Stacked Potato Latkes With Smoked Salmon and Cream

What a delightful appetizer to serve on a special occasion i.e. Easter perhaps?

• 3 medium sized  russet potatoes
• 1 tsp. lemon juice
• 1/4 cup finely minced yellow onion
• 1 large egg, whisked
• 1 tsp. minced fresh dill
• 1/2 tsp. grated lemon zest
• pinch each of salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1/2 cup olive oil, plus a little extra
• 1/2 lb. thinly sliced smoked salmon
• 1/2 cup whipped plain cream cheese
• 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and slide into the oven. Line a plate with a paper towel and set aside.

Peel the potatoes and grate by hand using the larger holes of the hand grater. Transfer to a bowl of cold water with lemon juice as they are grated. Drain really well in a colander and spread out on a large, clean tea towel along with the minced onion.

Roll the towel up jelly roll style and wring out as much of the water as possible. Place in a large bowl and add the egg, lemon zest, salt and pepper.

Using a heavy bottomed fry pan (cast iron?) and heat 2 tbsp. olive oil until shimmering. Working in batches of 4, ladle 2 tbsp. each of the potato mixture into the hot pan, pressing each one into 2 inch rounds. Cook until the undersides are golden (approx. 5 mins.). Gently flip and continue to cook another 5 minutes.  Both sides should be golden in colour, crisp and fully cooked.

Remove as they are done and[place on the paper towel to absorb the excess oil. Transfer to the wire rack to keep warm while you continue cooking the other latkes. You should have enough mixture to make 16 latkes.

Stack 4 latkes on each plate, top with 2 oz. of the smoked salmon and a generous dollop of the whipped cream cheese. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve with a crisp cold salad.