Gluten Free Latkes are a yummy treat you can enjoy during your Hanukkah celebration or any time of the year. If you have never tried latkes before you are in for a treat! Gluten Free Latkes are golden and crispy on the outside with a warm soft center. They are made with shredded potato, grated onion and bound with rice flour and eggs. Traditionally latkes are enjoyed with apple sauce and sour cream, but I have created a dairy free garlic cream sauce that goes really well with these Gluten Free Latkes.

Latkes were always my favorite part of the Hanukkah meal; they even beat out dessert which means a lot coming from a self-proclaimed sugar-buster! I usually end up with a ridiculously huge stack of latkes that take up half of my plate leaving little room for anything else. Latkes and fried foods are traditionally eaten during Hanukkah to celebrate the oil that miraculously burned for 8 days. I wanted to stick close to tradition so I have two cooking options, a pan fried gluten-free latke and a baked gluten-free latke. Both methods taste delicious but the fried version is a little crispier and closer to the traditional deep fried version.

Health Benefits of Potatoes

Potatoes are part of the nightshade family and can be a controversial ingredient in the health food community due to their inflammatory properties and high carbohydrate content. Nevertheless, they are full of health-promoting nutrients like vitamin B6, vitamin C, copper, potassium, manganese, and dietary fiber. There are also lots of nutrients in the potato skins including phytochemicals and vitamins that protect against cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, and certain cancers. Potatoes are very heavily sprayed with pesticides, therefore, it is important to buy organic potatoes so you can enjoy the health benefits of the potato skins.

Gluten Free Latkes are super easy to make and can be really quick if you have a food processor with a grater attachment, otherwise, you can use a cheese grater. One of the most important steps in this recipe is to squeeze the liquid out of the grated potatoes and onions. This makes for super crispy gluten free latkes, so please don’t skip it!

The fried gluten free latkes are best prepared to order for maximum crispiness and the baked version can be made ahead of time and reheated in the oven. Gluten free latkes also make an excellent brunch item. I like to start with a base of sautéed spinach, add a couple gluten free latkes with dairy free garlic cream sauce and top it off with a runny organic over easy egg, delicious!

Gluten Free Latkes

(Dairy Free)

Prep time: 20 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Serving size: 20-24 gluten free latkes (6 people)

Ingredients:

• 4 large potatoes, peeled and grated (5 cups)
• 1 large onion, grated
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup of brown rice flour
• Pepper to taste
• 4-8 Tbsp grape seed oil (if frying)
• Salt to taste
• Garlic Cream Sauce for serving (recipe below)
• Organic unsweetened apple sauce for serving

Directions:

1. Roll grated potatoes and onion in a tea towel and wring out as much liquid as possible.
2. Mix the potatoes and onion with the eggs, flour, and pepper in a big bowl.
3. To fry:
   1. Place 2 Tbsp oil in a large frying pan and heat to medium-high heat.
   2. Once the oil is hot, add ¼ cup scoops of the potato mixture to the frying pan in batches, pressing down with a spatula to flatten.
   3. Cook each side for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
   4. Transfer cooked latkes to paper towels to drain the oil and sprinkle with salt.  Add additional oil to the frying pan as required.
4. To bake:
   1. Pre-heat the oven to 400F and line two large baking pans with parchment paper.
   2. Add salt to the gluten free latkes mixture to taste.
   3. Form 1/4 cup scoops of the mixture into round disks and place on the baking pan, flattening with the back of the spatula.
   4. Cook for 8 minutes, flip, rotate racks and cook an additional 8 minutes until golden brown.
5. Serve hot with a dollop of garlic cream sauce and apple sauce. If you are not serving immediately, preheat the oven to 250F and place the cooked latkes on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet to keep warm in the oven.

Dairy Free Garlic Cream Sauce

Inactive prep time: 30 minutes | Prep time: 5 minutes | Serving size: 1.5 cups

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup cashews
• 3/4 cup water
• 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 garlic clove
• 1/4 tsp dijon mustard
• Salt to taste

Directions:

1. Soak cashews in water for 30 minutes to overnight.
2. Rinse the cashews and place in a food processor with the water, apple cider vinegar, garlic, mustard, and salt. Process until silky smooth.

Happy Happy Hanukkah! If you still have room for dessert check out my recipe for Spelt Sugar Cookies coming next week!

What is your favorite Hanukkah recipe? Feel free to share the recipe in the comments section!