A Quick Latke Board Tutorial

Latke platter? Latke board? I’ll go with board.

The fact of the matter is, you simply cannot celebrate Hanukkah without the fried stuff. Especially this fried stuff. Aka latkes. And I love this plating/serving idea! A board is easy enough to throw together, helps to dress up an otherwise less-than-gorgeous comfort food, and gives everyone a chance to pick and choose their favorite toppings.

Because as we all know, latke topping preferences can be a contentious topic.

(Team apple sauce forever.)

So! Let’s get right into it with some tips for arranging a board like this one:

Start with a board!

I know, I know. DUH. But…I really do feel like this element gets overlooked. You might be tempted to opt for a plate or other serving platter with curved edges for a presentation like this one, and—while that is totally allowable and within your creative RIGHTS!—that tends to make things tricky. The upward sloping edges are difficult to work with; you’ll have a hard time placing things in a pretty, flat, single layer. Instead, I recommend investing in a few cheese platters or cutting boards or slate trays that you can use specifically for boards like this.

Re-plate all of your favorite spreads and toppings
into bowls.

Yes, you COULD just place a glass jar of apple sauce right onto your platter. This is true. But that feels not-totally-thoughtful to me (and also like a huge mess, no?). I spooned all my toppings of choice (apple sauce, sour cream, chives, smoked salmon) into small white ramekins so that they’d look cohesive and a little more considered. You can offer your guests pretty much whatever you want here: pomegranate seeds, apple slices, microgreens, and other smoked fish varieties (or smoked fish spreads) are a few other fun options.

Edible flowers are your friend.

Friends? Friend? In any event, they’ll be there for you. I feel like two or three small edible flower buds can change the vibe of pretty much any dish. And they’re way easier to source than you might think: you can get them on Amazon or Etsy or at your local farmer’s market, and sometimes in supermarkets in the produce section. I personally get them from Gourmet Sweet Botanicals because the selection is incredible and they arrive really, really “alive” and fresh and…not wilted.

Try to fill in all the “gaps” on your board.

You don’t want any visible empty holes or negative space here. Not just because it’s prettier that way, but because a sparse board with little black holes of emptiness here and there is going to make your guests (or family!) feel like you don’t actually have enough food for everyone. What you want is for your board to look lush and bountiful and overflowing with deliciousness.

Is this the Jewish grandma in me talking? Yes.

Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to go crazy and cook enough for an army. You just have to find ways to fill in those little empty spots. For me, that meant tucking some silver dreidels and matching gelt into the corners. For you, it could mean spacing out your latkes in a single layer, or adding some fresh herbs to the in-between sections, or just placing the topping bowls in more convenient locations.

Add the latkes last.

Because they should be hot and fresh out of the frying pan. So, essentially, you’re putting together a board of toppings, and at the last minute, you can throw on the pile of delicious fried latkes.

Admittedly, this—the act of getting latkes onto a table before your guests arrive without allowing them to become cold lifeless lumps—is one of the challenges of throwing a Hanukkah party or dinner of any size. It is, in fact, one of the great mysteries of life itself. If you do manage to figure out how to keep them warm and fresh without having to banish yourself to the kitchen for the entirety of the dinner, I, for one, would like to know your secrets.

I do have ONE hot tip for you: Make the latkes ahead of time, freeze them, and reheat them! Controversial, but it works. While this does not solve the age-old question of how to keep them warm, it does cut down on your day-of party work by, like, 324%.

Another hot tip: Try the Smitten Kitchen recipe for your latkes! you will thank me. And/or deb perelman.

And that’s pretty much it! Let me know on Instagram if you make anything inspired by this—and have a very happy celebration with friends and family!