A Special Twist on a Favorite Hanukkah Dish: Moroccan Potato Latkes

With Hanukkah arriving so early this year, I wasn’t sure if I should serve mashed potatoes or latkes as a side dish for Thanksgiving dinner.

“What do you mean Aunt I is not bringing her mashed potatoes to Thanksgiving?” said my daughter A. “Thanksgiving won’t be the same without Aunt I’s mashed potatoes,” said my son D.

“I had always planned on bringing my mashed potatoes,” said my sister-in-law I. Tradition won out – mashed potatoes it will be.

Ruth and Vicky are Chief Foodie Officers of mayihavethatrecipe.com.

Nevertheless, I will be making latkes some time during the eight days of Hanukkah and when I do, I’ll be preparing Moroccan Potato Latkes, created by two sisters, Vicky and Ruth, who grew up in Barcelona, Spain. Vicky and Ruth are Chief Foodie Officers at  mayihavethatrecipe.com, a fabulous food blog, where they share fresh, seasonal, vegan, vegetarian and kosher recipes with an ethnic flair.

I met the sisters, who live nearby me in Southern New Jersey, through a mutual friend. I was delighted that they agreed to provide this guest post for the holiday.

Moroccan Potato Latkes

Both sisters enjoy matchmaking in the kitchen. That’s how they came up with the recipe for Moroccan Potato Latkes. “Can you think of a better marriage between two traditions? The Sephardic flavors all Moroccan spices pair nicely with the traditional Ashkenazi Hanukkah favorite,” said Ruth.

“Maybe not a match made in heaven, but in our kitchen, with love, from us to you,” added Vicky.

Moroccan Potato Latkes

Ingredients:

2 lbs yukon gold potatoes, grated

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp turmeric

2 tsp sweet paprika

1 tsp salt

2 tsp jarred diced hot cherry peppers

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup chopped parsley

1 egg, beaten

1/4-1/2 cup garbanzo bean flour*

3/4 cups vegetable oil for frying

Instructions:

1.Preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.Place grated potatoes in a colander with a bowl or plate underneath. Sprinkle 1 tsp of salt on the potatoes and mix well. Let stand for 10 minutes (the potatoes will release some liquid).

3.Using a cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel, ring out excess moisture from the grated potatoes (make sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible).

4.Add cumin, black pepper, turmeric, paprika, salt, hot cherry peppers, cilantro and parsley.

5.Mix well and add beaten egg.

6. Add garbanzo bean flour, 2 tbs at a time until you have a mix that you can form into patties.

7.Using your hands, form about 15 small latkes.

8. Heat about 1/4 cup of oil in a non stick skillet and drop about 5 latkes at a time.

9. Cook at medium heat, 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown. Place them on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.

10. Repeat the process two more times, using 1/4 cup of oil each time.

11. Place latkes on the lined baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crispy.

*Note: You can find garbanzo bean flour in the gluten-free or organic sections of supermarkets such as ShopRite or Whole Foods. Bob’s Red Mill brand was used in preparing this recipe.

I hope you enjoy a special twist on this favorite Hanukkah dish. Be sure to visit mayihavethatrecipe.com for more delicious ethnic dishes. I think I am going to try their Thanksgiving recipe for Chianti, Pear & Fresh Cranberry Chutney – it sounds yummy. I love cranberries. If you want a sweet treat, check out the sisters’ recipe for Moroccan Cinnamon Cookies. OMG, they brought me some of these cookies when we first met and I couldn’t stop eating them when I got home. They are simply scrumptious.

The latkes are gluten-free, but the cookies are not. The cookies are vegan.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Hanugivinghkkah, Thanksgivukkah…or however you choose to celebrate!

Judi