RFCJ RECIPE ARCHIVE
Posted by : Karen Selwyn Side: Leek Fritters: Keftikes de Prassa - pareve
The following text accompanies the recipe for Leek Fritters: "Holidays have always been important in my family. My mother would spend an entire week cooking, preparing all our favorites so as not to disappoint anyone. She was a Sephardic Jew, of Greek or Turkish heritage, and my father was Ashkenazic, the oldest son of Hungarian Jews. The two cultures were meshed in our home, but my mother's Sephardic heritage always seemed to predominate in the kitchen...In fact, when I told my brother I had stumbled across a recipe for Leek Fritters that looked just like Mom's leek burgers, I could hear him salivating from 500 miles away..." Robin Loveman In THE COOKBOOK OF THE JEWS OF GREECE, Leek Fritters are listed under Passover foods. Karen Selwyn * * * * * * * Leek Fritters: Keftikes de Prassa 2 pounds leeks (whites and first 2 inches of green) 2 large eggs 1-2 cups mashed boiled potatoes 1/2 cup matzo meal 1 teaspoon salt Freshly ground black pepper Oil for sauteing Optional: 1 pound ground beef or turkey (omit oil in this case) Trim and carefully wash leeks, going between the layers to remove all sand and dirt. Slice the leeks thinly. Bring 2 quarts salted water to boil. Parboil the leeks 3 minutes. (Leeks can also be parboiled in the microwave in just enough salted water to come to the top of the vegetables. Cook, covered, 2 minutes.) Drain, chop and place leeks in mixing bowl. Combine leeks with all remaining ingredients except oil, adding enough potato and matzo meal until batter is thick enough to form patties. Heat 1/2 inch oil in 12-inch skillet. Form a patty out of cup of the leek mixture. Place in sizzling oil; repeat until you have three or four patties cooking. Saute on both sides until golden, turning only once during cooking. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels; repeat until leek mixture is used. Yield: 8-10 servings Source: "Hanukkah Heritage Family Recipes Hold Many Sweet Holiday Memories" Robin Loveman THE SUN JOURNAL (FOOD on-line), n.d. www.newbernsunjournal.com/InsidePages/Food/hanukkah.htm
