The custom of eating foods fried in oil commemorates the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days in the Temple's candelabra.
Every Jewish holiday seems to have a food associated with it, and Hanukkah is no exception. To commemorate the miracle of the oil burning for eight days in the Temple's candelabra, many Jews eat foods fried in oil on Hanukkah. The most famous of these foods are latkes, deep-fried potato pancakes. Although these treats are high in fat, you can use some of the variations listed in order to increase their health value.
Instructions
1. Peel the onion and shred or grate it in the food processor. (You can also complete this step by hand.)
2. Peel the potatoes and shred or grate them in the food processor. You may need to cut them into smaller chunks so they will fit into the processor.
3. Empty the contents of the food processor into a large bowl and carefully drain out as much liquid as possible. Then press paper towels into the mixture to drain out even more liquid.
4. Crack the egg and mix it into the latke batter. Add the salt and pepper and mix well.
5. Prepare a pile of several paper towels on a flat surface near the frying area.
6. Heat up about a cup of oil on the griddle or frying pan over a high flame. The surface should be hot enough that a drop of water sprinkled on it immediately begins to sizzle.
7. Drop spoonfuls of latke batter onto the frying pan or griddle, making sure they do not run into each other. Leave them there for at least a minute before checking on them.
8. Check on the latkes by carefully lifting up one side of them with the tip of a spatula and peeking underneath. If the bottom is dark brown, flip the latke over and flatten it with the bottom of the spatula.
9. Fry until both sides of the latkes are dark brown and the edges are crispy. Then use a spatula to remove the latkes from the pan and place them on the paper towel layers. Layer two more paper towels on top and press down gently to squeeze out the excess oil.
Tags: food processor, paper towels, dark brown, days Temple, days Temple candelabra
