Ingredients

  • FOR THE LATKES
  • 1 lb potatoes [figure one med-sized potato per person]
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped onions
  • 2 ribs finely chopped celery
  • 2 tbs. veg. oil
  • FOR THE ENCHILADAS
  • 1/2 lb. ground beef
  • 2 chopped tomatoes [don't remove the seeds; they add liquid to the mix]
  • 1/8 tsp. cumin or to taste
  • A few hot pepper flakes to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/8 tsp. oregano or to taste
  • 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp. olive oil
  • Flour tortillas
  • 2 cups white flour, preferably unbleached
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking power
  • 1 tbs. veg. oil
  • For garnishes:
  • The applesauce and sour cream are fairly traditional with latkes. Green chiles are more often seen in Southwestern cooking. The avocado really isn't traditional with either, but it makes a nice color appeal.
  • Applesauce
  • Sour Cream
  • 1 avocado, peeled and sliced
  • 2 4.5 cans green chile

Method

  • METHOD
  • Grate the potatoes last, right before frying them. It keeps them from turning brown.
  • 1. Finely chop onions and celery.
  • 2. Grate raw unpeeled potatoes. Squeeze as much liquid as possible out of them; it helps crisp them up.
  • 3. In a bowl, thoroughly mix the onions, celery and potatoes with the 2 tbs. of oil
  • 4. Saute potato mixture approx. 20 min., pressing mixture firmly into the skillet. Stir mixture occasionally to prevent potatoes from burning.
  • 5. Mix flour, water, salt and oil. Knead about 4-5 minutes, just till mixture is no longer very sticky. Pinch off balls about 1 inch in diameter and roll into a thin circle. Fry carefully in a hot ungreased skillet. Turn tortilla when top is covered with bubbles, about 1 minute; cook second about 30 secs. or just till very lightly browned. Tortilla should be still pliable, not stiff. This can be done while the potatoes are sauteing.
  • 6. In a medium sauce pan, brown the ground beef. Add the rest of the ingredients and let simmer for 20-30 minutes. Sauce will cook down and thicken nicely. If you want a thicker sauce, add a little flour. This sauce can be successfully made ahead. You can make the sauce while the potatoes are sauteing.
  • TO ASSEMBLE:
  • Stack the tortillas on a plate on the table.
  • Serve the enchilada sauce, green chiles, applesauce, sour cream, and sliced avocados each in a separate bowl.