This delicious recipe combines two traditional food choices for Chanukah: Eating dairy foods, and foods fried in oil.

10oz or 1 1/4 cups cottage cheese

3 eggs, separated

1 tsp salt

2 1/4 cups matzo meal

1 onion, coarsely grated, or 3-5 scallions, thinly sliced

1/2 tsp sugar

2-3 tbsp natural (plain) yogurt or water

vegetable oil, for shallow frying

ground black pepper

In a bowl, mash the cottage cheese, mixing in the egg yolks, half the salt, the matzo meal, onion, sugar, yogurt or water, and pepper.

Whisk the egg whites with the remaining salt until stiff. Fold one-third of the whisked egg whites into the batter, and then fold in the remaining egg whites.

Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan to a depth of about 1/2 inch, until a cube of bread added to pan turns brown immediately. Drop tablespoonfuls of the batter into the pan; fry over a medium-high heat until the undersides are golden brown. Turn carefully and fry the second side.

When done, remove the latkes from the pan with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Serve immediately or place on a baking sheet to keep warm in the oven.

Variations

To make sweet latkes, omit the onion and add 1-2 tbsp sugar, chopped nuts and some ground cinnamon. Serve topped with a spoonful of jam or honey.