Classic Latkes

Directions

1. 1
   Peel the potatoes and place them in a bowl of cold water.
2. 2
   Grate the potatoes on the medium or largest holes of a box grater and into a clean bowl (or use the shredding tool of a food processor).
3. 3
   Squeeze the lemon juice over the potatoes and mix it in with your hands (to keep the potatoes from browning).
4. 4
   Using your hands, squeeze the liquid from the shredded potatoes into another bowl and reserve.
5. 5
   In a clean bowl, add the eggs, onion, salt and pepper to the dry shredded potato mixture.
6. 6
   Mix in the flour until combined.
7. 7
   Discard the top layer of the reserved potato liquid and save the sludgy starch at the bottom of the bowl.
8. 8
   Add the starch back into the potato mixture and mix in with your hands or a spoon.
9. 9
   In a large saute pan, heat the canola oil to just below the smoking point.
10. 10
    Form eight to 12 2-inch pancakes.
11. 11
    Saute four pancakes at a time, making sure that the oil coats them.
12. 12
    (You can flatten them with your spatula if you prefer a thinner pancake.)
13. 13
    Once a pancake has golden edges and is partially cooked in the middle, it is ready to be turned.
14. 14
    When flipping a pancake, tilt the pan away from you so that the oil doesnt spray and burn you.
15. 15
    Lower the heat so that the pancakes will continue to cook through and wont burn before theyre done cooking, about another 3 to 4 minutes.
16. 16
    When done, remove the pancakes from the pan and place them on a paper-towel-lined plate.
17. 17
    Before cooking the remaining pancakes, remove the excess potato pieces from the pan with a paper towel or spoon.
18. 18
    Serve the pancakes warm or at room temperature with sour cream or applesauce.
19. 19
    If you want to reheat the pancakes, place them on a cookie sheet and warm them in the oven at 350F for up to 10 minutes until they re-crisp, but be careful they dry out easily.