{{Short description|Jewish potato pancake dish}} {{Redirect|Latka|other uses|Latka (disambiguation)}} {{About|the potato pancake|the Indian politician|Ramesh Latke|the children's book character|Latke, the Lucky Dog}} {{use dmy dates |date=December 2020}} {{Infobox food | name = Latke | image = LatkeFry.JPG | image_size = 250px | caption = A latke frying | alternate_name = Levivot, latka, potato pancake | region = Central and Eastern Europe | creator = | course = | type = Fritter | served = Hot, traditionally with sour cream or applesauce | main_ingredient = Potatoes, onion, egg, matzo meal, kosher salt, cooking oil | variations = | calories = | other = }} A '''latke''' ({{langx|yi|לאַטקע|latke|pancake}}; sometimes romanized ''latka'') is a type of potato pancake or fritter in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine that is traditionally prepared to celebrate Hanukkah.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Koenig|first1=Leah|title=Modern Jewish Cooking: Recipes & Customs for Today's Kitchen|publisher=Chronicle Books|isbn=9781452132327|page=119|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Amg_BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA119|access-date=22 December 2015|date=2015-03-17}}</ref>
It is commonly eaten by the Jewish diaspora where it is known as {{lang|he| ״לביבות״}} (romanized ''levivot'', lit. "little hearts") and has many variations. The most basic form is composed of shredded potatoes and egg yolk, fried in oil.
==Etymology== The word comes from the Yiddish ''{{lang|yi-Latn|latke}}'', itself from the East Slavic ''{{lang|ru-Latn|oladka}}'', a diminutive of ''{{lang|ru-Latn|oladya}}'' 'small fried pancake', which in turn is from Hellenistic Greek ἐλάδιον ''eládion'', '(olive) oil', diminutive of Ancient Greek ἔλαιον ''élaion'', 'oil'.<ref name="oed">''Oxford English Dictionary'', 3rd edition, December 2019, [''s.v.'' https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/106171]</ref><ref name="Vasmer">{{cite book | last = Vasmer | first = Maksimilian Romanovich | author-link = Max Vasmer | title = Etimologichesky slovar russkogo yazyka | trans-title = Russian Etymological Dictionary | script-title = ru:(Этимологический словарь русского языка) | location = Moskva | publisher = Progress | url = http://dic.academic.ru/dic.nsf/vasmer/44369/оладья | language=ru | year = 1973 | orig-year = 1958 }}</ref> thumb|Latkes served with applesauce and sour cream Its Modern Hebrew name, ''{{transliteration|he|levivah}}'' ({{lang|he|לְבִיבָה}} ''levivá''), plural ''levivot'', is a revival of a word used in the Book of Samuel to describe a dumpling made from kneaded dough, part of the story of Amnon and Tamar.<ref name=amnon>{{cite web|author=DLC |url=http://www.balashon.com/2006/12/leviva.html |title=Analysis of the word "latke" |publisher=Balashon |date=2006-12-18 |access-date=2011-12-25}}</ref> Some interpreters have noted that the homonym ''{{transliteration|he|levav}}'' ({{lang|he|לֵבָב}} ''leváv'') means "heart", and the verbal form of l-v-v ({{lang|he|ל־ב־ב{{lrm}}}} ''l-b-b'') occurs in the Song of Songs as well.
==History== Although the fritter was not made in the Land of Israel during biblical times, the story behind the ''levivot'' is usually regarded as biblical, and appears in the story of Amnon and Tamar. Amnon, who lusted after his half-sister Tamar, pretended to be ill and asked their father David: "Let Tamar my sister come and prepare two levivot before my eyes, so I may eat from her hand" (2 Samuel 13:6). And it is written about Tamar: "She took the dough, kneaded it, and prepared the levivot before his eyes, and cooked them. Then she took the pan and served them to him..." (verses 8–9).<ref name=amnon/>
Some version of latkes goes back to at least the Middle Ages.<ref name="Marks">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Marks |first=Gil |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Jewish Food |title=Latke |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt|isbn=978-0544186316 |page=707 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gFK_yx7Ps7cC&q=latke |access-date=22 December 2015 |date=2010-11-17}}</ref> They were likely made of cheese (probably either ricotta or curd cheese), fried in poppyseed oil or butter, and served with fruit preserves. These cheese latkes were the most common kind of latke in Ashkenazi communities until the 19th century when the potato arrived in Eastern Europe.<ref name="Marks" /><ref name="Goodman">{{cite web |last = Goodman |first = Matthew |url = http://www.forward.com/issues/2001/01.11.23/fast2.html |title = On Chanukah, Cheese Was the Norm, But Then Came the Potato |publisher = Forward |date = 2001-11-23 |access-date = 2017-05-30 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050907170618/http://www.forward.com/issues/2001/01.11.23/fast2.html |archive-date = 2005-09-07 }}</ref><ref name="St. Martin's Press">{{cite book |last1=Wex |first1=Michael |title=Rhapsody in Schmaltz: Yiddish Food and Why We Can't Stop Eating It |publisher=St. Martin's Press |isbn=9781250071514 |date=2016-04-12 }}</ref> At the time, the cheapest and most readily available cooking fat was schmaltz, rendered poultry fat (usually from a goose or chicken), and due to Jewish dietary laws, which prohibit the mixing of meat and dairy products, alternatives to the cheese latke were introduced. These included buckwheat, rye flour, or root vegetables endemic to the region, such as turnips.<ref name="St. Martin's Press"/> As the potato became popular in Eastern Europe (particularly in Poland and Ukraine) along with crop shortages, it was quickly adopted to the point that today, ''latke'' is almost synonymous with potatoes.<ref name="Marks" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/the-nosher/the-real-history-of-potato-latkes-will-surprise-you/|title=The Real History of Potato Latkes Will Surprise You | The Nosher|first=Susannah|last=Brodnitz|date=December 8, 2022}}</ref>
The latke carries religious symbolism within Judaism, and is traditionally prepared during the Hanukkah holiday to commemorate the miracle of the oil in the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem lasting eight days.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-12-22 |title=Behind the Hanukkah tradition of latkes - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/behind-the-hanukkah-tradition-of-latkes/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Variations== alt=Potato latkes frying in a skillet|thumb|Potato latkes frying in a skillet alt=Tray of cooked latkes|thumb|295x295px|Tray of cooked latkes Latkes today are most commonly made with potatoes, although other vegetables are also sometimes used. There are two main varieties: those made with grated potato and those made with puréed or mashed potato. The textures of these two varieties are different.
===Grated potato version=== Latkes made of grated potatoes are popular. They are prepared by grating potatoes and onions with a box grater or food processor; then, excess moisture is squeezed out. The grated potatoes are then mixed with eggs and flour or matzo meal. A vegan version uses chickpea flour and potato starch instead of eggs. The latkes are fried in batches in an oiled pan. The thickness is a matter of personal preference.
===Puréed potato version=== The dough for puréed potato latkes is puréed in a food processor. This form of latke is easier to shape and has a "pudding-like consistency".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Geller |first1=Jamie |title=Healthier Potato Kugel Recipe (Recipe for potato kugel, but she talks about this kind of latke later in the video) |url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EiSzm-xtWiE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/EiSzm-xtWiE |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|website=YouTube |date=12 March 2018 |access-date=8 October 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
===Other variations=== Before the potato, latkes were and in some places still are, made from a variety of other vegetables, cheeses, legumes, or starches.<ref name="Appelbaum">{{cite news |last1=Appelbaum |first1=Yoni |title=Everything You Know About Latkes Is Wrong |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/12/the-great-latke-lie/420018/ |access-date=22 December 2015 |work=The Atlantic |date=11 December 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=What Are Latkes? Plus: A Simple Potato Latke Recipe |website=Chabad.org |url=https://www.chabad.org/recipes/recipe_cdo/aid/103032/jewish/What-Are-Latkes-Plus-A-Simple-Potato-Latke-Recipe.htm}}</ref> Modern recipes often call for the addition of onions and carrots.<ref>Rachael Ray, [http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/quick-potato-and-carrot-latkes-recipe/index.html Quick Potato and Carrot Latkes], [http://www.foodnetwork.com The Food Network], 20 December 2008.</ref><ref>Philip and Karen Selwyn, [http://groups.google.com/group/rec.food.cuisine.jewish/msg/517874a7f50f71a1 Potato-carrot-onion Latkes], rec.food.cuisine.jewish archives, 11 Oct. 1998, 1:00 AM.</ref> Other versions include zucchini, sweet onion, gruyere (for french onion flavor), and sweet potatoes.<ref>{{cite news |title=The only latke recipe video you'll ever need |url=https://www.jta.org/2015/12/04/culture/the-only-latke-recipe-video-youll-ever-need |access-date=1 February 2019 |publisher=JTA |date=1 February 2019}}</ref> Sephardi Jews make latkes with zucchini and garlic (''mücver''), omitting dairy-based toppings (yogurt) when served as a side for roasts or meat.<ref>{{cite book |last=Levy |first=Faye |title=Faye Levy's International Jewish Cookbook |date=26 September 2009 |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |isbn=9780446567251 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IECHs3fxuz4C&pg=PT123}}</ref> Latkes are often served with either sour cream or applesauce.<ref>{{Cite web|title= Talk of the Table {{!}} The Great Topping Debate|url= https://momentmag.com/talk-of-the-table-the-great-topping-debate/?srsltid=AfmBOooT1bHWECXWca9Q3UfXiyFVGxyRoKC73EGhtGVXe9qspsk0tV4h|website=Moment|date=16 November 2020|last=Freedman|first=Dan|access-date=11 May 2026}}</ref>
== See also == * {{annotated link|Ijjeh}} (sometimes cooked like latkes) * {{annotated link|Fritas de prasa}} * {{annotated link|Hush puppy}} * {{annotated link|Latke–Hamantash Debate}}
==References== {{reflist}} {{commons category}} {{Hanukkah Footer|state=collapsed}} {{Jewish baked goods}} {{Pancakes}} {{Potato dishes}}
Category:Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine Category:Hanukkah foods Category:Potato pancakes