Celery Root Parsnip Latkes Food

LATKES

Steps:

• For the potato latkes: Place the grated potatoes in a large bowl or other food-safe container, fill it with water, and then strain. Repeat this rinsing process 2 or 3 times until the water runs clear, then drain the potatoes, squeezing out as much water as possible.
• Combine the rinsed potatoes and grated onion in a large bowl and mix them together with your hands. Add the matzo meal and mix together, then add the chives. Finally, add the eggs and massage them into the potato mixture until thoroughly incorporated. Add the salt and pepper and mix it in with your hands.
• Heat 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches so that the latkes are not crowded in the skillet, take a golf ball-size portion of the potato mixture, flatten it between the palms of your hands, and add it to the skillet. Repeat.
• Cook the latkes until they're crisp and brown around the edges, about 3 minutes; then flip and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until crisp and deep golden brown all over and still tender inside. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate or baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining potato mixture, adding a tablespoon or so of oil between batches.
• For the celery root-parsnip latkes: Follow the instructions for the potato version, substituting the celery root and parsnips for the potatoes (and skipping the rinsing step at the beginning) and substituting the parsley for the chives.
• For the butternut squash latkes: Cut the squash into chunks and pass them through the grating disk of a food processor. Then follow the instructions for the potato version, substituting the squash for the potatoes (and skipping the rinsing step at the beginning) and substituting the sage for the chives, and cooking the latkes slightly longer over slightly lower heat (about 4 minutes on the first side and 3 minutes on the second side over medium-low heat).
• You can reheat the latkes in a 450 degree F oven in 3 to 4 minutes.

CELERY ROOT-PARSNIP LATKES

Steps:

• Place grated celery root, parsnips and onion in a large bowl. Sprinkle in matzo meal and toss mixture together with your hands. Add parsley, eggs, salt and pepper and combine again using your hands until ingredients are incorporated.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high. Take a heaping tablespoon of the mixture and flatten between your palms. Fry latkes, without moving them, for 4 to 5 minutes, checking that they don't over-brown. (You should be able to fry them in batches of 11 to 12, depending on pan size.) Flip latkes, turn heat down to medium-low and fry another 4 minutes, or until well browned and tender. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with additional salt. Serve warm.

CELERY ROOT-MUSHROOM LATKES

Steps:

• Whisk the sour cream with the chives, vinegar and a pinch of salt in a small bowl until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Grate the potato, celery root and onion on the large holes of a box grater into a colander set over a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper, toss well and let stand 5 minutes. Squeeze handfuls of the mixture firmly with your hands to remove as much liquid as possible. Blot dry with paper towels, then transfer to a large bowl.
• Add the beaten egg, matzo meal or flour, mushrooms, thyme and garlic to the potato mixture and toss well to combine. Scoop 1/4 cupfuls of the mixture and tightly pack into thin 3- to 4-inch pancakes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
• Preheat the oven to 250˚. Heat 1/4 inch vegetable oil or chicken fat in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Working in three batches, fry the latkes until deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per side, reducing the heat as needed if the latkes are browning too quickly. Remove to a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with salt and more thyme. Keep warm in the oven while you make the remaining latkes. Serve with the chive sour cream.

PARSNIP AND CELERY ROOT MASH

Steps:

• Saute the onions in the first tbsp of butter or oil in a large, heavy pot, until just soft, not browned. add any spices, and the garlic, sautee one minute longer. add the parsnips and celery root, the cover with the liquid. Simmer over medium heat until vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes. Remove bay leaves, if using. Drain, reserving liquid. Return solids to pot and mash. Add cooking liquid to desired consistency. Stir in butter, adjust seasonings.

CELERY ROOT AND POTATO PANCAKES / LATKES - GLUTEN-FREE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees or "warm" setting. Peel potatoes and submerge in cold water. Peel celery root with a paring knife. Pulse the onion and garlic in food processor. Mixture should be coarse, not completely pureed. Pour onion-garlic mixture into a large bowl.
• Grate the celery root using the larger grate of a box grater, or use the grater attachment of a food processor. Add to onion-garlic mixture and stir.
• Grate potatoes. Quickly squeeze a handful of grated potatoes at a time over a second bowl (or the kitchen sink) to remove all liquid. Add the dry potatoes to the onions and celery root, mixing as you go. This step should be done as quickly as possible to prevent oxidation of the potatoes.
• Heat 1/4 inch of olive oil in a large, heavy skillet (cast iron works best) over medium-high heat, until just below the smoking point.
• Add remaining ingredients to the batter, and stir until fully combined. Place a small handful of batter (approximately 1/4 cup) in the hot oil at a time. Pat each handful into a 1/2" thick pancake shape before placing in oil - This will help each latke stay together. Fry until completely golden-brown on the bottom and crispy around the outside corners. Flip and brown on the second side.
• Transfer latkes to a plate lined with paper towels or several layers of brown paper (I use grocery bags). Allow paper to absorb excess oil, then transfer latkes to a cooking rack placed over baking sheet in the preheated oven, where they will stay warm until ready to serve. Serve hot, with sour cream and applesauce.
• Extra latkes can be frozen on a baking sheet in the freezer, with parchment paper between the layers. When frozen, transfer to ziploc bags. Reheat in oven at 400 degrees F.

CELERY-ROOT AND POTATO LATKES

Steps:

• Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 250°F.
• Coarsely grate celery root into a bowl using the 1/3-inch-wide holes of a box grater.
• Peel potatoes and coarsely grate into a large bowl. Add lemon juice and toss. Coarsely grate onions into same bowl.
• Transfer to towel, then gather up corners to form a sack and twist tightly to wring out as much liquid as possible.
• Return potatoes and onions to cleaned bowl and stir in celery root, flour, eggs, salt, pepper, and celery seeds until combined well.
• Heat 1/3 inch oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Fill a 1/4-cup measure (not tightly packed) with latke mixture and carefully spoon it into skillet, then flatten to 3 inches in diameter with a slotted spatula. Form 3 more latkes in skillet, then fry until undersides are deep golden, 1 1/2 to 3 minutes. Turn over using 2 spatulas and fry until deep golden all over, 1 1/2 to 3 minutes more. (If latkes brown too quickly, lower heat to moderate.) Transfer to paper towels to drain briefly. Keep warm in 1 layer on a metal rack set in a shallow baking pan in oven. Make more latkes in same manner. Use a second rack and baking pan to keep last batches warm.

CELERY ROOT AND PARSNIP PUREE

Steps:

• Combine celery root, parsnips, and potato in large saucepan; add enough water to cover. Sprinkle generously with coarse salt. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook until vegetables are very tender when pierced with sharp knife, about 20 minutes. Drain well. Return vegetables to pan and place over medium heat, stirring constantly until moisture evaporates, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Working in batches if necessary, spoon vegetables into potato ricer; press into microwave-safe medium bowl. Add warm half and half and pink-peppercorn butter, if desired. mash until smooth. Season with coarse salt and black pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 hour ahead. Rewarm in microwave until heated through.