Laura Simons Root Vegetable Latkes Food

ROOT VEGETABLE LATKES

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and shred them in a food processer fitted with the shredding blade. Transfer to a large mixing bowl as the food processor bowl fills up. Repeat the process with the parsnips, beets, carrots and onions. Toss the vegetables together with your hands to break up and evenly disperse. Add the flour, eggs, baking powder, thyme and stir to combine. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
• Line a baking sheet with paper towels. Fill a large skillet with 1/2 inch of oil. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil is very hot but not smoking. To test if the oil is hot enough, drop a teaspoon of the vegetable mixture in the oil; if it sizzles steadily, the oil is ready.
• Working in batches, scoop the vegetable mixture by 1/4 cupfuls and add it carefully to the skillet, flattening each mound slightly with a spatula. Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Be sure to return the oil to temperature between batches or lower the heat it the latkes are browning too quickly on the first side. Drain on the prepared baking sheet.
• Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200-degree F oven. Serve with the sour cream.

RITA'S ROOT VEGETABLE LATKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine carrots, celery root, parsnip, leek and beets. Reserve.
• In a food processor fitted with the steel S blade, pulse-process potatoes for 30 seconds. Add to shredded vegetables. Add eggs, matzoh meal, salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Heat a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat until a bit of mixture sizzles when dropped inches.
• Form mixture into pancakes: use an ice-cream scoop, then flatten with spatula in pan. Let cook for 6-8 minutes or until golden on one side.
• Flip and cook 6-8 minutes more until golden.
• Drain on paper towels and serve.

TRICOLOR VEGETABLE LATKES

Steps:

• Arrange grated zucchini and squash on a large baking pan; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon kosher salt.
• Let vegetables rest 15 minutes.
• Drain well, pressing between paper towels, and set aside.
• Heat 1 teaspoon canola oil in a small sauté pan, and sauté leek 3 minutes or until soft; set aside.
• Grate potatoes, and press between paper towels to remove excess water.
• Place potatoes in a large bowl; add zucchini, squash, leek, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon white pepper, and stir gently.
• Add red onion and next 6 ingredients, stirring gently to combine.
• Heat 2 to 4 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
• Spoon heaping tablespoons of latke mixture, if you have one use a scoop, squeeze out extra liquid, and form into flat patties.
• Fry latkes, in batches, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes on each side or until golden.
• Remove from skillet, and drain on paper towels.
• Top each with a piece of smoked salmon, a dollop of sour cream, and caviar.
• Serve immediately.