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+ servings
Latkes on a black wire cooling rack

Classic Latkes (Potato Pancakes)

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Jewish
Keyword: homemade latkes recipe, how to make schmaltz, potato pancake
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 344kcal
Classic Latkes (Potato Pancakes) are amazing! Perfect for Hanukkah, but also any time of the year. We love these incredible potato pancakes!
Print Recipe

Equipment

  • Large skillet (12-inch) preferably non-stick

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs russet potatoes about 5 - 7
  • 1 cup onion shredded, or finely chopped
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp bread crumbs plain
  • 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp milk
  • 2 tsp Kosher salt
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • ¼ tsp fresh ground black pepper plus more for additional frying
  • 2 tbsp schmaltz rendered chicken fat, optional, plus more
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Applesauce for serving
  • Sour cream for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F.
  • Peel potatoes and shred them with a box grater or food processor. Place in a bowl of water while prepping the onions.
  • Transfer the shredded potatoes to a kitchen towel and squeeze to remove excess liquid.
  • In a large bowl, whisk eggs, bread crumbs, flour, milk, salt, baking powder and pepper.
  • Add potatoes and onions and mix until well coated.
  • Heat the schmaltz and oil in a large sturdy skillet (if not using schmaltz, use 5 tablespoons oil) over medium-hight heat.
  • Once the oil is hot, add spoonfuls of the latke mixture and gently flatten with your finger or back of a spoon.
  • Cook until golden on the bottom, about 3 minutes.
  • Gently flip with a spatula, and cook the other side until golden.
  • Remove to paper towel-lined plate and finish the remaining latkes, cooking in batches, if necessary.
  • Keep cooked latkes in warmed oven.
  • Serve with applesauce and sour cream.

Notes

See the video near the top of the blog post for visual guidance. If you liked the video, please subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Shredding the onions with a box grater delivers wonderful results. You'll need about 1 cup, which is typically one large onion, or a couple of smaller ones. You could finely chop the onion with a knife, too. 
You'll most likely need to fry the latkes in batches, which means you'll need to add more oil and schmaltz for each batch. Remember, if you don't have schmaltz, just use all vegetable oil. See the blog post on how to get schmaltz from homemade chicken broth. 
The latkes will keep covered in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave on HIGH for a few seconds at a time, or reheat in a 350°F oven for about 15 to 20 minutes. Latkes can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw completely before frying or reheating. 

Nutrition

Calories: 344kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 1420mg | Potassium: 1217mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 3mg