Beet Latkes With Walnuts and Horseradish Sour Cream

Beet Latkes With Walnuts and Horseradish Sour Cream
  • Yield:Makes about 24 latkes
  • Active time:1 hour
  • Total time:1 hour

Beet, potato, and onion latkes studded with walnuts and garlic, and finished with horseradish sour cream. [Photograph: Vicky Wasik]

This recipe takes its inspiration from beet skordalia, an addictive Greek dip that combines potatoes, beets, walnuts, and a whole lot of garlic. Translating it into a latke is a simple matter of shredding the ingredients rather than whipping them. Beets, typically sugary-sweet when roasted, have a slightly brighter, more vegetal flavor served raw. But briefly fried, they straddle sweet and savory, partnering seamlessly with the punchy garlic, zesty onion, mild potato, and chopped nuts. A spoonful of horseradish sour cream is the perfect finishing touch.

Why this recipe works:

  • Squeezing the patty mixture in cheesecloth helps eliminate excess moisture, making results more consistent and helping latkes brown more efficiently.
  • Shredding ingredients in a food processor ensures a hearty, consistent size and shape for the latkes.

Note: The exact amount of matzo meal needed will depend on exactly how moist your vegetables are. Start with the suggested amount, then add more if needed, working one tablespoon at a time until patties can be formed that stick together in your hands.

Ingredients

  • For the Horseradish Sour Cream:
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Horseradish, to taste (approximately 1 tablespoon)
  • For the Latkes:
  • 1 1/2 pounds red beets, peeled, trimmed, and shredded on the shredding disk of a food processor (6 cups shredded)
  • 4 cups chopped onion (about 4 medium onions)
  • 1 pound russet potatoes, peeled, trimmed, and shredded on the shredding disk of a food processor (3 cups shredded)
  • 6 medium cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup (2 1/4 ounces) chopped walnuts
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup matzo meal, plus more as needed (see note above)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Canola or peanut oil, for frying

Directions

  1. 1.

    For the Horseradish Sour Cream: Combine horseradish and sour cream. Stir to combine and refrigerate until ready to use.

  2. 2.

    For the Latkes: Working in roughly 2-cup batches, wrap beets, potatoes, and onions in cheesecloth that has been folded over twice. Tie corners around the handle of a wooden spoon and twist bundle until liquid flows out and vegetables are dry. Add squeezed vegetables to a large mixing bowl and toss to combine thoroughly.

  3. 3.

    Add garlic and walnuts, stirring to combine. Mix in eggs and matzo meal (you should be able to form patties that just stick together in your hands; if it is too wet, add more matzo meal 1 tablespoon at a time, until patties can be properly formed). Stir in salt and pepper.

  4. 4.

    Heat 1/2 inch of oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until a shred of potato immediately bubbles. Form a small amount of latke mixture into a disk and fry on both sides until golden brown to test for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper if needed.

  5. 5.

    Form patties about 3 inches wide and 1 inch thick in the center and slide into pan, cooking no more than 4 at a time. Fry until a golden brown crust forms on bottom, then flip using a slotted spatula and fork and fry until golden brown on other side and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes per side. If a darker crust is desired, continue cooking on each side to desired doneness.

  6. 6.

    Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels and let cool for 2 minutes, then serve with applesauce and sour cream at the table.