Celery Root-Parsnip Latkes Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Noah and Rae Bernamoff

Adapted by Melissa Clark

Celery Root-Parsnip Latkes Recipe (1)

Total Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(324)
Notes
Read community notes

Noah Bernamoff serves his classic latkes at Mile End Deli in Brooklyn all year long. At Hanukkah, he breaks out the variations. Celery root and parsnip replace potato in this version, the sweetness of the parsnips tempered by the grassiness of the celery root. Mr. Bernamoff suggests topping these with horseradish cream. —Melissa Clark

Featured in: Hanukkah’s New Tastes, Still Rooted in Tradition

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Ingredients

Yield:About 4 dozen latkes

  • 1pound celery root, peeled and grated
  • 1pound parsnips, peeled and grated
  • 1medium onion, peeled and grated
  • cups matzo meal
  • ¾cup chopped Italian parsley
  • 5large eggs
  • 1tablespoon kosher salt, more for serving
  • ¾teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • Safflower oil

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (48 servings)

29 calories; 1 gram fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 4 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 1 gram protein; 68 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Celery Root-Parsnip Latkes Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Place grated celery root, parsnips and onion in a large bowl. Sprinkle in matzo meal and toss mixture together with your hands. Add parsley, eggs, salt and pepper and combine again using your hands until ingredients are incorporated.

  2. Step

    2

    Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high. Take a heaping tablespoon of the mixture and flatten between your palms. Fry latkes, without moving them, for 4 to 5 minutes, checking that they don’t over-brown. (You should be able to fry them in batches of 11 to 12, depending on pan size.) Flip latkes, turn heat down to medium-low and fry another 4 minutes, or until well browned and tender. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with additional salt. Serve warm.

Ratings

5

out of 5

324

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Cooking Notes

Tish

I've made these for a few years and they have become my favorite latkes: the vegetables make them more tasty and less starchy than the potato version. I cut the amount of matzo meal to about 3/4 cup, but found recipe was correct, that amount of salt really is needed. These freeze beautifully, uncooked, which makes them much easier to handle when cooking--and the kitchen is clean when you start frying.

Steph

These were a hit. No laborious straining, blotting, or messy squeezing of excess liquid as you do with regular potato latkes. They held together wonderfully and had a great flavor. Though I must admit (shhh...) that I opted to fry them in chicken fat rather than the safflower oil.

Hannah

Made these for Hannukah dinner (half the recipe, though) and used a sweet and savory rice cracker brand instead of matzo meal. They came out perfectly and were eaten up in one night. Now I'm rooting through the trash, looking for the packaging the rice crackers were in so I can make the same exact recipe next year. Some fancy-pants brand, I think...

Michelle in Denmark

Really yummy and a great way to use up those root veggies from the farm box. We used carrots instead of parsnips with no ill effect, and substituted some of the parsley with minced green onion tips. Hubby thinks these taste better than potato latkes, and I agree. Be aware this makes an army-size portion of latkes!

Michelle

That's because you used potatoes! Potatoes give off a lot of liquid. If you had followed the recipe, you wouldn't have had the problem!

Kim

Absolutely delicious. I played with the recipie a bit and combined celery root with russets, and pulsed it twice through the food processor to get the pancakes finer. I also used flour and two eggs as a binder. For cooking I used ghee as its healthier than most other oils.

Edna

Rutabaga (from CSA)Parsnip (from CSA)Panko instead of matzo meal

Alicia H.

Wow! Only thing I would do differently next time is a bit more black pepper in the mix. Very tasty.

Karen

1 C matzo meal, make small so they fry quickly. Make 4 dozen!!! Freeze before frying.

Jennie

These were delicious! We couldn't find matzo meal, so we we used water crackers ground in the food processor.

how it worked

Wonderful flavor! Ground up a box of Glutino "original" crackers in lieu of the matzo meal to make these gluten-free; seemed to work fine

Paul

Just delicious, followed the recipe except I did have regular onions so I substituted with green onions.One suggestion, cook them on medium-low so the vegetables soften while browning. My hat to the chef

Lisa

This recipe is amazing and so healthy! It’s my new go-to latke recipe. Thank you for introducing me to celery root / celeriac!

Ruth

Should I defrost them before frying, if I freeze some? Pleasantly surprised and great way to use CSA veggies. Made 2/5 of the recipe like another commenter to use 2 eggs: ~13oz celery root + parsnip + rutabaga, 1 very small onion, 1/2 cup matzo meal, 1/3 cup parsley, 3/4 tsp Morton kosher salt. Used an ice cream scoop to measure. Cooked ~10 and froze ~10 for another day.

David B.

Excellent alternative to traditional potato latkes. Everyone loved them and was surprised when I said they were potato-free!

Linda

I met 2/5 of the recipe in order to use 2 eggs. Still made about 16 silver dollar sized latkes. Definite cohesion problem but still tasty even the crispy shreds.

christina

Just wow. So delicious. I also mixed and matched veggies (1 celery root, 1 lb turnips, and 1 straggler parsnip). They were packed with flavor.

Anne

We tried this last night and are disappointed. All the measurements are off: 2 pounds of shredded root vegetables yields enough latkes to serve 8-10 people. Far more eggs are needed to moisten the mix, and it needs quite a bit of salt, pepper, and even a bit of cayenne pepper to engage the senses. These soak up a lot of oil (we used olive oil), and are prone to burning, Serve with yogurt or sour cream or labne… tasty, but the recipe needs improvement.

Kat Hughes

What can I use as substitute for matzo meal?

terry94705

Forgot to halve this and ended up with a huge batch of batter. So the next day I pulled out my underused appliance and WAFFLED IT for lunch. Worked very nicely. About 8 minutes in my proctor silex Belgian waffle maker.

Barbara

Best ever. Never another potato latke in this kitchen! Followed recipe to the dot. Having no matzo, made my own. So easy, much nuttier fresh taste than purchased. Forget draining on paper towels: these were so greaseless that we tossed them back as they came off griddle - just a bit of sour cream or yogurt. Such a mass of veggies: for easier mixing, combine eggs, salt, pepper and parsley before adding to veggies. Leftovers? Duck fat fried latkes for dinner. Thanks, Steph, for schmaltz tip.

Edna

Rutabaga (from CSA)Parsnip (from CSA)Panko instead of matzo meal

foodie

I made these today exactly as written with one exception: I had no matzoh meal on hand so subbed one-for-one with panko bread crumbs. Really delicious! The family loved these. They didn’t need as much oil to fry them up as the potato variety. A great twist benefit of more fiber. These will be my new go-to when I’m craving latkes but would rather avoid the starchier potato variety - thank you, Melissa!

saintsavory

Better than potato! And kids loved them.

trish

Made these tonight subbing plain bread crumbs for matzo meal. They were delicious. This is a recipe I will return to.

McMarie

I made this dish with some intentional and accidental substitutions: rutabaga instead of celery root, rice cracker meal instead of matzah, cilantro instead of parsley, This was my first time making latkes. They were outstandingly delicious! I did freeze a lot (uncooked) so I can look forward to more tomorrow! Thanks for the recipe!

Sarah

These were both easier and faster than traditional potato latkes. My husband and even some potato-loving friends agreed. I think these will become my staple.

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Celery Root-Parsnip Latkes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can you substitute parsnips for potatoes? ›

Using parsnips as an alternative to potatoes – either mashed or as “fries” – is a great way to introduce them to skeptics. However, parsnips can hold their own as a delicious veggie! Try letting them shine in a creamy soup, a parsnip gratin, or roasting them as a side dish.

Can you substitute parsnips for turnips? ›

Turnips are a great earthy addition to soups and stews, and can also be roasted or mashed. Turnips work best in savory preparations as their bitter, nutty, and earthy flavors are a bit stronger than parsnips. Use one turnip in place of about two parsnips.

What root vegetable is similar to a parsnip? ›

A root vegetable belonging to the dandelion family, salsify is also known as the oyster plant because of its similar taste when cooked. The root is similar in appearance to a long, thin parsnip, with creamy white flesh and a thick skin.

What is the difference between a turnip and a parsnip? ›

Parsnips have a long root like carrots while turnips are round like radishes. Parsnips are sweeter than turnips, with a hint of licorice taste. Parsnips are in the same family as carrots, while turnips are in the same family as cabbage. That gives you an idea of their taste and how they can be used.

Are parsnips healthier than potatoes? ›

What sets parsnips apart is their low-calorie content and high fiber, making them an excellent alternative to starchy vegetables like potatoes. In fact, for two centuries, parsnips were the primary source of dietary starch in the US before potatoes took over. But there's more to parsnips than just nutrition.

Why should you not peel parsnips? ›

Some vegetables, like celery root, have tough outer peels, which we always remove. Parsnips we assess on a case-by-case basis; the best flavor is actually right below the skin, so we try to avoid removing too much.

Which taste better parsnips or turnips? ›

Taste: With a sweet and nutty taste resembling candy, parsnips are sweeter than turnips. Conversely, turnips are spicier and more bitter than parsnips, leading certain harvesters to pick them earlier in the season because smaller turnips have a milder flavor profile.

Are parsnips more like potatoes or carrots? ›

Parsnips may look like white carrots, and both vegetables are part of the parsley family, but the lighter colored, usually larger tubers are often treated more like potatoes due to their starchier texture.

Which is healthier parsnips or turnips? ›

Half a cup of sliced and boiled parsnip has 55 calories, 13 grams of carbohydrates, three grams of fiber, one gram of protein, and no fat. A half cup of cubed turnip has 17 calories, four grams of carbs, 1.6 grams of fiber, 0.5 grams of protein, and no fat.

What is a good substitute for parsnips in a recipe? ›

Parsnips are a delicious and versatile root vegetable, but if you can't find them or need to make a substitution, there are plenty of options available. Carrots, turnips, sweet potatoes, celeriac, and kohlrabi are just a few of the many possible substitutes you can try.

What is a root vegetable that tastes like a carrot? ›

Parsnip: Parsnips are “sugary and floral,” like a “carrot doused in perfume.” Since older, larger parsnips can be tough and fibrous, look for parsnips that are no more than 1 inch in diameter. Peel and steam, boil, sauté, or use our favorite method, roasting.

Do parsnips like blood and bone? ›

In poor soil use a fertiliser low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus, such as blood and bone, applied at the recommended rate.

Which is more bitter parsnip or turnip? ›

Turnips come from the Brassicaceae family, which also includes cabbage and mustard greens. They have a much more round, squatty shape and a pinkish-purple crown. In terms of flavor, turnips have a more bitter, spicy flavor as opposed to the sweetness of parsnips.

Are parsnips anti inflammatory? ›

Parsnips are a source of active plant compounds, such as furanocoumarins, flavonoids and polyacetylenes, including one called falcarinol. These compounds have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-cancer properties, and also act as vasodilators, which helps modulate blood pressure.

What is the best substitute for potatoes? ›

Replacing Potatoes
  • Celery Root. ...
  • Daikon. ...
  • Jicama (HEE-kah-ma) ...
  • Kohlrabi. ...
  • Parsnips. ...
  • Rutabaga. ...
  • Turnips. Turnips taste more like a cross between cabbage and radish with a sweet and slightly peppery flavor with a crisp white inner. ...
  • Winter Squash. Winter squash have thick, tough shells that protect the sweet, rich flesh inside.

Do parsnips taste like sweet potatoes? ›

A parsnip is a long, tapered root vegetable. It resembles a carrot in this way, and indeed they are part of the same family. But parsnips don't taste like carrots. They're sweeter—think sweet potatoes—and they have a delicious naturally nutty or earthy flavor.

What do parsnips taste similar to? ›

Parsnips have a sweeter, licorice-like taste with a hint of spice to them, as opposed to the carrot's sweetness that is more reminiscent of other types of winter squash. Turnips are another root vegetable that is often compared to parsnips, but the two are from completely different families.

Do parsnips have as much carbs as potatoes? ›

Instead of serving mashed potatoes for dinner, try this smashed parsnip recipe. Parsnips are higher in fiber and lower in calories and carbs than potatoes.

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