Turkey Bacon Potato Latkes

Turkey Bacon Potato Latkes

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Sometimes, it’s fun to change up traditional foods a little. Turkey Bacon Potato Latkes are a smoky savoury version of our traditional latkes. You’ve still got the potatoes and oil; but with a little something extra.

I chose kosher turkey bacon because it’s less fatty and less rich than its kosher beef bacon counterpart. And of course, for my family, which consists of those who eat everything, vegetarians, and I’m feeling “picky” today eaters, I also make a vegan bacon counterpart from tempeh bacon.  Serve these Turkey Bacon Potato Latkes with onion marmalade and/or cranberry sauce and you have delicious hors d’oeuvres or a side dish for Chanukah and all year round.

Hint: If you are preparing both vegan and turkey bacon at the same time- fry the vegan bacon first so you don’t have to clean the pan in between the vegan and turkey bacon frying.

Prep time: 30 minutes

Turkey Bacon Potato Latkes

By Gloria Kobrin Published: December 2, 2015

  • Yield:

  • 42

Ingredients

  • 1 5-7 oz kosher turkey bacon/vegan tempeh/soy bacon yields about 2 cups chopped
  • 2-3 cups vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 large onion (about 1 cup) peeled, cored and minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt (use 1 3/4 teaspoons salt for vegan bacon)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 3 pounds russet potatoes peeled and left in a bowl of cold water
  • 4 tablespoons potato starch

Equipment

  • 1 electric food processor steel knife and shredder needed
  • 1 large colander
  • 1 large mixing bowl
  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 long handled wooden spoon
  • 1 slotted spatula
  • 2 large cookie sheets and racks racks placed on waxed paper or parchment for drainage

Directions

  1. Heat skillet over medium flame. Add two or three strips of vegan bacon to hot pan and fry until the sides turn brown. Carefully, flip the strips often until crisp and brown. Place on racks to drain. Repeat process until all the bacon is fried. When it has drained and cooled, chop strips coarsely and set aside.
  2. Fry, drain and chop turkey bacon the same way.
  3. Beat eggs in mixing bowl. Add onion, salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
  4. Grate the potatoes by hand if you like; but I am a devotée of shredding them in the processor. 1-2-3 and you're done. Place potatoes in a colander and gently press some of the water out of them. Add potatoes and chopped turkey bacon (or vegan bacon) to egg mixture. Sprinkle potato starch on top and mix well.
  5. Pour about 1/2 inch of oil into the skillet. If you still have turkey bacon oil in the pan , you can add to that. For your vegans, use another pan with fresh oil. Heat oil over medium flame until it is very hot. Carefully, drop rounded wooden spoonfulls of potato mixture into the hot oil. Flatten slightly with the back of the spoon. Fry latkes until the edges turn brown and then flip them to the other side and fry a few minutes longer.
  6. Remove cooked latkes from oil with slotted spatula and drain on racks on cookie sheets. Serve hot with onion marmalade or cranberry sauce. Enjoy!