Quick Potato Latkes and Applesauce

These are the easiest Hanukkah potato latkes with apple sauce you'll ever make. The latkes of my childhood contained onion, but in this quick recipe I omit that ingredient, which makes for an *every person* pleaser. The whipped egg white creates an amazingly light and tender inside, without the aftertaste of baking powder. And of course there's nothing like naturally tart and sweet, fresh apple sauce. By not using kitchen machines, clean up is a breeze.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 2

Ingredients

• 2  large baking potatoes
• 1  egg white
• 1⁄4 teaspoon kosher salt
•  pepper (optional)
• 3 -4  tablespoons  oil (for frying)
• 2  granny smith apples
• 1⁄4 cup water
•  lemon peel (optional)
•  cinnamon stick (optional)
• 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream or 1 (8 ounce) container plain yogurt

Directions

1. Utensils: 1 (or 2) iron skillet(s), grater, colander, spatula, table or soup spoon, oven proof dish (optional), 1 qt lidded pot, wooden spoon, paper towels.
2. Preheat iron skillet on low setting with 3 table spoons of oil.
3. Applesauce.
4. Wash, peel and cut apples, discarding core and seeds.
5. Place in 1 quart pot.
6. Add 1/4 cup water.
7. Add lemon peel and cinnamon stick (both optional).
8. Bring to boil, then turn down heat to lowest setting.
9. Place lid on pot and let fruit stew for 10 minutes.
10. Check if pieces are soft, if not, stew 5 more minutes.
11. Turn of heat, leave standing with lid on pot until ready to eat.
12. Latkes.
13. Peel and rinse, then shred potatoes on coarse grater (rinse grater right away, that saves trouble later).
14. Place grated potatoes in colander and push down to help drain excess liquid.
15. Turn up the heat under iron skillet, and keep an eye on the oil in the pan. The moment smoke forms, turn the heat down a notch or two.
16. Whip egg white with 1/4 teaspoon of alt in 2 qt bowl until peaks form.
17. Loosen grated potatoes and add to egg white.
18. Spoon egg white through grated potatoes.
19. Drop a bit of shredded potato in the oil. If it sizzles, continue, otherwise turn the heat up a notch. When bit of potato turns brown, oil is hot enough.
20. Carefully drop table spoons full of potato and egg white mixture in the hot oil, patting the mount down a bit with back of spoon or (metal) spatula.
21. Cook for 30 seconds, or until edges of latkes turn golden brown.
22. Turn latkes and add remaining 1 tablespoon of oil, or more if necessary.
23. Latkes are ready when second side is golden brown.
24. Check for doneness, inside should be soft, while outside crisp.
25. Latkes may be served immediately or can be kept warm in preheated, and covered, ovenproof dish in 200ºF oven.
26. Serve each latke with a spoonful of apple sauce.
27. Top with dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt.
28. Top with sprinkle of cinnamon (omit when apple sauce was cooked with cinnamon stick).
29. Enjoy!