I followed the recipe carefully, but I'm not getting nice little potato pancakes. They are falling apart in the skillet and all I'm producing is a collection of bits, pieces, and crumbs.

Tastes fine, looks ugly.

What am I doing wrong? How do I fix this?

Mix an egg or two into the batter?

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:
Mix an egg or two into the batter?

Yup. I did the, per the recipe.

One egg, lightly beaten, one cup water, one packet latke mix, blend together, let sit 5 or 10 minutes to thicken.

Meanwhile, heat the skillet, add a little oil, fry.

Result when my bubbeleh did it: perfect little pancakes. My result: bits, pieces, crumbs.

Tastes good, looks bad.

quote:

Result when my bubbeleh did it: perfect little pancakes.

She probably didn't use a mix.
Although I admit to having used one in the past, just to compare them to my home made. They're usually pretty foolproof.

All I can think of is either it's expired, or perhaps more likely, you need more oil. Latkes aren't an item that cooks well with just a drizzle of oil.

Did you grate your own spuds or was that included in the mix? If you grated your own you must get as much of the water out as possible.

Just as when I make potato kugel, I make sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the shredded potatoes. Also as said, fry them almost as deep frying and don't check too often. Also important to use a potato that will not go to mush... I like Yukon Gold, or Russet.

My problem with latkes (or potato pancakes as my Pennsylvania Dutch forebears call them) is that no one is making them for me.

I've never made them myself.

Well..... that serves you right, 888. Just sit the fuck there and starve already.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:
If you grated your own you must get as much of the water out as possible.

^^^ This!

Too much water!

quote:

Originally posted by ArLEOret:
Too much water!

Possible, but I don't think so. After letting it sit and thicken, per the instructions, it was not at all watery. Quite the opposite, in fact. Very thick.

You don't have enough binder. Add some potato starch or maybe instant mashed potatoes to your mix.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:
All I can think of is either it's expired, or perhaps more likely, you need more oil. Latkes aren't an item that cooks well with just a drizzle of oil.

Probably not expired, just bought the package last week at Publix, "Best by 09/14/19."



Instructions said "thin layer of oil." I thought that I had the cast iron skillet well lubed. Maybe not. They kept breaking apart. I will try with more oil next time.

What I wanted:



What I got, was a bunch of broken up pieces.

A mix??!! Noooooooo!

V Tail, using real potatoes is cheaper, easy and tastes so much better than using a mix.

All you need is a grater.

Two russet potatoes, skin on.
1 egg
1/2 cup matzoh meal
small onion
salt
pepper.

Grate potatoes and onion, mix well adding egg, salt and pepper to taste.

When oil is hot make a latke by scooping about a 1/4 cup's worth in your hand. Squeeze the liquid out while making a patty. If it falls a part add more egg and try again.

Put in the pan flatten it a bit with a spatula. Fry until it is a deep brown then flip it and do the same on the other side.

Remove and place on paper towels to absorb excess oil. Add more salt and perrier to taste at this point.

And...get rid of that pre-mix stuff. :+)

LR, Latkes are easy enough to make from scratch. Here's Chef John's take on it:



Link to original video: https://youtu.be/nHZsE7T7hwI

Needs more anchovies. Anchovies are great binder.

You're a bad man !

quote:

Originally posted by ArtieS:
Needs more anchovies. Anchovies are great binder.

You might be on to something there.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
My problem with latkes (or potato pancakes as my Pennsylvania Dutch forebears call them) is that no one is making them for me.

I've never made them myself.

Yeah. Where's Mom when you need her? I haven't had them since I was a kid.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Shugart:
Well..... that serves you right, 888. Just sit the fuck there and starve already.

That was very funny.