Latkes are like a delicious “potato fritter or potato pancakes,” which are easy to make. It’s one of the Jewish cuisines, and Jews prepare this yummy cake when celebrating Hanukkah. Even though Jews love to prepare and eat Latkes traditionally, the roots of latkes are connected to Italy.
In Italy, they prepared these tasty latkes with Ricotta cheese. Potato latkes came into the picture only in the 19th Century, much after potatoes were popularised in Europe. Since then, latkes have played a role in the celebration of Hanukkah.
What to Eat with Latkes?
Enhance the taste of Latkes with some side servings. Making side servings for latkes will be as easy as making latkes. You will prepare a classic combo no matter which side serving you choose. Let’s see the sides we can prepare to have with Latkes without further delay.
1. Sour Cream
Sour Cream is the side that goes well with any crispy dish. But this sour cream gets along with Latkes traditionally. It matches Latkes very well and is very easy to make.
All you need is heavy cream, milk, lemon juice, or vinegar to make this cream. Mix these three ingredients in a bowl and leave overnight. And, that’s it, your sour cream will be ready in the morning. You can even use yogurt to skip the milk and whipped cream.
We can also preserve this sour cream in an airtight jar in the refrigerator for at least 1 – 2 weeks. Latkes’ best partner is on the way with very little effort.
2. Smoky Cod
This seafood is also going to be a great pair of Latkes. It may take some time and effort, but it’s worth it. This smoked cod maintains a well-balanced latke and is a treat for seafood lovers.
Bring boneless cod and brine it with kosher salt, honey, and water in the fridge. Codfish can soak all the ingredients, so give it time to soak. Furthermore, heat your smoker and be ready.
Take out the cod after some time, then rinse it and dry it before it gets smoked. When it’s all done, you may season it with some pepper or leave it just like that. This is going to taste great with Latkes, So Enjoy.
3. Poached Egg
Poached Egg is another mouthwatering side to eat with latkes. To be frank, I am a huge fan of poached eggs, because of their runny yolk and soft jiggly whites.
Getting a perfect poached egg may be tricky, but it’s worth trying. Try using fresh eggs and adding some vinegar to boiling water.
When it’s ready, slowly place it on Latkes and sprinkle some black pepper. Imagine the runny yolk over your latkes, Yummy! This is going to be a great duo with extreme deliciousness.
4. Apple sauce
After sour cream, apple sauce is traditionally eaten with latkes. Latkes are undoubtedly salty, so if you want something sweet by their side, Then Apple sauce is a great choice.
This is very easy to make and also uses very few ingredients. You only need apples, water, sugar, salt, and either lemon juice or vinegar. First, peel the apples and chop them, then boil the ingredients.
If you don’t want it to be sweet then you can skip the sugar, if it’s too sweet for you then balance it with lemon juice. After it gets boiled, take it out and mash it or blend it.
You can leave the consistency as you prefer. This will be a great side to serve with latkes, so be sure to make a large batch.
Feast on Latkes: With a Personal Twist!
Bitu Aulakh, Managing Director at Morni Tandoor, shares their personal Latke variant, Honey with Pomegranate Seeds:
“Even if you have been enjoying potato pancakes for as long as you can remember, you might be surprised to learn about one of the most traditional Jewish latke toppings.
Pomegranate and honey are the result if you go one step further. If [you’re going to] create a creative brunch buffet where latkes are the star (as they should be), [then] these toppings are a must.
You can enjoy your latkes by simply garnishing them with pomegranate seeds, honey, and a small sprinkling of sea salt.
The contrast between the sweet and salty flavours of the potato pancake and honey is well balanced by the burst of texture and flavour.
To elevate this recipe, consider including a spice like cinnamon or an herbal element like rosemary to provide even more flavour.
If you’d like, you may also sandwich some cream cheese or sour cream between the latke and the pomegranate seeds.”
5. Chicken Soup
This pair is going to be very cozy and comfort food. This will be a perfect combination to enjoy in winter. The flavorful chicken broth with veggies and chicken chunks is worth craving.
Enjoy this hot and tender chicken soup with your creamy and crispy latkes. It will be a great snack on rainy days or in snowy weather.
6. Salad
When we talk about Salad, the word “healthy” automatically follows after. For Latkes, prepare salad with green veggies like cucumber, cabbage, and other green veggies. Also, add onions and tomatoes if you want.
The main point of salad is dressing. You can use anything of your choice for the dressing part. Nonetheless, Green salad will be an excellent pair for crispy golden-brown latkes.
7. Beef Stew
Latkes with Beef stew is a fantastic, heartwarming dish to eat together. For this beef Stew, we need beef broth, chunks of beef, onions, cloves of garlic, and veggies like carrots and peas.
After it’s ready, garnish it with fresh herbs like coriander and pepper. This dish will also be a warm and comfortable food to eat when it’s cold. Serve this combo and enjoy your fine dining. The flavours your taste buds are going to feel are incredible.
8. Buttered Vegetables
This is going to be the perfect option for vegetarians and all those veggie lovers. Choose colourful vegetables like carrots, cauliflower, asparagus, broccoli, and peas. Half cook this and toss it in butter.
As the name suggests, “Buttery Vegetables,” you can use more butter and melt it in vegetables. After it is done, season these buttery veggies with pepper and salt.
Trust me, the duo of these buttery vegetables and crispy, cheesy potato Latkes will taste heavenly. Both of them will balance each other’s flavours rightly and will leave you wanting for it more.
Expert Comments on An Egg-Free Fusion Twist to Traditional Latkes
Madhuram Prabhakar, the founder of Eggless Cooking, elaborates on experimenting with egg-free recipes:
“For the classic latke, an interesting twist would be to add Indian flavours to it, like green chillies, ginger, and cilantro.
Another option could be incorporating the popular multi-cuisine avocado into latkes, making them [not only] delicious but also nutrition-rich.
On the global fusion front, how about a dash of spice? Adding flavours such as smoked paprika or chipotle powder can add a delightful kick to the latkes, demonstrating the versatility of this beautiful dish.
Further, being a vegetarian, I recommend using ingredients like zucchini or sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes. [This] not only provides a unique flavour but also boosts the [nutritional value] of the dish.
Eggless, nutrient-packed, and fused with eclectic flavours – that’s my twist on the traditional latke!”
9. Kale And Apple Salad
This one is another healthy salad to be on our list. This one is also easy to make and tastes excellent with Latkes. The healthy and juicy salad has a crunch of apples and crispy Latkes. It even sounds yummy, right?
Cut the leaves of Kale very thinly, along with an apple. Coat kale in lime juice, salt, and extra virgin olive oil and leave it for 8-10 minutes. Then, put apples and the coated kale in the same bowl in addition to dates and almonds.
After it’s done, season it with salt and black pepper, and your healthy salad will be ready to be enjoyed with delicious latkes.
10. Roasted Chicken
The Roasted Chicken also gets along with latkes very well. This will be the main dish you can serve with latkes and will balance the flavours and texture.
Latkes and the juicy roast of chicken give you a variety of flavours with an excellent crispy texture. So, make sure to roast chicken when preparing to make latkes.
Nutritional Consultant on Vegetarian Pairings for Balanced Latke Meals
Barbara Kovalenko, RDN and nutrition consultant at Lasta.app, suggests Vegetarian Pairings for Balanced Latke Meals on behalf of a Nutritionist and a Plant-Based dietician:
“For those who lean towards vegetarian pairings, I’d recommend exploring options like roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic glaze or a colourful quinoa salad with fresh herbs.
These choices [not only] add vibrant flavours but also contribute essential nutrients to create a well-balanced and delicious latke meal.
From my experience, incorporating a variety of vegetables, such as cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and bell peppers, can elevate the nutritional profile while maintaining a satisfying taste.
Additionally, [considering] plant-based protein sources like hummus or yogurt-based tzatziki can enhance both flavour and nutritional content.
I usually encourage clients to experiment with different vegetable combinations to find what suits their taste preferences and dietary needs.
This way, they can enjoy a diverse range of nutrients while savouring the delightful experience of latkes with vegetarian pairings.”
Final Note
In Conclusion, Latkes taste great with the sides mentioned above, and only a few of them exist. For this reason, latkes have become a traditional dish, especially with sour cream and applesauce. Of course, there are other sides as well, and Latkes can get along with them.
Pair this crispy creamy texture latke with sides of your choice. You can prepare more than one side with these latkes and follow your favourite recipe. These cheesy soft potato latkes are going to melt in your mouth. If the children in your house don’t like to eat veggies, then accompany some vegetable sides with these latkes and make them eat them.
Few dishes taste delicious with very few ingredients, and Latkes are one of them. And the most positive thing about it is you can’t go wrong in making this. Just put latkes in oil carefully so they won’t splatter, and then the other things will all be good.
So, Enjoy these delicious and classic latkes at your home with the sides you choose.
Guest Author: Saket Kumar
Last Updated on by Arnab