My Simple Recipe for Butternut Squash Latkes is the answer to your low carb prayers.
While I love a traditional latke as much as the next person, I can’t digest potatoes, so the classic potato latke is not on the menu for me.
Simple Recipe for Butternut Squash Latkes
In its place, I’ve created my Simple Recipe for Butternut Squash Latkes. It’s not only low carb, this gluten free recipe is also SCD compliant!
Side Dishes Low Carb
This Simple Recipe for Butternut Squash Latke is one of my all time favorite dishes because the crispiness of these vegetable pancakes is delightful, along with the hint of sweetness added by the squash.
Gluten Free Latkes
Below is my recipe with 4 Ingredients for low carb, gluten free, SCD butternut squash latkes.
I hope they light up your holiday and fill your family’s bellies with cheer!
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Butternut Squash Latkes
Ingredients
- 4 cups butternut squash, peeled and grated (about 22 ounces)
- 1 small onion, peeled and grated
- 3 large eggs, whisked
- ¼ teaspoon celtic sea salt
- grapeseed oil or olive oil, for frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine squash, onion, eggs, and salt
- Squeeze excess liquid from mixture and discard
- Heat ¼ inch oil in a 9 inch skillet
- Scoop ¼ cup of batter at a time onto skillet and flatten
- Fry each side over medium heat until browned and crispy
- Transfer latkes to a paper towel lined baking sheet
- Repeat process with remaining batter
- Serve with Homemade Applesauce and sour cream or yogurt
Equipment
How to Reheat Latkes
Need to reheat your latkes? Here’s what to do!
First, as you’re making the latkes, you’ll want to place them on a paper towel lined baking sheet after you fry them.
If you need to reheat the latkes, transfer from the paper towels to a wire rack that sits on top of the baking sheet, then throw them back in the oven at 350°F for 5-8 minutes to re-crisp.
What is a Latke?
What are latkes? Traditional latkes are a fried potato pancake that often contain wheat flour or gluten.
Latke Pronunciation
For those of you wondering about the proper latke pronunciation, I’m here to help.
You may be wondering, is it latke or latka? The word latke is pronounced “lot-kuh,” with the draw in the vowels.
Is Latke a Yiddish Word?
You might be wondering, is latke a Yiddish word? Actually, while the word is Yiddish, it is derived from the East Slavic oladka, the diminutive of “small fried pancake.”
Diagnosed with Celiac Disease
I wish I could partake in every traditional food, such as latkes (as is), under the sun. Once I was diagnosed with celiac disease, that was no longer possible.
So, I made it my mission to create healthy gluten free versions of my favorite recipes.
Recipes for Low Carb Latke
Now, I’m not only gluten free, I follow a low carb diet as well. That’s where my recipes for low carb latkes come into play.
Low Carb Latkes
While butternut squash is not really a low carb food, it does contain approximately 60% of the carbohydrates found in potatoes.
If you want to celebrate Hanukkah with tasty fried foods and don’t want to stray too far from your Low Carb Diet, this is one of those recipes for low carb latkes that makes sense to indulge in.
SCD Latkes
Additionally, my Butternut Squash Latkes are fabulous if you can’t digest potatoes, and since they do not contain potatoes, they are also SCD compliant.
I love the SCD, also referred to as the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. This diet heals the gut by eliminating certain starchy foods.
I started following the SCD over 20 years ago, and it provides a fantastic framework for keeping my gut happy and healthy. Goodbye potatoes, hello Hannukkah with butternut squash latkes.
When is Hanukkah and Why Do We Eat Latkes?
Now, on to some other pertinent details pertaining to Hanukkah or Chanukkah. This year (2022), the celebration of lights begins at sundown on Sunday, December 18th.
What is Chanukkah?
Chanukkah is referred to as the Festival of Lights. During this Jewish festival, which is not a Holy Day, we celebrate an incident of divine intervention that occurred over two thousand years ago.
The Chanukkah miracle involved a very tiny flask of pure olive oil that lasted for 8 days until a refill of oil could be retrieved.
To honor this, Ashkenazi Jews celebrate by frying a variety of foods in oil, including, but not limited to, latkes, as well as sweet things like donuts (aka sufganiyot), and much more.
Incidentally, one of our family traditions is my Almond Flour Fried Apples recipe.
Carrot Scallion Latkes: Vegetable Pancakes
Another one of our cherished Hanukkah traditions is making veggie pancakes with all sorts of fun, healthy ingredients.
That includes my savory Carrot and Scallion Latka that have a coconut flour batter –as you can see above, this beta carotene rich mixture browns to a beautiful crisp!
Recipes for Gluten Free Hanukkah Food
Every year at Hanukkah, I make the boys Homemade Apple Sauce to serve over their latkes. Here’s that recipe and more for you!
Happy Hanukkah
All in all, when it comes to Hanukkah and frying, latkes aren’t the only way, but they’re my favorite Hanukkah when it comes to using vegetables for side dishes.
I hope the Festival of Lights brightens up your life in the dark of winter!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared Butternut Squash Latkes in 2007.
Laura says
I am so excited to see your recipe!!! Thank you, I will be making this!!!
Elana says
You’re welcome Laura!
Nancy says
I can’t wait to try these. Last year I did spaghetti squash latkes made with coconut flour. I have since found that I don’t tolerate coconut flour. I will probably try a batch with your ratio of eggs to squash with both spaghetti squash (pre cooked and well drained) as well as following your posted recipe.
Elana says
Thanks Nancy!
Alice says
Hi there,
Did you use one or two butternut sqaushes to make the recipe?
What can you use instead of the onion?
Thanks!
Elana says
Alice, thanks for your question! The number of squash generally depends on their size. I haven’t made this without onions so not sure what to use instead :-)
Jacqueline Lamb says
We had these last night for Hanukkah along with Elana’s chicken with olives and prunes. The are the easiest, tastiest latkes I’ve ever had. The whole family voted for these in the future – no more potatoes!
Elana says
Jacqueline, thanks for letting me know that these are the easiest, tastiest latkes you’ve ever had :-)
Aili Galasyn says
We shall have them tomorrow.
Elana says
Thanks Aili!
Kara says
I was just told about your site last night! I am so thankful for what you are posting. My 6 year old has hf as and is allergic to dairy and is glutton intolorent. My question is what egg substitute works best with this and some other recipes? I noticed if I use substitute for more than one egg the dishes never turn out right. Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks again
Elana says
Kara, I haven’t tried that so not sure. Here’s a link to my Egg-Free Recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/diets/egg-free/
Enjoy!
Elana
Broski says
Do you have to cook the squash before you peel and grate it?
Elana says
Broski, no need to cook the squash prior to peeling and grating it :-)
Kristen says
Excellent recipe! Don’t add salt until after they are cooked as it will leach out water from the squash. Primal/GAPS SCD people try fring in lard. Double delish.
Elana says
Kristen, thanks for letting me know these are excellent!
Shaya says
These were so delicious and easy!! All my guests loved them too. Plus I got quite an arm workout from grating all that squash!
Thank you so much!
Elana says
Shaya, thanks for letting me know these latkes are delicious and easy and that are your guests loved them :-)
Brandi says
do you cook the butternut squash first or shred it raw?
Elana says
Brandi, shred it raw :-)