Sponsored Post: Sweet Potato Latkes and a Cuisinart Food Processor Giveaway!
Note from C.M. and L.K.: This post was originally created two years ago. The latkes are still delicious! The contest, unfortunately, is closed. But latkes!
Latkes are one of my most favorite potato dishes. (Yes, I love them more than french fries.) I’ve also been making them for longer than I can remember. Ok, I remember. It was college. Yup, you heard that correctly. I actually cooked in college. Don’t get me wrong. I ordered lots of greasy, let-the-freshman-15-call my-hips-home food at 3 am too but I also had a nice, Jewish boyfriend who loved to cook. So whenever we wanted to eat like civilized people (rather than scarfing down potato chips and then heading to the bar), we’d make dinner together and the latkes were always my job. I can still remember my boyfriend’s sweet Bubbie, as she stood in her cramped and tchotchkes-loving kitchen in Boca Raton, Florida, stringing her pearls of wisdom (Always wring out the water, honey!) about the traditional Jewish dish eaten around the hanukkah festival.
In my college days, the recipe I used was about as standard as you could get–white potato, flour, egg and some seasoning. However, over the years, I’ve taken it into a few different directions. After a particularly nauseating bender with mashed potatoes in my early twenties, I switched to sweet potato. Then, years later when I had my daughter, I added carrot for an even more potent dose of vitamins. I’m not sure if these latkes are any better than the original white potato gems, but I know I love their delicate sweetness.
However, the way I prepare the latkes has definitely improved over the years. In college, I’d grate the potatoes using a box grater until I’d made my way through a few cocktails (three vodka and sodas to be exact). Today I have the time-saving blessing of a slicing disk in my Cuisinart Food Processor . The smart little gadget has two sides for fine or medium shredding and makes the prep work nearly non existent. This batch was made using the medium side of the disk and the whole lot was done in barely the time it would take to mix one drink let alone mix and throw back three. Nowadays, anything that saves me that much time is what I consider civilized. Oh, how life has changed…. Tell us about your favourite holiday side dish in the Comments section below and you could win this Cuisinart Food Processor!
photos by Maya Visnyei
Sweet Potato and Carrot Latkes
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled, shredded and squeezed of all their liquid
2 large carrots, peeled and shredded and squeezed of all their liquid
1 scallion, finely chopped
3 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup spelt flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup grapeseed oil, about
Serve with applesauce and chive sour cream
Peel and chop your potatoes and carrots. Once you have everything shredded, squeeze any liquid from them.
Heat oil in a deep 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium high heat until hot. Working in batches, spoon about 1/8 cup of potato mixture into pan and flatten with a slotted spatula. Reduce heat and cook until golden brown, about 1 1/2 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side. Remove latkes from pan and place on a paper towel to drain.
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We're Ceri and Laura, a couple of magazine-editors-turned-food-bloggers. Also, we're mothers obsessed with delicious, healthy, family food. We're constantly thinking of ways to make your time (and our own!) in the kitchen easier and more productive, but still nostalgic for the days when dinner was cereal eaten over the kitchen sink.
70 Comments
Sara Bradford
December 06, 07:30Nutritious Holiday Servings this year include: easy homemade Nutty Crackers, with Roasted Red Pepper Dip, Spicy Pumpkin Bean Dip (made in food processor – lol), Nutty Sunflower Dip, Homemade Lemon Yogurt Cheese, easy hand-made Coconut Salted Raw Chocolates and the best thing…Bacon Wrapped Heavenly Dates – ha ha.
Recipes??
Robyn Sheldrake
December 06, 08:45Hi!
In many of my side dishes I too like to grate in carrot – my 2 year old is a big fan of yummy mashed potatoes (or sweet potatoes)! But I find if I grate the carrot on a larger (easier) grate, my boys just pick the carrot bites out. So I’ve resorted to grating the carrot with a finer grater, however, it takes a lot longer and I need to ensure the parts of my fingers that I grate off don’t end up in our food! I know – gross!!! Alas, the things we do for our children 🙂
Thanks for all the “grate” recipes! I’m excited to try your Better than classic Tuna melt recipe! My 4 year old loves Tuna Melts so this will be a good recipe to spice it up a bit!
Tracy
December 06, 09:11I like to serve a roasted veggie dish that includes cauliflower and brussel sprouts, they get an amazing flavour when roasted with olive oil, garlic and rosemary, salt and pepper. My daughter will not eat the sprouts any other way. This can be made ahead of time and reheated.
Lynne
December 06, 09:49I make healthy twists on traditions for my holiday sides: mashed root veggies (sweet potato, white potato, carrot and parsnip steamed and mashed with chicken stock and some olive oil), roasted brussel sprouts and a green salad with a light vinaigrette. My husband is gluten-intolerant, so I make my stuffing with Bob Redmill’s cornbread mix – yum!
Nina S
December 06, 17:16I love a pan of roasted potatoes with lots of olive oil and a few whole cloves of garlic thrown in. Yum!
karen
December 06, 17:22To me latkes are not a side dish; they are a meal. My favorite holiday side dish is bourbon sweet potatoes I make for Thanksgiving.
karenreichmann@hotmail.com
Burcu
December 06, 20:09Sweet potato fries yum!
Johnny
December 06, 21:26These are really fantastic, think I will make them around the Holidays.
Cathy Richards
December 06, 22:35It’s a tie. I have two favourite holiday side dishes:
1) Sweet Potatoes glazed with melted butter and brown sugar; and
2) Gotta have coleslaw with my Turkey and Ham. This would be so quick and easy to make with a Cuisinart Food Processor.
Lisa Marshall
December 07, 09:37My favourite side dish for the holidays is Carrot Fries. I look forward to these all year. However, I might try the Sweet Potato Latkes – it might be my new favorite.
Ceri Marsh
December 07, 10:02Carrot fries?! Okay, I have to know how to make those? Do you bake them? All of these sides sound amazing – keep them coming!
Heather
December 07, 10:10Anything involving brussels sprouts — the forgotten vegetable!
Brooke
December 07, 11:39My boyfriend’s mom makes great mashed sweet potatoes and serves them with a brown sugar/butter sauce. They’re fantastic!
Maureen
December 07, 11:54Our family favorite side dish is creamed spinach and then also a warm artichoke dish. But the kids go for the mashed potatoes with garlic and butter.
krista maksymchuk
December 07, 12:03Sea foam salad is one of my favorite holiday foods.
Virginia Buck
December 07, 12:23I have a few favorite sides and its always a dilemma which to serve with Christmas dinner. Always coleslaw with both red and green cabbage. The Cuisinart food processor would sure be a big help with that. Roasted broccoli and cauliflower, roasted brusssel sprouts. I could go on and on.
JM
December 07, 19:415 bean salad
Ginger Leah Gervais
December 08, 02:59Always stuffing ;)..and cabbage rolls!!
Amanda
December 08, 11:40mmm a sweet potato souffle is my absolute favourite!
Tanya C
December 08, 12:11My fav side dish is my mom’s coleslaw. We usually only get it at Christmas and I just cannot make my own taste like hers. IT’s the best!
Corry VanHooft
December 09, 08:54tender cooked Brussels sprouts with a touch of butter and a sprinkle of nutmeg( don’t over cook Brussels sprout)
Elaan
December 09, 22:51Coleslaw is the best, and also my Dad makes an amazing turnip dish that somehow turns turnips into deliciousness!
Diana
December 10, 07:31my favorites is a medley of root vegetables roasted with olive oil and fresh taragon. Easy and delicouse!
malerie c
December 10, 08:54I really like my aunts sweet potato casserole, it has lots of marshmallows!
Sylvia
December 10, 12:48Brussel sprouts tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper and put in the oven for 35 minutes at 400 degrees have become quite popular in our family.
Sylvia S
December 10, 12:58Turkey stuffing is my favourite side dish during the holidays. It is a recipe handed down through generations and reminds me of past holiday celebrations with my family growing up in Montreal.
Karen
December 10, 12:58It’s a toss up. I love roasting brussels sprouts with bacon or mushrooms, but I also love good ol’ creamy scalloped potatoes
SUMMER PLEWES
December 10, 14:49fave holiday side dish is sweet potatoes with brown sugar baked in a casserole dish. Yumz. But I also love asparagus pan fried with garlic & parmesan cheese and butter on top .
Nicole
December 10, 15:08In my family of origin, favourite dish is candied sweet potatoes.
In my new family it’s actually brussels sprouts (sautéed with bacon, lemon and parmesan).
Vanessa
December 10, 15:37I make a decadent twice baked potato casserole, where you bake the potatoes first in the oven and then mash them with butter, cream, salt, cayenne, Parmesan, and fold in bacon pieces, green onion, and then top it with Gruyere, and bake again. You can really only have that at Christmas.
Emily
December 10, 17:43My fav holiday side is roasted brussell sprouts. Toss with minced bacon before roasting for the best flavor!
Kimberley Bailey
December 11, 09:15carrots, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli with a cheese sauce bake! So yummy I am drooling now!!
manda
December 11, 10:09I like cranberry salad.
Terry Mac
December 11, 15:17Our favorite holiday side dish is candied yams! Love the idea of being able to make a pumpkin spicy bean dip; or grating up sweet potatoes for casseroles, latkes, soups,etc…..with this food processor the list can go on and on!
Kailyn G
December 11, 22:29I love some chunky garlic smashed potatoes with shaved parmesan cheese.
Sand
December 12, 04:26Our favorite side dish in my family is gnocchi – unorthodox but we are carb-loving Italians.
Sarah Snow
December 13, 23:06Hashbrowns for sure!
Fran Schwitek
December 14, 19:47Can’t wait to try these latkes!
Sylvia
December 16, 17:52It would have to be mashed potatoes and gravy!
ginette4
December 16, 20:29My favourite holiday side dish is the gravy that goes with the mashed potatoes, lots and lots
Roman Pejko
December 17, 23:25Coleslaw plain and simple makes a great meal and is easy to prepare.
Karen Morine
December 19, 06:30I would agree with coleslaw with a light dressing
Heather S
December 28, 12:12My favorite holiday side dish is frozen fruit salad! My grandmothers recipe…yum!
claire
January 05, 08:37I’d have to say, my favourite side dish would be turnip puff…turnip, eggs, and some other magical ingredients my mother still refuses to share with me.
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Smitha
October 22, 20:19My favourite holiday dish is sweetpotato latke and pumpkin soup
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October 23, 00:30[…] Whether you’re celebrating Thanksgivukkah or not, these crispy sweet potato cakes are the perfect appetizer. Recipe here. […]
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October 23, 00:34[…] Whether you're celebrating Thanksgivukkah or not, these crispy sweet potato cakes are the perfect appetizer. Recipe here. […]
stephen thomas
October 24, 09:19my favorite dish to make for the holidays is green bean casserole from scratch. no canned anything and no preservatives! yumm-o!
Laura Keogh
October 27, 22:12Sounds super yummy.
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November 19, 12:40[…] via Sweet Potato Chronicles […]
Olivia
November 28, 08:26Yorkshire pudding is a must during the holidays! It’s delicious with Turkey, lots of gravy and cranberry sauce.
Ari
November 28, 08:27Alton Brown’s garlic mashed potatoes. So decadent but oh so good! We make them every Thanksgiving. 🙂 Lovely post and thank you for the giveaway!
Melissa B
November 28, 09:35Brussels sprouts with pecans.
Jazzmin Kaita
November 28, 12:38My favorite holiday side dish is homemade mashed sweet potatoes!
Frances
November 28, 13:31Brussel Sprouts with Bacon. Mmmm.
Michelle Levine
November 28, 20:19My kids and I love latkes! They come into the kitchen and eat them right as they’re coming out of the pan. I can’t keep up 🙂
Becca F
November 29, 05:44I’m a big fan of mashed potatoes!
Crystal D.
November 29, 10:09My new favorite holiday side dish since having to go gluten-free is a grain-free dressing. Roasted parsnips, cauliflower, carrots, and onions, sautéed baby bella mushrooms and garlic, pulsed a few times in the food processor with fresh sage, thyme, salt and pepper. I didn’t even miss the bread!
Margot C
November 29, 20:45I like making a version of that green bean casserole thing with my own sauce base and mushrooms then topped with leeks that I frizzle.
Jen C
December 01, 15:09My favourite holiday side is my mom’s squash apple bake. It disappeared from the table when my brothers and I grew up, but has reappeared as a sure fire hit with my toddler daughter!
Susan G
December 03, 22:07Potatoes every way,, but mashed wins every time.
Meredith
December 04, 13:44I love sour cream to go with my latkes.
Julie
December 04, 18:29I love my mom’s stuffing
thanks for the giveaway
Carolsue
December 04, 22:49My favorite side dishes are garlic mashed potatoes and sausage stuffing!
Digicats {at} Sbcglobal {dot} Net
Stefanie Gladden
December 04, 23:56my favorite holiday side dish is my mom’s macaroni and cheese!! it’s so cheesy and delicious, I can’t wait for her to make it this year!
Barbara Hutchins
December 09, 14:06My favorite holiday side dish is scalloped oysters. A family tradition when I was growing up in rural Pennsylvania meant mom purchased a gallon of Chesapeake Bay oysters and we ate oysters morning, noon, and night until they were gone.
Christmas morning is oyster stew as well. My children love the tradition as well and also my husband. Anyone staying with us who does not imbibe is told “that is fine, more for us!”
Michal
November 15, 05:50my favorite holiday side dish is my Mom’s Thanksgiving Stuffing. She has made a fantastic version each year. Her stuffing has varying ingredients, but usually with apples, pecans, onions, celery, sometimes sausage, sometimes mushrooms, and lots of herbs. I love it so much that I usually get her to make more during the week after Thanksgiving. Or I ask her to tell me how she did it so I can cook it for her. This year I have found a stuffing stuffed peppers recipe that I am especially looking forward to. Have a nice day!!
Ceri
November 20, 18:32Your Mom’s stuffing sounds amazing! To me, stuffing is the best part of that meal. Good luck with those peppers!
Lorraine
December 06, 00:13My favourite side dish is roasted root veggies done at the same time as the turkey! Easy-peasy! Carrots, parsnips, turnips, candy cane and golden beets tossed with fresh rosemary and olive oil!