Potato Latkes with Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce

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The first night of Hanukkah is coming up soon on December 7th, which means there’s no better time to dabble into a traditional and delicious Hanukkah treat! This Potato Latke with Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce recipe from Food Network has all the elements of a traditional latke, with Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce on the side to enhance the flavor.

INGREDIENTS

The following serves 10 to 12 latkes:

2 pounds russet potatoes

1 small yellow onion

3 tablespoons matzo meal

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

2 teaspoons kosher salt

Vegetable oil, for frying

1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs, such as chives or parsley, for garnish

Sour cream, for serving

Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce, for serving, recipe follows

Ingredients for Apple-Pear Sauce:

3 McIntosh apples, peeled, cored and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

3 ripe Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

6 cinnamon sticks

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 to 2 tablespoons sugar

INSTRUCTIONS

Peel the potatoes and shred them in a food processor fitted with the shredding blade; transfer the potatoes to a large bowl as the food processor fills up. Repeat with the onion. Transfer the onion to the bowl with the potatoes and stir in the matzo meal, egg, baking powder, and salt. 

Fill a large skillet with 1/2 inch oil. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil is very hot but not smoking. To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a small piece of potato into the oil; if the potato sizzles steadily, the oil is ready. 

Working in batches, scoop the potato mixture by 1/4 cupfuls and add them carefully to the skillet, flattening each latke slightly with a spatula. Fry, turning the latkes once, until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Remove any loose bits of potato mixture between batches with a slotted spoon. 

Serve the latkes immediately, or keep them warm in a 200-degree F oven. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve with sour cream and Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce.

Instructions For Spiced Apple-Pear Sauce:

Combine the apples, pears, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1/4 cup water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the apples and pears are very soft but still a bit chunky, 15 to 20 minutes. Taste the mixture and add the remaining tablespoon of sugar if desired. 

Remove the sauce from the heat and stir a few times until the sauce is well combined with small chunks. Cool to room temperature. Remove the cinnamon sticks and serve. (For a smoother sauce, remove from heat, remove the cinnamon sticks, and then whisk the mixture until smooth before cooling.)