Rösti/Latkes Swiss & Jewish Potato Pancakes

Transcription

1 Rösti/Latkes Swiss & Jewish Potato Pancakes I often have multiethnic and international folks at my table. This was such an occasion. It was around about the time of Christmas and Hanukkah and I was in the mood for Potato Pancakes to go with some seasonal stuff..no Turkey. The surviving Turkeys were still mad about Thanksgiving and it was like an Alfred Hitchcock movie outside. So I made some Rösti for some folks and Latkes (Yiddish:,לאַטקעס Hebrew: לביבה levivah ) for others. The recipes are very similar with one difference being that Latkes have only Kosher stuff in them and this version of Rösti has Bacon a big no, no for Hanukkah folks. Sometimes I have vegetarian friends too..even more complicated.

2 So first, I dig around in the pantry and fridge and find a bunch of stuff that looks like it might be happy for an evening of imbibing (a nice little drunk by the fireplace). Ingredients: 1. Potatoes..maybe two, big and starchy (Russet) 2. Onion a fat one, maybe yellow or white 3. Flour..about 6-8 tablespoons 4. Baking Powder..2 teaspoons (normally only for Latkes but won t hurt the Rösti) 5. Olive Oil..just have a bottle on hand 6. Cheese...your favorite or what s in the fridge 7. Bacon 4-5 slices 8. Green Onions..a bunch

3 9. Optional (only if you re in Texas or New Mexico) Jalapeños 10. Eggs Black Pepper..a little bit 12. Salt.a little bit 13. Sour Cream..a glop for each Latke First, put the Bacon on medium heat.

4 I can t put anything on high flame. I get too distracted trying to keep the uninvited guests away and sometimes burn things on the stove.

5 It s best if you go to the trouble to do it the traditional way and grate by hand..holds together and looks better. But lazy goof that I am, I sometimes use a gizmo (in a hurry)

6 If you use a gizmo e.g. food processor, you need to add some water. Then drain the water.

7 But you should do it the right way.grate both Onion and Potato.

8 Beat the piwacky out of some eggs. Add a little Salt and Pepper.

9 Spoon in some flour enough to make it gooey when beaten. It helps bind stuff. Normally, only the Latke (also Latka) gets Baking Power but I m already late and not going to make two separate batches.

10 Beat this mess well. Mix the Onions and Potatoes. Then dump them in the egg mess.

11 And mix it all well. Better check the Bacon about now. It needs to be very crispy.

12 You could have some Spinach to go with this but that s a different recipe. There are several ways to cook this. One is the Tortilla Española way. You fill the pan and fry it one side.

13 Then you cover the pan with a plate.

14 Flip it, pan, plate and all, over, put the pan back on the fire, slide the mess back in and fry it on the other side. This takes a little practice but if you spill a little hot oil on the critters, it keeps them out from under your feet. An easier way is to make little patties and cook them in the oven. I think this is the more traditional Jewish way. I see a critter stepped in one when I wasn t looking. That yellow stuff is Olive Oil. When all are cooked, or fried, you re through with the Latkes and can set them aside for reheating later.

15 Traditional Rösti would also be done now but there are a lot of variations and this is just one.

16 Crumble the Bacon on top. Some recipes mix it in with the whole mess before but I like it to stay crispy so I leave it until last. These Rösti look kind of beat up because I didn t take the trouble to hand grate them. If you do, they will look like this. They ll taste good anyway.

17 Now spread around some Cheese, as if you were making Nachos.

18 Unfortunately, I grew up in Texas and that makes me kind of an, essentially, crazy person. So, speaking of Nachos, I add some Jalapeños. The Swiss are not so foolish and you won t see a lot of this kind of monkey business in Switzerland. Right before company arrives, I stick stuff in the toaster oven.

19 Once I severed these with a Chicken Schnitzel. I don t remember what that glop of sauce on the Chicken is.maybe a Squash mess that I had leftover in the fridge.it was good. The white thing on the Latke is Sour Cream. The green stuff is Spinach.

20 Besides spilling hot oil on them, a good way to keep the critters out of the kitchen, is to just give them something to do outside. Genießen! בתיאבו be'te-avon) Beware of rotten Pine Cones! Pine Cones don t rot. So if you see one, don t believe it. It s a ruse and the Pine Cone is trying to trick you. Just act nonchalant and walk on by as if you didn t see it.