Sweet Potato Latkes with Pear Sauce

I've been a professional photographer for three+ years, mostly for editorial, so this whole food blogging thing is a little new to me.  I'm no food stylist, so don't judge too harshly on this one. I knew that as soon as I made and taste tested these there was no chance in saving one to recreate a pretty shot in the morning. So I put it on a plate, plopped down the accompaniments, held it up to the not so amazing fluorescent kitchen light and snapped a photo, just so I could share it with you. So nice of me, right? See that blue thing in the background? Totally a towel that I put on the bar to dry dishes b/c our dishwasher is on the fritz. Sexy.

I told my mom about my idea for these last night and she said, "Hmm. You really have to like sweet potatoes, I guess." My mom is famous for her salmon patties so she considers herself the potato pancake authority of the world. Naturally, I took that as a challenge.

I am fantasizing about having a potato pancake throwdown with her while I'm home for Christmas. In my fantasy I win. Then Bobby Flay tells me how amazing I am. I tell him that I  still find him creepy for sleeping with Ari Gold's wife on Entourage. Then it gets awkward.

I'll stop talking.

The pear sauce has a light bay leaf flavor. I got the idea for the flavor combo from Kitchen Mage when I was poaching pears earlier this year.

These are also completely vegan, assuming you don't use the sour cream.

Sweet  Potato Latkes
makes 12 2 inch latkes


4 cups of shredded & peeled sweet potato
1 shredded white onion
1/4 cup of yellow corn meal
1/4 cup of all purpose flour
1 tsp kosher salt
oil for frying (I used canola)

In a medium mixing bowl,  mix everything together. It's that simple. I know some of you are probably questioning the lack of egg, but the corn meal & flour does a nice job of keeping things relatively together.

heat oil for frying, pick up a small handfull of mixture and squeeze out with your hands. Shape into a patty and fry. Cook for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden brown. Be careful to flip these only once, otherwise they end up falling apart.

Serve with the sauce below or sour cream. Yum!


Pear Sauce
makes enough sauce for all of those latkes


8 pears, peeled, and cut lengthwise into 1/8 inch pieces
8 bay leaves
4 cups of water
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 cup of sugar

Boil water & 1/4 cup of sugar, add pears and bay leaves. Cover with a coffee filter and simmer on medium for 15-20 minutes, or until pears are soft. Remove filter, bay leaves and water. Add sugar and mash pears with a potato masher.

I prefer to let it cool before putting it on the latke, but if you like it warm-by all means.


I hope you enjoy these, and have a Happy Hanukkah! {on Tuesday Night}