Crispy Latke with Orange Cream

It's been a beautiful January morning. Blue sky, the air is crisp and clean and much to my surprise glowing with sunshine! I went to the park to enjoy the first sunny morning in 2014 and it felt like spring. This calls for a celebration, something equally warming and shiny on my plate: fried golden latke. I make mine with Hokkaido pumpkin and potatoes, a home made curry mixture and an orange, cinnamon flavoured cream.

At this time of the year, I often cook with my own curry mixtures. I guess it's the cold, my body appreciates warming spices like cayenne and turmeric. For my pumpkin - potato mixture, I prepare a curry mixture that is not too hot, despite the inclusion of cayenne. I want strong flavours, but more on the sweet side, like cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. The cream gives a lighter feel to this meal, its milky sourness is a refreshing counterpoint to the fried latkes, the orange zest and spices reinforce it.

Spicy Pumpkin and Potato Latke with an Orange Cream

I use around 600g / 21 ounces peeled potatoes and 400g / 14 ounces pumpkin for my latke mixture which is enough for 3 - 4 people:

For the latke

• Hokkaido pumpkin (or any other pumpkin / squash), grated, 400g / 14 ounces (with peel, just scoop out the seeds and fibre)

• potatoes, peeled, grated, 600g / 21 ounces

• onion, peeled, grated, 2

• plain flour 12 tablespoons plus more for mixing

• organic eggs 3

• salt 3 teaspoons

• vegetable oil for frying

For the curry mixture (for the latke)

• cayenne pepper, ground, 1/4 teaspoon

• coriander seeds, ground, 1/2 teaspoon

• black pepper, ground, 1/2 teaspoon

• turmeric, ground, 1/2 teaspoon

• cumin, ground, 1/4 teaspoon

• cardamom, ground, 1/4 teaspoon

• cinnamon, ground, 1/4 teaspoon

• 3 cloves, ground in a mortar

 For the cream

• cream cheese 150g / 5 ounces

• heavy cream 4 tablespoons

• plain yoghurt 4 tablespoons

• orange zest 3 teaspoons

• a pinch of salt

• a pinch of cayenne pepper (ground)

• a pinch of cinnamon (ground)

• a pinch of cardamom (ground)

Mix all the ingredients for the cream and season to taste.

Squeeze out the grated potatoes, pumpkin and onions and dry between kitchen paper (in batches) until you get most of the liquid out. Mix all the ingredients for the latke, add more flour if the mixture is too moist.

Heat a good amount of oil in a large cast iron pan. Form pancake shaped latkes and fry them in the hot oil, 1-1 1/2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Take down the heat if they get too dark. When the latke is done, remove excess oil with kitchen paper and keep in a warm oven until you finish your last batch. Serve together with the cream.