Potato latkes may be the best known variety of this crispy staple of Hanukkah meals, but don’t feel you need to limit yourself to them.
Though potatoes have their own symbolism in this Jewish holiday, it is the oil used in the frying that is particularly significant; it symbolizes the long-lasting oil burned in the temple lamps in the story of Hanukkah. And that is why there are so many latke variations, including sweet potato, onion and carrot.
Since the first day of Hanukkah falls on Thanksgiving this year, we decided to draw on a staple of that all-American holiday to make a delicious variation — pumpkin latkes. We top ours with a cranberry-spiked sour cream, but applesauce would be just as delicious.
PUMPKIN LATKES WITH SPICED CRANBERRY SOUR CREAM
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Makes 10 servings
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup finely chopped dried cranberries
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
Vegetable oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 small sugar pumpkin, peeled, seeded and shredded (about 3 cups)
2 eggs
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Toasted pecans, to garnish
Nutrition information per serving: 140 calories; 80 calories from fat (57 percent of total calories); 9 g fat (3.5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 50 mg cholesterol; 12 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 7 g sugar; 3 g protein; 220 mg sodium.
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