The perfect pairing for salty salmon and cooling créme frâiche
Delicious Chanukah, or any time of year, cocktail bites that are perfect for gluten free guests. Add half a teaspoon of black lumpfish for added luxury. These 'flatkes' - flat thin latkes - are just as scrumptious when topped with any number of meaty, parev or dairy options. Try thinly sliced rare roast beef with a smear of horseradish, ribbons of salt beef and mustard, pastrami and sauerkraut, chopped egg salad or piled with any number of shop bought dips or spreads.
INGREDIENTS: 500g floury baking potatoes
1 small onion
1-2 tbsp potato starch/flour
2 eggs, beaten
Salt and freshly milled black pepper
150g smoked salmon
Chives or dill
Sour cream, creme fraiche or parev alternative
Flavourless oil, for frying
METHOD:
Grate the onion and potato by hand or with a food processor and place in a sieve over a bowl to catch the drips. Sprinkle with salt. Use the back of a spoon to squeeze as much liquid out as possible and then tip the onion and potato mixture into a clean tea towel. Roll up the tea towel and twist the ends firmly to extract as much of the juice as possible over the bowl.
Pour away the liquid and you should find a layer of white potato starch at the bottom of the bowl add the potato mixture back into the bowl and mix gently, season then add 3/4 of the beaten egg and a tablespoon of the potato flour. Mix again. Allow the mixture to firm up for five minutes and check again.
If too wet add some more potato flour, and if too dry add the rest of the egg.
Heat about 2cm oil in a shallow frying pan on a medium heat until shimmering. Take a couple of teaspoons of mixture and shape into a small flat cake. Fry until golden, check the seasoning and adjust if required.
Fry the remaining mixture in batches. Serve at room temperature topped with sour cream, smoked salmon and some dill fronds or snipped chives.