Air-Fried Latkes: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Latkes are a delicious treat, especially during Hanukkah. They are traditionally fried in oil, but you can also make them in an air fryer. This method yields a crispy latke that can be served as an appetiser or a dinner side. Making latkes in an air fryer is super simple and easy to do. All you need are some basic ingredients, such as potatoes, onions, eggs, and matzo meal. The key to crispy latkes is to remove as much moisture from the potatoes as possible. You can do this by grating the potatoes and then placing them in a kitchen towel and squeezing out the excess moisture. You can also add some oil to the latkes to help them crisp up. Once you have your mixture, simply drop dollops of it into your preheated air fryer and flatten them into patties. Spray with cooking spray and cook until golden brown!

Grate and prep the potatoes and onions

Grating the potatoes and onions is the first step in making latkes in an air fryer. You'll want to use the large holes of a box grater for this. The potatoes should be peeled first, and you can use Russet potatoes or Yukon Gold. If you're short on time, you can use a food processor with a grating attachment to speed up the process.

Once you've grated the potatoes and onions, it's important to remove as much moisture as possible. Place the mixture onto a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth, pull up the sides to form a bundle, and squeeze out the excess moisture. You can also use a colander or a salad spinner to help with this step. Getting rid of the moisture will ensure that your latkes are crispy and not soggy.

After the potatoes and onions are grated and dried, you can place them in a large bowl and proceed to the next step of making your latkes—adding the remaining ingredients and mixing everything together.

Make the latke mixture

To make the latke mixture, start by grating the potatoes and onion. Use the large holes of a box grater to grate them. You can also use a food processor with a grating attachment if you have one. Place the grated potatoes and onion in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth. Pull up the sides of the towel or cloth to form a bundle, and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. Discarding the liquid is important to ensure your latkes are crispy and not soggy.

Next, transfer the dried potato and onion mixture to a large bowl. Add your desired amount of eggs, panko or matzo meal, salt, and pepper. You can also add some chopped fresh chives to the mixture for extra flavour. Stir the mixture well to combine all the ingredients.

If you're using matzo meal, let the mixture sit for about 15 minutes to allow the matzo to hydrate. This step isn't necessary if you're using panko crumbs.

Fry the latkes

Now it's time to fry the latkes! Preheat your air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F. Grease the air fryer racks or basket with cooking spray.

Drop the potato mixture in 2-3 tablespoon dollops into the air fryer, making sure to leave space between each latke. Flatten the tops of the dollops to make a patty shape. Spray the tops of the latkes with cooking spray.

Cook the latkes in the air fryer for 8 minutes, then flip them over and grease the other side with cooking spray. Continue cooking for another 5-7 minutes, or until the latkes are golden brown and crisp.

Your latkes are now ready to serve! Top them with sour cream, applesauce, chives, or any other toppings of your choice. Enjoy!

Flip and finish cooking

Once you've prepared your latke mixture and greased your air fryer racks or basket with cooking spray, it's time to start cooking! Drop the mixture in 2-3 tablespoon dollops, flattening the tops to make a patty. Be sure not to crowd the air fryer—arrange the latkes in a single layer and cook them in batches. Spray the tops with cooking spray.

Cook the latkes in the air fryer for 8 minutes. Then, it's time to flip and finish cooking. After the first 8 minutes, flip the latkes over and spray again with cooking spray. Finish air-frying for about 5 more minutes, or until the latkes are crispy and golden brown all over.

Your latkes are now ready to serve! Serve them warm with toppings such as sour cream, applesauce, chives, or any other toppings of your choice.

Serve with toppings

Once your latkes are cooked, it's time to serve them with your choice of toppings. Sour cream and applesauce are the classic latke toppings, but there are many other ways to top a latke. Try a slice of smoked salmon, or a small scoop of salmon roe; go with caviar if you're feeling fancy. You can also top latkes with eggs, brisket, tomatoes, herbs or microgreens. If you're a cheese lover, add some shredded cheddar, pepper jack, or Parmesan to the batter, or sprinkle some on top of the hot latkes and let it melt.

If you're making a latke grazing platter, include toppings like smoked salmon, pickles, olives, cheeses, and greens such as arugula, as well as the classics: sour cream, applesauce, and chives.

Frequently asked questions