A few weeks ago, in a fit of nostalgia for my college days on Long Island, I bought a box of Manischewitz Mini Potato Knish mix. And today, in another fit of nostalgia (brought on by the visit to Saul's), I made them.
Hey, these things aren't bad!
Knishes are really very simple creatures: mashed potatoes or flour, onion, pepper, fat, and egg. Some people add sour cream to make them creamier, but I don't like those as much as the non-dairy kind.
Yes, I do realize butter is dairy.
Here's a basic recipe:
6 potatoes
4 tbsp. butter
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 onion, minced
3 eggs, beaten
2 egg yolks
1/2 tsp. salt
Prep: Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a cookie sheet.
Peel and boil potatoes until tender. Saute onion in 1 tablespoon butter until crispy, then drain the butter. Beat the eggs, except for the yolks, adding salt and pepper. Mash the potatoes, then add the onions and beaten eggs.
Shape the dough into squares on the buttered cookie sheet. Brush top and sides with beaten egg yolk. Bake about 10 to 15 minutes at 350F, or until brown. Makes about 12 knishes if you like them small; 6 if you like them large.
