Apple-potato latkes with cinnamon sour cream

Apple-potato latkes with cinnamon sour cream. [Photo/The New York Times]

Time:

6 tablespoons sour cream or Greek yogurt

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon maple syrup

2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled and cored

1 large russet potato, peeled

1 medium yellow onion, peeled

2/3 cup all-purpose flour

3 large eggs

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Olive oil, for frying.

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream or yogurt, cinnamon and syrup. Cover and chill until ready to use.

2. Coarsely grate the apples, potato and onion. Put the mixture in a clean dish towel and squeeze to wring out as much liquid as possible. For the crispiest pancakes, you want the least moisture.

3. Working quickly, put the mixture in a large bowl, add the flour, eggs, salt, baking powder and pepper, and mix until the flour is absorbed.

4. In a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat, pour in about 1/4 inch of oil. Once the oil is hot (a drop of batter placed in the pan should sizzle), drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the pan, cooking 3 to 4 latkes at a time. Use a spatula to flatten the scoops into disks. When the edges of the latkes are brown and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes, flip them. Cook until the second side is deeply browned, another 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the latkes to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining batter. Serve with dollops of the cinnamon sour cream on top.

Yield: about 1 1/2 dozen latkes.