Pati Jinich, cookbook author, cooking teacher, chef at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C., and host of the public television series, Pati's Mexican Table, shared with us a bit of how her family celebrates Hanukkah around her table.
"It is all about the food! Preparing the food, setting the table, sharing the food, learning from each other and other friends we invite to our table to learn about their food," she says. "We always have a heightened sense of gratitude around this time of year. We get an opportunity to see the magic that shines, with a single candle, and the warmth and clarity it brings each night."
As a tribute to her Mexican-Jewish background, Pati has shared her sweet and smoky latkes to celebrate the holiday.
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RECIPE: Potato, Sweet Potato and Granny Smith Latkes
Tortitas de Papa, Camote y Manzana Verde
Yields 16-18 latkes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds russet potatoes (about 2 russet potatoes)
- 1 ½ pounds sweet potatoes (about 1 sweet potato)
- ½ pound Granny Smith apples (about 1 apple)
- ½ cup grated white onion (about 1 medium onion)
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher or sea salt
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- ½ teaspoon ancho chile powder (preferably, but may substitute with another dried ground chile powder that you may have handy)
- Pinch ground Ceylon or true cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
Optional condiments:
Instructions
- Wash and peel potatoes, sweet potatoes, apple and onion and grate them, placing them as you go, into a large bowl filled halfway with ice water. After you are finished, let it all sit for a few minutes and thoroughly drain with strainer.
- Wrap all the grated ingredients in cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel and wring energetically, squeezing out as much liquid as you can.
- Transfer to a bowl and combine with eggs, ancho chile powder, salt, cinnamon, baking powder and flour. Mix well.
- Fill a large, heavy casserole or skillet with ½ inch of oil and place over medium-high heat. After 3-4 minutes, test the oil by adding a teaspoon of the mix. If it bubbles happily all around the edges, it is ready.
- Working in small batches, to not crowd the casserole, spoon latkes of about 3 tablespoons each into the hot oil. (I use large serving spoon or my hands and shape them in flattened ovals.)
- Cook until the first side is crisp and golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes, and flip to the other side, letting it crisp and brown as well, about 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Once you are finished, you may keep them warm in a 250-degree oven, or you may cover and reheat later on.
Recipe and photograph by Pati Jinich from Pati's Mexican Table
