In honor of the first night of Hanukkah (and my shiksa goddess aspirations) I made latkes, a variation of the classic potato pancake.  Legend has it that latkes are served during the Jewish festival of lights because they are prepared in oil – which symbolizes the cruse of oil that was supposed to light the menorah for just one day, but miraculously continued to burn bright, lasting instead for eight. 

While latkes are traditionally served either as a savory dish with sour cream or a sweet dessert paired with applesauce, I prefer to eat them naked.  To elevate the centuries-old delicacy to the appropriate level of modern-foodie chic, I added a surprising sprinkling of homemade truffle salt.  The lightly greased and perfectly crunchy potato mixed with delicate truffles made for a delicious holiday treat.  Happy Hanukkah!  xx tt

Recipe – adapted from Every Jewish grandmother in the world… (makes 4 latkes)

Ingredients

For Latkes

·  1 large russet potato

·  ½ yellow onion

·  1 egg

·  1 tablespoon flour

·  1 tablespoon breadcrumbs

·  ¼ teaspoon white pepper

·  ¼ teaspoon onion powder

·  ¼ teaspoon Kosher salt

·  ½ cup corn oil (or olive oil if you’re less picky – the corn is flavorless, which is why I used it)

For Truffle Salt

·  1 tablespoon fleur de sel

·  ¼ teaspoon white truffle oil

Instructions 

·  Peel potato

·  Using a big grate box, grate the potato using the largest of the holed sides

·  Cut onion in half, peel

·  Grate onion

·  Now you have to drain the excess moisture from the potato-onion mixture – either:

1)      Put mixture into a sieve over a bowl, and push the water out through with a pestle, or the back of a spoon

2)      Put mixture into a cheese cloth and twist it to drain the water into the sink

3)      Use your hands to squeeze the water out

·  Put the mixture into a large bowl, and add the flour, breadcrumbs, egg, pepper, onion powder, and salt

·  Mix well with a spatula or fork

·  Heat the oil in a large frying pan

·  CAREFULLY (I burned my thigh, which I’m currently icing…) scoop ½ cup of the mixture into the pan

·  Repeat three times, so that there are four latkes in the pan

·  Cook for five minutes per side – or until browned

·  Transfer latkes to a papertowel lined plate to drain excess oil

·  Mix the fleur de sel and truffle oil in a ramekin

·  Sprinkle truffle salt over each latke (or whatever topping you pleasure)