AYURVEDIC RECIPES

Potato Latkes

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4.50 out of 5 stars
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"Delicious and satisfying! I used almond meal instead of spelt flour. My husband said they taste authentically Eastern..."
- Michelle Neyland, Falls church full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review

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How to Make Potato Latkes

SERVINGS: 2
PREP TIME: 20 MINUTES
COOK TIME: 10 MINUTES

STYLE: WESTERN
PREPARATION: SAUTEE

INGREDIENTS

1/4 c
4 whole
1/4 c
2 whole
1/2 tsp
1/2 tsp
2 tbsp

PREPARATION OF THIS HEALTHY RECIPE

1. Grate your potatoes in a cheese grater. Place in a sieve over a bowl and let the water drain for 15 minutes. Pour off excess liquid.

2. Mix in the chopped shallots, eggs, flour, salt and pepper.

3. Heat 1/4 inch of oil over medium high heat in a large frying pan. Fry scoops of potato mix that make pancakes about 3-4 inches in diameter. Fry for 3-4 minutes, then flip. When the edges are crispy and the whole latke is golden on both sides, they are ready to eat!

4. Serve with applesauce or sour cream or cottage cheese mixed with sour cream. Garnish with chopped chives.

How Does This Ayurvedic Recipe Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Crispy and hot around the edges, sizzling Potato Latkes will be devoured as soon as they leave the frying pan. As this fun & hearty treat sizzles in the pan, it will warms your heart in the cold winter. Bright green scallions sprinkled on top add a light freshness. A dollop of yummy applesauce or sour cream adds cooling sweetness.

Potato Latkes are a traditional food served at Hanukkah. Their appeal draws kids and adults alike to gather around the holiday table. A variety of cultures throughout Eastern Europe, such as in the Ukraine, each offer unique variations of these crunchy, crispy, satisfying potato pancakes. Latke is a Yiddish word, but the Hebrew word for lakte is levav. Levav translates to both "heart" and "potato pancake." So, you could say that latkes are truly a heart-warming choice for Hanukkah.

A Lighter Version

An Ayurvedic preparation of Latkes has several minor changes: instead of wheat flour, substitute easy-to-digest and lighter spelt flour. Potatoes can be a little hard to digest because of their cold and heavy qualities. Black pepper is a remedy because it stimulates digestion. Sunflower oil lubricates the digestive tract and counteracts potato's dryness. If you've never experienced potato's dryness, compare the difference between a baked potato and a latke. The baked potato may leave your mouth feeling parched. Many people who suffer from gas and bloating will be surprised to find that it's often due to dryness, so have a latke!

Medicine for Vata/Winter

Oily, heavy, salty, and slightly sweet, Potato Latkes stengthen those with a dry or fragile Vata constitution. However, latkes and other fried foods are aggravating to oily Pitta and heavy Kapha-types.

Grounding Traditional Foods

Holidays are grounding by nature. They remind you of who you are and where you come from. Incorporating foods from different cultures and traditions creates a sense of togetherness and understanding, and isn't that the very spirit of the holiday season? If you are Jewish, there's a good chance you grew tapping your toes waiting for Potato Latke season. But if you're not, the savory pancakes are a delicious introduction to traditional Jewish cuisine.

AYURVEDA'S GUIDE TO VITALITY & WHOLESOME NOURISHMENT

Your Ayurvedic diet is tailored to your individual body and your specific imbalances. With an Ayurvedic diet you feel joy and satisfaction because what you are eating truly nourishes and balances you. Disease results from diets and lifestyles that are incompatible with your nature. By eating a personalized diet matched to your body, you experience optimal health. See How it Works.

Is Potato Latkes Good for My Ayurvedic Diet?

Find out by taking this free, easy quiz. You'll learn your body type, and whether 'Potato Latkes' is a good fit. Complete the basic quiz in 1 minute, or go deeper with additional quizzes at your own leisure to learn more about your body.
See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.
INCREASES
Guna Help

Increases These Biocharacteristics (Gunas)

Functional Ayurveda helps you assess imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating these characteristics weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which characteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct imbalances before you get sick. Every characteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite characteristic.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAR

EASY

ABOUT EASY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Easy refers to anything easy to digest, or digests quickly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT EASY

HEAVY

ABOUT HEAVY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Heavy is identified by sedation, sluggishness, or increased weight.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEAVY

TASTES
Taste Help

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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SWEET

ABOUT SWEET BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Sweet refers to anything builds tissue, including macronutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SWEET

DOSHAS
Dosha Help

The Three Doshas / Body Types

According to the biocharacteristic theory of medicine, people tend to get sick, over and over again, due to habitual causes and imbalances that are unique to the person. Your body type summarizes this tendency, showing you the 'type' of conditions and imbalances that frequently challenge your health & wellness. Using body type, you can also identify remedies likely to improve your strength and resiliency. Your body type identifies physical and mental characteristics as well as your personal strengths and weaknesses. The calculation of your body type is based on your medical history.

The 3 functional body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha). Catabolic individuals tend to break down body mass into energy. They are easily stimulated, hyperactive, underweight and dry. Metabolic individuals tend to burn or use energy. They tend to be rosy-cheeked, easily irritated, focused, driven, and easily inflamed. Anabolic individuals tend to store energy as body mass. If they store too much energy, they could gain weight easily and have congestion. Anabolic people tend to be stable and grounded.

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PACIFIES
Pitta pacifying Vata pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Kapha aggravating
HAS THE FOLLOWING
Moves Energy:
Downward

DOWNWARD

Downward-moving (Adho Gati Marga) substances move food downward in the GI tract, settle the nervous system, and relax muscles.

SEE ALL 'DOWNWARD' FOODS / HERBS


Tissue (dhatu):
Fat

FAT

Fat tissue (Meda Dhatu) includes adipose tissue and sebum (skin oil).

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HERBAL ACTIONS
(see all)

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Potato Latkes
Help
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

Makes You Tired

MAKES-YOU-TIRED

Induces drowsiness and promotes sound sleep.

SEE ALL 'MAKES-YOU-TIRED' FOODS / HERBS

,
Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

,
Strengthens Resolve

STRENGTHENS-RESOLVE

Increases determination and courage by reducing stress and building strength.

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,
Sedative

SEDATIVE

Sedative herbs create a sense of calm in the mind and body by specifically calming or quieting the nervous system. Excellent for anxiety, stress and chronic pain.

SEE ALL 'SEDATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

Satisfies Stomach

SATISFIES-STOMACH

Provides a sense of gratification and fullness in the stomach.

SEE ALL 'SATISFIES-STOMACH' FOODS / HERBS

,
Builds Stamina

BUILDS-STAMINA

Promotes strength, endurance and resistance in the body. Rebuilds weak tissues after a time of depletion.

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,
Nutritive

NUTRITIVE

An herb that is strengthening and nourishing.

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Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

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,
Demulcent

DEMULCENT

Herbs that coat or form a soothing film over a mucous membrane, relieving minor pain and inflammation of the membrane.

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Flushes Sinuses

FLUSHES-SINUSES

An herb that relieves sinus congestion by flushing out mucus.

SEE ALL 'FLUSHES-SINUSES' FOODS / HERBS

,
Soothes Throat

SOOTHES-THROAT

Soothes throat discomfort, including from a sore or ticklish throat.

SEE ALL 'SOOTHES-THROAT' FOODS / HERBS

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

SEE ALL 'CARDIAC-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Constituents:
Carbohydrate, Potassium, Soluble Fiber, Vitamin C, Fats, Sodium,
Inositol

INOSITOL

Inositol is an alcohol sugar made naturally in the human body from glucose. It is lipotropic (aiding fat metabilism in the liver). It affects a variety of hormones, neurotransmitters, steroid, growth factors and water.

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,
Saponins

SAPONINS

Can be used to make soap. Saponins stimulate mucus membrane secretion, liquefying mucus for easy removal (expectorant).

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, Sulphur, Protein,
Nitric Oxide

NITRIC-OXIDE

Improves circulation by dilating blood vessels. Protects blood vessels from damage. Improves athletic performance, libido, immunity, and brain health.

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, Phosphorous

Foods with a Similar Nature to Potato Latkes

Buffalo Milk

Buffalo Milk has these Actions in Common

Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach, Builds-stamina, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Soothes-throat, Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Oat Flour

Oat Flour has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Builds-stamina, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Potato

Potato has these Actions in Common

Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative, Demulcent, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Whole Wheat Flour

Whole Wheat Flour has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Builds-stamina, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Cream of Wheat

Cream of Wheat has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Builds-stamina, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Lamb

Lamb has these Actions in Common

Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Strengthens-resolve, Builds-stamina, Nutritive, Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Hemp Seed

Hemp Seed has these Actions in Common

Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative, Builds-stamina, Nutritive, Makes-you-tired, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Oats / Oatmeal

Oats / Oatmeal has these Actions in Common

Builds-stamina, Nutritive, Demulcent, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Sedative

LEARN MORE

Spelt Flour

Spelt Flour has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Satisfies-stomach, Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

White Flour (wheat)

White Flour (wheat) has these Actions in Common

Makes-you-tired, Sedative, Nutritive, Demulcent, Satisfies-stomach

LEARN MORE

Milk

Milk has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Satisfies-stomach, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Soothes-throat, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Herb Supplements with a Similar Nature to Potato Latkes

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common

Builds-stamina, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Sedative, Strengthens-resolve

LEARN MORE

Regular exercise

Regular exercise has these Actions in Common

Builds-stamina, Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Strengthens-resolve

LEARN MORE

Vata Shirodhara Oil

Vata Shirodhara Oil has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Strengthens-resolve

LEARN MORE

Inhale Steam

Inhale Steam has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses, Soothes-throat

LEARN MORE

Shatavari

Shatavari has these Actions in Common

Demulcent, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive, Soothes-throat

LEARN MORE

Gokshura

Gokshura has these Actions in Common

Nutritive, Sedative, Demulcent, Nerve-relaxant-grounding

LEARN MORE

Vidari

Vidari has these Actions in Common

Soothes-throat, Demulcent, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Nutritive

LEARN MORE

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative

LEARN MORE

Hot Foot Soak

Hot Foot Soak has these Actions in Common

Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses

LEARN MORE

Mustard Poultice

Mustard Poultice has these Actions in Common

Cardiac-stimulant, Diaphoretic, Flushes-sinuses

LEARN MORE

Kapha Shirodhara Oil

Kapha Shirodhara Oil has these Actions in Common

Diaphoretic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Sedative

LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized school of biocharacteristics medicine.

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About John Joseph Immel

About the Author

John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda biocharacteristics. His approach to Ayurveda is clinical, yet exudes an ease which many find enjoyable and insightful. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda, offering professional clinical training in Ayurveda for over 15 years.

John's interest in Ayurveda and specialization in digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, as well as public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.

John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and 7 kids, and pursuing his love of theology, philosophy, and language.

Read more

Comments & Impressions of 'Potato Latkes'

Do you like 'potato latkes'? Why or why not? What makes it unique? Is there something else you'd like to know about 'potato latkes'?

full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewhalf start review(4.50 out of 5 stars) 6 ratings, 3428 likes
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red, russet, yukon? which potato to use?
- wahneta trotter , 12-05-14 (Reply)
We recommend red or yukon. Russets are best for baking.
- Kimberly Kubicke, Asbury park, NJ
full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review
, 07-22-16 (Reply)
Delicious and satisfying! I used almond meal instead of spelt flour. My husband said they taste authentically Eastern European.
- Michelle Neyland, Falls church
full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review
, 09-06-16 (Reply)
Make a chia seed egg... 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 3 tablespoons water, mix and let sit for a few minutes. That equals one egg.
- Margie, Sandpoint, ID , 09-10-16 (Reply)
My first try with 'Ayurvedic food' and I'm feeling quite overwhelmed. Can a stomach 'purr' out of pure satisfaction and a warm feeling of peace? Because mine felt like it did. For about 45 minutes. Oh, and it was simply delicious :D
- fin, Deventer, AL
full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start review
, 08-08-17 (Reply)
Question? Are eggs combined with potato the same as protein with starch?
- Jennifer, Manitou springs , 08-14-17 (Reply)
Yes. You can use an egg replacer if you prefer. Eggs help hold the latkes together.
- Kimberly Kubicke, Asbury park, NJ , 08-21-17 (Reply)
Good flavor and relatively easy to make. Not near enough flour to keep the pancakes together. I ended up doubling the spelt flour.
- Melinda VanKirk
full start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewfull start reviewblank start review
, 02-01-22 (Reply)

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