(Courtesy of Locanda)
Hanukkah Special: Locanda's Duck Fat-Fried Latkes with Quince Conserva
19 December 2016
Makes: 12 latkes and 3 cups of quince conserva
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Latkes
3 large russet potatoes (about 2 pounds)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 medium yellow onion, finely grated
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ cup all-purpose flour
3 cups duck fat (or vegetable oil)
Apple-quince conserva
1 pound tart apples (Granny Smith or Gravenstein) - peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 pound ripe quince – peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 whole star anise
2 whole cloves
1 cup Vin Santo
4 cups water
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1. Add the potatoes to a large pot; fill the pot with enough cold water to cover potatoes by a couple of inches.
2. Bring to a boil, then immediately turn off heat, drain the potatoes through a colander and transfer to a plate. Refrigerate the potatoes overnight.
3. Make the apple-quince conserva; In a large saucepan, add apples, quince, star anise, cloves, Vin Santo and water. Bring to a boil over high heat.
4. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until fruit completely breaks down, 20-25 minutes.
5. Return the heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently until the fruit thickens and takes a deep red hue. Add the sugar and season with salt and stir to combine. Return the mixture to a boil and cook until sugar dissolves and the texture of the conserva is thick.
6. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a medium bowl and use a rubber spatula to press the mixture through the sieve.
7. The next day, peel potatoes with a paring knife and use the coarse side of a grater to grate the potatoes (or a large shredder attachment on a food processor). Season with salt.
8. Add the grated onion to fine-mesh sieve and set over a medium bowl. Use a spatula to press the water out of the onions and the egg to the potatoes and use a fork to mix. Sprinkle in the flour and mix gently until there are no dry patches of flour remaining.
9. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large, wide pot, heat the duck fat until is reads between 350 and 370 on an instant-read thermometer.
10. Gently form a good handful of the potato mixture into a latke (about ¼ cup of potatoes per latke), using your hands to compress it into a ¼-inch-thick disc, leaving the edges a bit loose and scraggly.
11. Gently transfer a few latkes to the hot duck fat, leaving plenty of space around each one. Cook until both sides are golden, 3-4 minutes per side. Use a frying spider or metal spatula to transfer the latkes to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Keep warm in the oven while you fry the rest of the latkes.
12. Sprinkle with kosher salt and serve warm with the apple-quince conserva.