16 Perfectly Crispy Latke Recipes

EC: Make the Crispiest Latkes in the World Without Doing Lots of Work

Photo by Jennifer Causey

Take a look at these top-rated latke recipes when you need a potato cake side dish for your Hanukkah celebration.

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Potato Latkes

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Potato Latkes Recipe

No Hanukkah celebration is complete without latkes. Go classic potato for the first night, and then try borscht-inspired beet, cheesy cauliflower and Gruyère, and earthy-sweet carrot and curry variations on the other nights. The trick to crispy cakes with less oil is to start with a very dry grated potato mixture: Drain well, and then squeeze in a clean kitchen towel. The frying oil may get too hot during successive batches; remove pan from heat for a minute or two, and lower the temperature as needed.

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Basic Potato Latkes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Basic Potato Latkes Recipe
The reserved potato starch helps bind the potato-onion mixture and adds heft to this traditional Hanukkah treat.

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Curried Carrot Latkes

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Curried Carrot Latkes Recipe

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Mini Latkes With Salmon-Olive Relish

Oxmoor House

Mini Latkes With Salmon-Olive Relish Recipe
The savory topping of smoked salmon and olives is what makes these little appetizer-size latkes extraordinary.

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Sweet Potato-Parsnip Latkes

Leo Gong

Sweet Potato-Parsnip Latkes Recipe
Branch out by using sweet potato and parsnips for your latkes instead of shredded baking potato. Top with easy Ginger Sour Cream to make them even more special.

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Cilantro-Jalapeño Latkes with Chipotle Sour Cream

Cilantro-Jalapeno Latkes with Chipotle Sour Cream

Photo: John Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Cilantro-Jalapeño Latkes with Chipotle Sour Cream Recipe
Add south-of-the border flavor to potato cakes with chopped jalapeño pepper and chipotle chile.

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Potato-Apple Latkes

Photo: Dana Gallagher; Styling: Phillipa Braithwaite

Potato-Apple Latkes Recipe
These 5-ingredient latkes get their sweetness from the addition of shredded apple and a sprinkling of turbinado sugar.

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Cheesy Cauliflower Latkes

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Thom Driver

Cheesy Cauliflower Latkes Recipe

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Potato-Scallion Latkes

Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Potato-Scallion Latkes Recipe
You only need 5 ingredients to make these simple potato cakes for your traditional Hanukkah meal. The addition of green onions adds both color and flavor to the latkes.

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Mashed Potato Latkes with Zucchini and Dill

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Fonda Shaia

Mashed Potato Latkes with Zucchini and Dill Recipe
These potato cakes are made with mashed potatoes instead of traditional shredded potatoes. You can combine and refrigerate the potato mixture up to a day ahead; dredge in matzo meal and sauté just before serving.

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Root Vegetable Latkes

Randy Mayor; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Root Vegetable Latkes Recipe
Add shredded parsnip and sweet potato to the shredded baking potato mixture for these earthy, hearty potato cakes.

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Potato-Sauerkraut Latkes with Juniper Sour Cream Dip

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Potato-Sauerkraut Latkes with Juniper Sour Cream Dip Recipe
They’re not your oma’s latkes—they’re even better

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Potato Latkes with Herbed Sour Cream and Smoked Salmon Topping

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: William Smith

Potato Latkes with Herbed Sour Cream and Smoked Salmon Topping Recipe

This recipe was created by chef Todd Ginsberg of Atlanta restaurant The General Muir. Applesauce is a classic topping for potato pancakes, but all sorts of flavors pair wonderfully with fried potatoes, including this creative topping of smoked salmon with herbed sour cream. This simple but elegant recipe would be right at home at a Hanukkah gathering but it would also work for a cocktail party or a special breakfast or brunch. Ginsberg uses fresh chives, tarragon, and parsley that have been pureed in a blender in his sour cream sauce. To preserve the bright color and flavor of the herbs, he blanches them in boiling water with a bit of baking soda and salt for a few minutes, then immediately transfers the herbs to an ice bath to shock them. Our Test Kitchen raved about the dish, saying, “The herbed sour cream is light, refreshing, balanced, and the perfect accompaniment to the crispy latkes and salty smoked fish.” Ginsberg prefers frying latkes in clarified butter, but this recipe will work just as well with canola or vegetable oil. If you're cooking latkes for a crowd, you might get overwhelmed making them to order. This recipe is easy to make in advance. Simply cook the latkes up to 4 hours ahead of time, and don't refrigerate. A half hour before serving, crisp up the latkes on the griddle and then transfer them to a baking sheet with a thin layer of clarified butter on the bottom. Place them in a 400˚F oven for 3 to 5 minutes. Serve immediately.

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Beet Latkes

Video and Photos by Alex Tepper

Beet Latkes Recipe
Shalommmm

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Purple Sweet Potato Latkes with Tobiko

Greg Dupree

Purple Sweet Potato Latkes with Tobiko Recipe

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Crispy Potato Latkes with Smoked Salmon

Photo by Jennifer Causey

Crispy Potato Latkes with Smoked Salmon Recipe
This recipe is a lazy latke lover's dream

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16 Perfectly Crispy Latke Recipes

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Potato Latkes

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Basic Potato Latkes

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Curried Carrot Latkes

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Mini Latkes With Salmon-Olive Relish

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Sweet Potato-Parsnip Latkes

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Cilantro-Jalapeño Latkes with Chipotle Sour Cream

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Potato-Apple Latkes

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Cheesy Cauliflower Latkes

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Potato-Scallion Latkes

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Mashed Potato Latkes with Zucchini and Dill

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Root Vegetable Latkes

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Potato-Sauerkraut Latkes with Juniper Sour Cream Dip

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Potato Latkes with Herbed Sour Cream and Smoked Salmon Topping

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Beet Latkes

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Purple Sweet Potato Latkes with Tobiko

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Crispy Potato Latkes with Smoked Salmon

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