Tis the season for December holidays and various international recipes abound, to be certain. Here’s a simple, very affordable one for Hannukah latkes:
3 medium russet potatoes, 1 large onion, 1 slightly beaten egg, 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1/2 tsp salt, pepper to taste, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, as needed. Sour cream and apple sauce for dipping options.
Peel and grate the potatoes and onions alternately into a bowl. Press out as much liquid as possible and reserve the starchy sediment at the bottom of the bowl. Return the sediment to the mixture. Add the egg, flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper. Mix ingredients until it looks like applesauce. Spoon, drop and flatten into medium high oil in fry pan. Fry until golden brown on both sides (2-3 minutes). Serve immediately with sour cream and applesauce on the side.
This traditional potato pancake recipe comes straight from the book The World Is a Kitchen, edited by Michele Anna Jordan and Susan Brady. This particular title is a collection of food and cooking related stories from around the world which includes several supporting recipes. Interesting concept, and a clear representation of how food and cooking can transcend cultural barriers and promote greater understanding among fellow world citizens. The excerpt about the Oriental Hotel’s cooking school in Bangkok brought back memories, and the Antarctic “cupboard love” expressed in Sarah Andrews’ Pie on Ice tale really brought home how a simple gift of food can mean the world in certain situations. A good title for food loving travelers and those who enjoy culinary tourism.
Photo credit: Traveler’s Tales