• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Well Vegan
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Gluten-free Recipes
    • Budget Vegan
  • Our Cookbook
  • Vegan Starter Guide
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Gluten-free Recipes
    • Budget Vegan
  • Our Cookbook
  • Vegan Starter Guide
  • About
×

Potato Latkes (Vegan)

Dec 1, 2020 · by Kate Kasbee · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment · Modified: Dec 12, 2020

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

As the holidays approach, it’s becoming more and more clear that Hanukkah will probably look quite a bit different this year. While I’m not Jewish, I enjoy learning about other religions and cultures through travel and food. Since travel isn’t possible this year, I’ve made more of an effort to explore and understand where traditional dishes come from through cooking.

Prior to making this recipe for vegan potato latkes, my latke knowledge was limited. I knew that latkes were made from potatoes and that they are traditionally enjoyed during Hanukkah. As with all recipes with a rich history, especially those rooted in religion, there was so much more to dig into.

vegan potato latkes this recipe

The Hebrew word for latkes is levivot, which is what latkes are called in Israel. Each family has its own latke recipe that is passed from generation to generation, but nearly every iteration is made with the same ingredients: potato, onion, egg, and matzo meal or breadcrumbs.

Like other traditional foods enjoyed around Hanukkah, latkes are fried in oil. Latkes are fried in oil to pay homage to the miracle of Hanukkah, when a small portion of oil kept the menorah in the Jewish temple lit for eight days instead of one (you can read more about this here.)

You’ll want to choose an oil with a high smoke point, such as canola oil, vegetable oil, or grapeseed oil, otherwise your latkes will burn.

vegan potato latkes

For the crispiest latkes, choose a potato that is on the dry, mealy side. I found russet potatoes to be perfect. The potato will oxidize and change color as soon as it’s shredded, but this won’t affect the flavor.

Place the shredded potato and onion in a clean tea towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible.

vegan potato latkes

Season the potato and onion with kosher salt and black pepper and stir in some matzo meal to help the latkes bind together. In place of an egg, I used a flax egg, which is simple to make by combining ground flaxseed with water.

vegan potato latkes

When you’re ready to cook your latkes, use enough oil to coat the bottom of your skillet, but not so much that the latkes are swimming. You’ll need to add more oil to the skillet in between each batch as the latkes absorb it.

When they’re deeply golden brown and crisp on both sides, place the latkes on a wire cooling rack to drain. Avoid draining the latkes on a paper towel, which can prevent them from staying crisp.

vegan potato latkes

Depending on how much potato mixture you use for each latke, you can make these vegan potato latkes very thin and crisp or crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Serve with vegan sour cream or applesauce for dipping. I think both are delicious!

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
vegan potato latkes

Potato Latkes (Vegan)

  • Author: Kate Kasbee
  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Cook Time: 25 mins
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings 1x
  • Category: dinner
  • Method: stovetop
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

These vegan Potato Latkes were inspired by traditional latkes enjoyed during Hanukkah. They're perfectly crisp on the outside and soft inside! 


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1½ tablespoons ground flaxseed (also called flaxseed meal) 
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1½ pounds russet potatoes
  • ½ yellow onion
  • ¼ cup matzo meal
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Several twists of black pepper
  • Canola, vegetable, or grapeseed oil, for frying 
  • Green onion, finely chopped, for serving
  • Vegan sour cream and/or applesauce, for serving

Instructions

  1. Combine the ground flaxseed and water in a small bowl to create a flax egg. Set aside.
  2. Preheat your oven to 325F degrees and place a wire cooling rack on top of a baking sheet.
  3. Scrub the potatoes and cut them in half crosswise. Drape a tea towel over a mixing bowl. 
  4. Shred the potatoes on a box grater and transfer the shreds to the tea towel. Shred the onion and add it to the tea towel to join the shredded potato. 
  5. Lift up the ends of the tea towel and twist to squeeze as much liquid as possible from the shredded potato and onion (I extracted ½ cup of liquid). Pour off the liquid and transfer the potato and onion to the bowl.
  6. Add the matzo meal, kosher salt, and black pepper to the potato and onion and gently mix. Then add the flax egg and work it into the ingredients.
  7. Warm a cast iron skillet over medium heat. When hot, add enough oil to coat the bottom of the skillet.
  8. Scoop golf ball sized amounts (about 2 tablespoons) of the potato mixture into the skillet and press down with a spatula to flatten. With latkes this size, you should get about 16. For thinner, crispier potato latkes, use half the amount for each (you should get 30 to 32).
  9. Working in batches, cook the potato latkes for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until browned and crispy. Add more oil to the skillet between batches as needed. 
  10. Place the wire cooling rack/baking sheet in the oven. As you finish a round of potato latkes, transfer them to the cooling rack/baking sheet in a single layer.
  11. Top the potato latkes with finely chopped green onion and serve with vegan sour cream and/or applesauce.

Equipment

Image of matzo ball mix

matzo ball mix

Buy Now →
Image of cast iron skillet

cast iron skillet

Buy Now →
Image of mixing bowls

mixing bowls

Buy Now →

Notes

  • Reheat leftover potato latkes in a cast iron skillet until warm and crispy.
  • Serving size is four latkes.
  • Nutrition information does not include vegan sour cream or applesauce.

Keywords: vegan latke recipe, easy latke recipe

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @well_vegan on Instagram and hashtag it #wellvegan

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Get Our Cookbook

cookbook

IndieBound / Books-A-Million / Powells / Amazon

Get Kate's Cookbook

cookbook

IndieBound / Barnes and Noble / Powells / Amazon

About Well Vegan

katie and kate

Katie and Kate are two vegans maintaining a cross-country friendship swapping recipes and writing cookbooks. About Us...

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

OUR LATEST VEGAN TIPS & TRICKS

Get our free guide to Batch Cooking and the latest recipes, straight to your inbox!

Our Favorite Recipes

Charred Brussels Sprout Salad with Miso Mustard Dressing

Charred Brussels Sprout Salad with Miso Mustard Dressing

chocolate chip cookies

The New York Times’ (Vegan) Chocolate Chip Cookies

cauliflower tikka masala tacos

Cauliflower Tikka Masala Tacos

tempeh breakfast hash

Savory Tempeh Breakfast Hash

Peach and Tomato Panzanella

Belgian sugar waffles

Liege Waffles (Belgian Sugar Waffles)

Carrot Cake Oatmeal [Instant Pot]

Carrot Cake Oatmeal (Instant Pot and Gluten-free)

Coconut Crusted Tofu with Sweet Chili Sauce

Coconut Crusted Tofu with Sweet Chili Sauce

More Recipes

Footer


Stay up-to-date with Well Vegan

Recipes

  • All Recipes
  • Gluten-free
  • Breakfast
  • Soy-free
  • Smoothies
  • Salads
  • Snacks
  • Desserts
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

More

  • The Frugal Vegan Cookbook
  • Vegan Meal Plan
  • Vegan Starter Guide
  • Sample Vegan Meal Plan
  • FAQ
  • Blog
  • About

Copyright © 2022 Well Vegan · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Affiliate terms · Legal