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Potato pancakes, known in Yiddish as לאַטקעס ('''latkes''', sometimes spelled '''latkas''') and in Hebrew as לביבות (''levivot''), are cakes of grated potatoes fried in oil. Though they are commonly associated with Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine of Eastern Europe , they were not necessarily Jewish in origin, and they are still eaten by the general population in the region. Areas like northeast Poland , for instance, know many varieties. A favorite Polish dish is ''placki wegierskie''—potato pancakes stuffed with a thick spicy Hungarian Goulash . '' Rösti '' are potato pancakes of Swiss origin, popular throughout Northwest Europe ; ''rösti'' are distinct from latkes in that they generally contain little or no onion. In Ashkenazi Jewish homes, potato pancakes can be served any time, but by tradition they are especially popular in the celebration of Hanukkah . Eating potato pancakes is not one of the '' Mitzvot '' of Hanukkah; that is, it is not a fundamental part of the Hanukkah rituals, and has no explicit religious significance. However, Jews find it appropriate to eat foods cooked in oil during the festival that celebrates the miracle of the Temple oil. Latkes are eaten by many Israeli Jews, but '' Sufganiyot '' (singular ''sufganiyah'') are a more typical Israeli Hanukkah snack. Latkes may be topped with a variety of condiments. Popular toppings run the range from savory (sour cream, various cheeses) to sweet (apple sauce, sugar with or without cinnamon). Some traditionalists prefer to eat them ungarnished and as soon as they are removed from the oil. Recipes for potato pancakes vary in the degree of fineness to which the potatoes are grated. Some are grated to long strips, others to a fine powder. Potato pancakes bear a distant resemblance to the American dish called Hash Browns ; however, hash browns are merely coarsely grated potatoes with no binding ingredients or flour. The French dish commonly known as "potato Galette " is also similar, but in it the sour cream is an ingredient rather than a topping. The Swedish version of potato pancakes are called ''raggmunk'', which literally translates to "hairy doughnuts" (the grated potatoes make them look hairy). They are made from wheat flour, milk, egg, and potatoes, and are fried just like thin Pancake s. If the actual pancake batter is left out, the fried cakes of grated potatoes are called ''rårakor''. Both kinds are enjoyed with fried bacon and/or Lingonberry jam. Variants include cheese latkes, apple latkes, zucchini latkes, spinach latkes, leek latkes, and rice latkes. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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