Latkes taste like spicy potatoes, salty in a good way, with a hint of onion. It's just a nice fried, crispy soft potato with salt. This is the simple and traditional latke.

|January 27, 2023

TRY SPICY POTATO LATKES RECIPE

Crispy fried, hash brown Potato Latkes combined with creamy, spicy Jalapeño Dill Sauce are the perfect snack or side dish to enjoy through the spring and summer!

Extremely simple yet utterly satisfying, latkes are crispy, crunchy little delights of fried shredded spicy potato. And when these are served warm and topped with a cold and creamy sauce, they become irresistible for enjoying anytime as a yummy appetizer, snack, side dish, or main meal!

Latkes are an extremely versatile spring and summer dish filled with textural appeal. They are similar to spicy roast potatoes, spicy roasted sweet potatoes, or even spicy sweet potato fries in taste and flavor.

What are Latkes?

Latke (pronounced LOT-Keh, LOT-Kah, or LOT-kee) is a Jewish dish, and is the Yiddish word for pancake. On Hanukkah, it is traditional to serve latkes (most often made from potatoes) fried in oil to celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah, when the oil in the Temple menorah lasted for eight days instead of just one.

Jews usually eat foods that reflect the significance of a holiday — like Matzah on Passover and apples dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah, for instance — and Hanukkah is no exception. For at least a thousand years now, Jews have traditionally eaten oily foods like spicy sweet potatoes, spicy potato salad, and spicy mashed potatoes, apart from Latkes on Hanukkah.

Ingredients needed for spicy latkes

This spicy potato chip with Jalapeño Dill Sauce recipe combines crisp potato latkes with scallions (spring onions), and a cool creamy dipping sauce made with fresh spring dill.