8 Best Side Dishes To Serve With Latkes (2024)

Latkes is the Yiddish word for delicious, pan-fried potato pancakes or fritters, traditional in Jewish cuisine and served in most homes for the Hanukkah celebrations.

Originally made from cheese, nowadays, they are commonly made from grated or pureed potatoes but are just as tasty and made from carrots and zucchini. I love combining the two textures to create a crispy outer casing with the pudding-like consistency of the pureed center.

If comfort food is what you want, latkes are the perfect treat, but pairing them with suitable dishes can elevate and transform these simple pancakes into mouth-watering meals.

Here are my top eight recipes for creative pairing ideas to serve with latkes from appetizers, toppings, dips, and main meals.

1. Sour Cream

Traditionally served as an appetizer, sour cream is one of the easiest condiments to serve with latkes. A dollop per latke is all you need to enjoy this treat.

Sour cream is relatively heavy and thick with a glossy sheen. The creamy texture and refreshing tanginess with a delicate tartness and a pleasant buttery aroma offset the fried taste of the latke, offering a savory latke treat.

Add your favorite topping – some love caviar – to make this special treat!

Although the recipe requires that the ingredients stand for 24 hours, it only takes 10 minutes to whip up homemade sour cream.

2. Apple Sauce

A traditional side dish, apple sauce offers a sweeter and lighter topping to the latkes than sour cream and adds depth to an otherwise reasonably plain but still oh-so-delicious dish.

Light and golden in color with a fresh stewed fruity aroma, the apple sauce texture can range from smooth to chunky, depending on your preference. I prefer the smoother consistency.

Making apple sauce is quick and easy. All you need is to peel and chop the apple, add the rest of the ingredients to a pot, and cook them for about 30 minutes to produce a batch of apple sauce just like Bubbe used to make!

3. Smoked Trout Pate

Smoked trout pate is easy to make and is a favorite side served with Latkes. The punchy flavors are simple, with a hint of complexity from the mix of cream cheese, mayonnaise, and sour cream that form the base of the pate.

Add scallions for extra zest and jalapenos, horseradish, and Tabasco for heat. Lemon juice cuts through the richness of the trout and adds a zing to the heavy flavors of the pate.

25 minutes is all it takes to whip up a batch of delicious pate to complement the crunchiness of the crispy fried latkes.

4. Smoked Salmon, Cream Cheese, And Chives

A bite-sized smoked salmon and cream cheese topped latke recipe is perfect for an elegant breakfast, an easy and impressive brunch, or an impromptu get-together!

Salmon has a rich, salty, smoky taste with a soft silky texture that is tender and delicious. Pair that with a dollop of cream cheese with a flavor of your choosing to add a hint of tartness and a rich creaminess to entice the taste buds, and finish off with a sprinkling of chives.

The flavors are explosive with savory, salty, and smoky profiles that blend and mix with a rich creaminess. This is truly a winning formula that is simple, quick, and sure to impress any guests.

5. Poached Eggs

A simple poached egg can transform any dish and is a favorite breakfast staple served with crispy latkes.

What could be better than tender poached egg whites and a creamy egg yolk to add a vibrant bright tanginess to your dish?

Replacing toast with crispy latkes and a perfectly runny poached egg elevates a morning breakfast. This dish is easy to make and should take around 15 minutes before you have a delicious breakfast.

6. Broccoli Cheddar And Beer Soup

Broccoli cheddar and beer soup with a perfect batch of latkes to soak up the juicy goodness is comfort food deluxe and a clever way to add veggies to your meal!

A rich, creamy broccoli soup smothered in cheese with dark malty beer is decadent and good for soul food. Soft-centered latkes with crispy shells make the perfect dipping partner for this hearty soup.

This one-pot soup is quick to assemble, takes only 15 minutes to prep, and cooks for 45 minutes, enough time to make a fresh batch of latkes.

7. Buttered Vegetables

A healthier side dish to counteract the fried indulgence of latkes is a healthy plate of buttered vegetables.

Veggies offer a homely feel and add vibrant color for a visual feast while providing plenty of nutrients and freshness.

This recipe is quick and easy for those evenings when you need more simplicity. Prepping takes 5 minutes, while cooking varies depending on how you like your vegetables. For crispy, tender veggies, 10 minutes and dinner is done.

8. Hearty Beef Stew

Leftover latkes are the perfect accompaniment to a classic hearty beef stew.

Tender chunks of beef in a rich, savory sauce with veggies finished with fresh herbs make a tasty and flavorful dish to serve with latkes to absorb the juices and sauce.

This is perfect for a Sunday lunch, giving you enough time in the morning to prepare and cook your delicious stew, which can be ready in about 3 ½ hours.

This combination is perfect as the latkes can absorb all the heavenly sauce from the stew with the soft center. At the same time, the crispy shell prevents them from getting soggy.

Conclusion

Latkes are undoubtedly versatile treats that can be served as appetizers or be the center of a main dish. Whichever you choose to use them, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or as a snack, these delicious potato pancakes can easily be paired with many diverse flavors and profiles for an enjoyable meal every time.

📖 Recipe