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Potato Latkes

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated every year for eight days in December. The story of Hanukkah centers on a small flask which contained only enough oil to light the Menorah in the temple for one day but lasted for eight days.

One of the customary foods served on this holiday is Potato Latkes, or Potato Pancakes. Traditional latkes are made with beaten eggs and are fried in oil. The significant association with Hanukkah and the Potato Latke is not the potato; it's the oil, and lots of it. Most recipes call for 3/4 to 1 cup of oil. Here, we make an authentic and delicious rendition of this savory dish with a fraction of the fat, no cholesterol, and an abundance of flavor.

Our latkes are made using grated raw potatoes and onions, baking powder, whole wheat flour, a little cornmeal and a touch of salt. In place of eggs, we use light silken tofu and egg replacer to bind our pancakes. The neutral flavor and silken smooth texture of this type of tofu set it apart from other styles, such as tofu packed in water. This recipe has another secret ingredient, mashed potato flakes. Unlike other potato pancake batters that continue to leach off-color liquid, this batter has a miracle of it's own. It maintains a fresh color and cohesiveness that is due to the clever blend of alternative ingredients, all of which are widely available and easy to use. These positively perfect potato pancakes can be served as an entree or a side dish with applesauce or dairy-free sour cream.

Potato Latkes*
*Reprinted from More Soy Cooking, ©Marie Oser, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2000

8 servings

• 4 cups potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges

  (Photo: Matt McClain, Ventura County Star Food Styling: Mary Kathleen Benson)

  (about 4 medium)
• 1 medium yellow onion, quartered
• 1/2 (12.3 ounce package) lite silken tofu
• 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
• 2 1/2 tablespoon whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon egg replacer powder
• 1 teaspoon non aluminum baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup enriched soymilk, 1 % fat
• 1/2 cup Barbara's Mashed Potato Flakes
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
  
  Preheat oven to 200°
  Add the potatoes to the food processor with the grating blade in place. Press and drain the grated potatoes on several thicknesses of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel. Next, grate the onions. Press out excess moisture from the potatoes, place grated potatoes and onions in a large bowl and set aside. Clean processor bowl and with the steel processing blade, blend the tofu until smooth. Add the yeast, flour, cornmeal, egg replacer powder, baking powder and salt. While processing, and with motor running, add the soymilk. In the large bowl, combine the tofu mixture with the grated vegetables and add the
  potato flakes. Mix thoroughly. Spray electric frying pan griddle with oil over medium high heat and add olive oil. Drop 1/3 cup batter onto hot pan and cook pancakes browning on both sides. Place in a preheated oven until ready to serve.
  

Enlightened Potato Latkes 
Nutrition Analysis: per serving (2 1/2 pancakes)
Protein 8g, Carbohydrate 27g, Fiber 4g, Fat 3g, Sat Fat 0g, Cholesterol 0mg, Calcium 76mg, Sodium 220mg.
Calories 153
Calories from Protein: 20 %, Calories from Carbohydrates: 66%, Calories from Fat 14%

Traditional Potato Latkes 
Nutrition Analysis: per serving (2 1/2 pancakes)
Protein 5g, Carbohydrate 20g, Fiber 2g, Fat 18g, Sat Fat 4g, Cholesterol 85mg, Calcium 76mg, Sodium 220mg.
Calories 257
Calories from Protein: 8 %, Calories from Carbohydrates: 31%, Calories from Fat 61%

Ingredients of Note

Lite Silken Tofu-Very low in fat, lite silken tofu has a rich tasting, creamy texture and a custard like consistency. An excellent substitute for eggs and dairy products, it is widely available in aseptic packages in supermarkets and health food stores as Mori Nu Silken Tofu Lite.

Egg Replacer powder-Egg Replacer is a powdered product mixed with cold water.Very effective ingredient in baked goods, it is available in health food stores from EnerG foods or online at www.dixiediner.com.

Baking Powder-Non-aluminum, double acting baking powder is available health food stores and many supermarkets.
Rumford, Featherweight, and Cellu baking powder are all non-aluminum.

Mashed Potato Flakes -Barbara¹s Mashed Potatoes, a wholesome product made from whole, unpeeled Idaho potatoes, is available at health food stores.

Nutritional Yeast-These delicious flakes are very high in protein and B vitamins. Not Brewers yeast, nutritional yeast adds a rich flavor, and creaminess and is available at health food stores.