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Garlic Mashed Potato Knishes

Published by Amy Kritzer Becker on January 21, 2013
★★★★★★★★★★ 5 from 4 ratings · 24 comments
Amy Kritzer Becker
By Amy Kritzer Becker
Author of Sweet Noshings · as seen on Food Network, GMA & The NYT
Garlic Mashed Potato Knishes
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garlic mashed potato knishes

Last week when I made schmaltz, I promised you I’d make some recipes for Jew to try with the tasty “champagne of fats”. First up, knishes. These are waaaay better than any knishes I’ve ever had before. The secret? Schmaltz of course!! The pastry dough was flaky, potato filling rich and delicious. Oh man these are too good for words. Dare I say knishes are an aphrodisiac?

knish me, I'm Jewish

I dare. Here is all Jew need.

garlic mashed potato knishes

First, make your dough. Beat 1 egg and 1/2 cup schmaltz, and then add in sifted flour, baking powder and salt and knead until you have a dough that is not sticky. If you add too much flour in, just add a little water to make your perfect non sticky but not falling apart dough. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.

garlic mashed potato schmaltz

Now, roast your garlic by making a packet with garlic coves and a drizzle of schmaltz or olive oil. Roast in a 400 degree oven until garlic is soft, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, caramelize your onions by cooking in 1 tablespoon schmaltz or olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large saute pan over low until caramel, about 40 minutes.

garlic mashed potato knishes

Wash and peel your potatoes and cut them into even pieces. Then cover with cold water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook until you can stick a knife into the potatoes and it comes out without resistance. Then strain water, cool a little, and mix with 1/2 cup schmaltz, scallions, roasted garlic, caramelized onions, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

garlic mashed potato knishes

Ah beautiful schmaltz. Now let’s assemble! There are many ways to form knishes (check out this funny video for some ways!) but I like individual round ones. Roll out your dough until it is as thin as you can get it. Then cut out 3 inch rounds (using a cookie cutter or wine glass works great!). Put a tablespoon of filling in each circle and scrunch up to make a knish.

garlic mashed potato knish

garlic mashed potato knishes

garlic mashed potato knishes

Then wash with egg and bake at 375 degrees F until golden brown, about 25 minutes.

garlic mashed potato knishes

Knish me, I’m Jewish!

garlic mashed potato knishes

Garlic Mashed Potato Knishes

Amy Kritzer
The best knishes ever- thanks to our friend schmaltz!
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 hour hr
Cook Time 25 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Jewish
Servings 15 -20

Ingredients
  

  • For dough:
  • 1 egg plus one for egg wash
  • 1/2 cup schmaltz in liquid form (or vegetable oil)
  • 2 cups flour sifted (may not use all)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Water if needed
  • For filling:
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • Drizzle liquid schmaltz or olive oil
  • 1 large white onion
  • 1 Tablespoon liquid schmaltz or olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 pound russet potatoes
  • 1/4 cup schmaltz in liquid form
  • 1 bunch scallions minced
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • First, make your dough. Beat 1 egg and 1/2 cup schmaltz, and then add in sifted flour, baking powder and salt and knead until you have a dough that is not sticky. If you add too much flour in, just add a little water to make your perfect dough. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.
  • Now, roast your garlic by making a packet with garlic coves and a drizzle of schmaltz or olive oil. Roast in a 400 degree oven until garlic is soft, about 40 minutes. Then lower oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Meanwhile, caramelize your onions by cooking in 1 Tablespoon schmaltz or olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large saute pan over low until caramel, about 40 minutes.
  • Wash and peel your potatoes and cut them into even pieces. Then cover with cold water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook until you can stick a knife into the potatoes and it comes out without resistance. Then strain water, cool a little, and mix with 1/4 cup schmaltz, scallions, roasted garlic, caramelized onions, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
  • Ah beautiful schmaltz. Now let’s assemble! There are many ways to form knishes but I like individual round ones. Roll out your dough until it is as thin as you can get it. Then cut out 3 inch rounds (using a cookie cutter or wine glass works great!). Put a tablespoon of filling in each circle and scrunch up to make a knish.
  • Then wash with egg and bake at 375 degrees F until golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Notes

Prep time does not include time for dough to chill.
Like this recipe?Leave a comment or rate us above

Mazel!

Amy

About the chef

Amy Kritzer Becker

Jewish food expert, cookbook author of Sweet Noshings, owner of ModernTribe, and culinary-school-trained chef. Featured on Nickelodeon, The Drew Barrymore Show, Good Morning America, the New York Times, and Food Network.

Read Amy’s story·Get the cookbook·Work with Amy

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Amy Kritzer Becker

Amy Kritzer Becker

Amy Kritzer Becker is a Jewish food expert, cookbook author of Sweet Noshings, owner of ModernTribe, and culinary-school-trained chef behind What Jew Wanna Eat — a modern Jewish food blog redefining heritage recipes since 2010. Her recipes have been featured in Food Network, Bon Appétit, Forbes, Good Morning America, and the New York Times.

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24 Comments

  1. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough says:
    January 21, 2013 at 8:33 AM

    These look SOOOOO good! My family is actually a huge fan of schmaltz but we only eat it like, once a year… this might be the recipe to eat it with in 2013! 🙂

    Reply
    • Amy Kritzer says:
      January 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

      Thanks, Stephanie!

      Reply
      • Christine says:
        October 2, 2021 at 6:05 PM

        5 stars
        What is smaltz?

        Reply
        • Amy Kritzer says:
          October 4, 2021 at 12:22 AM

          It’s chicken fat! You can do what you like.

          Reply
  2. Bubbe says:
    January 21, 2013 at 3:46 PM

    Never seen knishes like these!!!!! Look delish!!!!

    Flap Flap go the arms!!! Love, Bubbe

    Reply
  3. Tamar Genger says:
    January 21, 2013 at 10:15 PM

    These look delish, would be perfect for this month’s MIni LInk up – did you get the email?

    Reply
    • Amy Kritzer says:
      January 22, 2013 at 10:26 AM

      Oh yeah I wasn’t even thinking these were mini! I am buried in emails. Would you mind resending? Thanks!!

      Reply
  4. Regina Moore says:
    January 22, 2013 at 5:28 AM

    Hi Amy – this recipe looks fantastic! I am assuming I can substitute plain chicken fat for the schmaltz, but I was also wondering if I could substitute something else for the schmaltz, like butter or olive oil. I don’t always have chicken fat.

    Reply
    • Amy Kritzer says:
      January 22, 2013 at 10:26 AM

      Hi Regina- yes oil or melted butter should work great!

      Reply
  5. Vindaloo Tiramisu says:
    January 22, 2013 at 6:19 AM

    Amy, thanks for the knish recipe. Always enjoy reading your blog.

    Reply
    • Amy Kritzer says:
      January 22, 2013 at 10:19 AM

      Thanks!

      Reply
  6. Sweet Tooth (@byTheSweetTooth) says:
    January 23, 2013 at 7:59 AM

    I haven’t yet mustered up the courage to try shmaltz, but I just might do it. And I absolutely love garlic, so this is definitely the recipe for me. Such a cute presentation! Perfect for an appetizer or cocktail party!

    Reply
    • Amy Kritzer says:
      January 23, 2013 at 10:26 AM

      Thanks! Try schmaltz- you’ll love it!

      Reply
  7. Chanie@BusyInBrooklyn says:
    June 10, 2013 at 2:17 PM

    mmm, these look SO good. Knishes are my #1 food!

    Reply
    • Amy Kritzer says:
      June 10, 2013 at 9:15 PM

      I love them too!

      Reply
  8. Fill Your Freezer: 40 Freezer Friendly Starters, Soups and Sides | Tales of an Overtime Cook says:
    August 21, 2013 at 11:26 PM

    […] 29) Garlic Mashed Potato Knishes on What Jew Wanna Eat […]

    Reply
  9. 100+ Tailgating Recipes Round Up says:
    August 25, 2013 at 7:52 AM

    […] Garlic mashed potato knishes […]

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  10. Top 10 WJWE Recipes of 2013 - What Jew Wanna Eat says:
    January 7, 2014 at 9:49 PM

    […] 9. Garlic Mashed Potato Knishes […]

    Reply
  11. Stan says:
    September 22, 2014 at 12:04 PM

    Hello Amy,
    Before embarking on my knish journey I wanted to make sure I have it straight. Is 1 pound of potatoes the total amount for the recipe? I am concerned that it wont be enough. I just discovered your site while looking for a good kugel recipe but was drawn to your knish…and your sense of humor is great too! Jew think u could get back to me before the Rosh Hashonah holiday begins cause I was bringing these to my family dinner. L’shanah Tova!!!

    Reply
    • Amy Kritzer says:
      September 22, 2014 at 10:40 PM

      Thanks for reading, Stan! Jew the best. Yes these are small knishes, so you really don’t need much filling. If you want to make them bigger, I’d double the filling. Hope that helps!!

      Reply
  12. sam571sa says:
    January 10, 2019 at 5:43 PM

    Preheat oven, make dough and refrigerate for an hour. Think the oven will be hot by then?

    Reply
    • Amy Kritzer says:
      January 10, 2019 at 7:51 PM

      The oven is to roast the garlic, which pre-heats while you are making the dough 🙂

      Reply
  13. Thanksgiving Leftovers With A Twist Part 2: Side Dish Recipes {Mashed Potatoes & Cranberry Sauce} - Savor The Thyme - Food, Family, and Lifestyle says:
    February 18, 2019 at 6:27 PM

    […] Garlic Mashed Potato Knishes […]

    Reply
  14. Christine says:
    October 2, 2021 at 6:10 PM

    5 stars
    My Oma, made these after getting out of Hitler prison in Auschwitz and never used schmalz

    Reply
5 from 4 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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Amy Kritzer Becker

About the Chef

Amy Kritzer Becker

Jewish food expert, cookbook author of Sweet Noshings, owner of ModernTribe, and culinary-school-trained chef. Featured on Good Morning America, the New York Times, and Food Network.

Read Amy’s story → Get the cookbook → Work with Amy →
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