For this recipe, we’ll be swapping sweet potatoes for regular potatoes, which are traditionally used. If you’re tight on time, bring some good applesauce from home, but if you have an older/more confident bunch, make the recipe below. Students can each have a chunk of apple to peel and chop, then put everything in the sauce pot to cook. While the applesauce is cooking down, make the latkes. Everyone can take turns grating the sweet potatoes and onion, just make sure you keep a vigilant eye, since it’s easy to go too far and shred a finger! Definitely refresh everyone on safe techniques for using the box graters. Press the water out, mix the ingredients together in a big bowl (reward well-behaved students by letting them crack the eggs), and start frying up the latkes. Students can clean up while the educator and/or assistant fries up the fritters, although those who are older/more confident can try flipping some with supervision. Serve with applesauce and enjoy! 

Sweet Potato Latkes with Homemade Applesauce

Serves 6

Applesauce

4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and quartered

1 cup water

3 tablespoons brown sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt

 

Add all applesauce ingredients to a sauce pot set over medium-high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Stir, reduce heat to medium and simmer 20 minutes, covered, mixing every so often to help cooking.

 

Latkes

2 pounds sweet potatoes

½ yellow onion

2 eggs

3 tablespoons whole wheat flour

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon coarse salt

olive oil for cooking

 

Grate sweet potatoes and onion using the largest setting on a box grater. Spread potatoes and onions on a paper towel, cover with more paper towels and press to remove as much water as possible, set aside.

 

Whisk together egg, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in potatoes and onions, mixing to combine. Warm about ¼-inch of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place a scoop of potato mixture into the pan and flatten with a spatula. Fry until darkly golden, about 6 minutes, flip and fry another 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer to plate lined with paper towels and continue. Serve with applesauce.