Harissa Sweet Potato Latkes with Spiced Yogurt, Mint and Pomegranate {gluten-free}
A spicy-sweet take on Jewish potato pancakes, these are kissed with harissa, chickpea flour, and smoked paprika and topped with a zippy yogurt sauce and pomegranate arils for crunch and color.
Prep Time: 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time: 10 minutesminutes
Total: 30 minutesminutes
Servings: 12to 14 latkes, serving 3-4
Ingredients
1poundgarnet or jewel sweet potatoes (450 g) (about 2 medium sweet potatoes / 4 cups grated and lightly packed)
1/2cupfinely chopped red or yellow onion(75 g)
1/3cupchickpea flour, sifted if clumpy(40 g)
1tablespooncornstarch(8 g)
2large eggs
1tablespoonharissa(15 ml)
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
1teaspoonfine sea salt
½teaspoonfreshly ground pepper
~1/2 cup vegetable oil (such as grapeseed or avocado), for frying(120 ml)
Peel the sweet potatoes and grate them on the large holes of a box grater or with the grater attachment to a food processor. You should have about 4 cups. Place the grated sweet potato in a large bowl and add the onion, sifted chickpea flour, cornstarch, eggs, harissa, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well until combined (the harissa will want to clump, so make sure it gets evenly distributed throughout the batter).
Heat a film of oil in a wide skillet set over medium heat until it shimmers. Drop 1/4 cup scoops of batter into the hot oil, flattening slightly (a spring-loaded ice cream scoop works well). Fry until deeply golden on the first side, 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook on the second side until golden and cooked through, 2-3 more minutes. The heat should be low enough that the latkes cook through by the time they're golden on the outside. Remove the cakes to a cooling rack lined with paper towels; this will drain the cakes while helping them stay crisp. (If making these for a crowd, you can place the cooling racks on baking sheets and place in a 250ºF oven to keep warm.) Repeat with the remaining batter, adding oil to the pan as needed.
Place the latkes on plates and top with spoonfuls of yogurt sauce, a sprinkle of pomegranate arils and a few mint leaves. Serve immediately.
The latkes are best when fresh out of the pan, but they can be reheated in a hot skillet until crispy and heated through. Extras will keep, refrigerated airtight, for up to a day or two.
Notes
Harissa, a type of red chile paste, can be found in well-stocked grocers along with other Middle Eastern foods, and it makes a great addition to this tabbouleh, this roasted vegetable salad, and these squash cakes as well as stirred into scrambled eggs, spread on grilled cheese sandwiches, or swirled into soups. Since harissas vary in spiciness, taste yours before adding. For extra spicy latkes, add another tablespoon of harissa to the batter.Nutritional values are based on on of twelve latkes.