine with flavored olive oil. You can also keep them warm in a 200 degree oven.

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