My favorite kind is a potato and onion knish with a heavy seasoning of black pepper. They appear at luncheons, Friday night dinners, brunches, or on the go with a dollop of deli mustard. No matter the filling, knishes taste like comfort and remind me of sharing a meal with my grandparents.
A Rich History
Knishes have been quintessential New York street food for nearly 100 years, appearing on the menus of every Jewish deli and stacked high on street carts dotting the city. It’s not hard to imagine why knishes are the ultimate handheld comfort food since they’re chock full of starchy potatoes and carbs. Knishes are of Jewish and Eastern European descent and gained popularity in North America when Jewish immigrants brought them to New York and opened knisheries in the early 1900s. These knish shops helped the Jewish population launch into society and make a better life for themselves.
Tips for Making the Perfect Potato Knish
Make it in stages: Knishes can be labor intensive, so break it into steps. Make the dough and the filling up to 3 days in advance and chill in the fridge.Season liberally: Don’t be shy with the salt and pepper, the potatoes can take it!Chill the dough: Chilled dough is easier to handle than room temperature dough.Roll it thin: Don’t be afraid to roll the dough too thin. You’ll wrap it around the filling, and a thin dough means more flaky layers around the potatoes.
Put Your Own Spin On the Knish
These potato knishes are classic but also easy to tweak with different fillings, a shortcut dough, and more:
Cook the onions in shmaltz (chicken fat) for added flavor Short on time? Roll in puff pastry for a shortcut version that still tastes delicious. You can swap the potato filling for leftover mashed potatoes, too. Experiment with fillings like sweet potato and roasted garlic, spinach and ricotta cheese, or mashed squash and ginger for a new take on the classic knish.
Classic Jewish Deli-Style Recipes
Reuben Sandwich Matzo Ball Soup Black and White Cookies Egg Salad Sandwich Salmon Gravlax
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup neutral oil (like vegetable or canola) 1 large egg, whisked 1 teaspoon white vinegar
For the filling
3 tablespoons olive oil 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 pound russet potatoes, peeled and quartered 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For the egg wash and serving
1 large egg, whisked 1 tablespoon water Mustard, for serving
Transfer the dough to a large bowl and cover with a kitchen towel. Let rest for 1 hour at room temperature, or overnight in the refrigerator. Place a 2-inch wide log of the potato mixture running about an inch from the bottom of the dough. Roll the dough around the filling and into a log. Not too tight—it should roll around the filling 3 to 5 times. Pinch at one end to seal; this will be the bottom of the knish. Pinch and twist at the other end or leave open. Bake until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve with deli-style mustard. Store leftover knishes in a paper towel-lined airtight container for up to 5 days in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer. Reheat refrigerated knishes on a baking tray at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes until warm. Love the recipe? Leave us stars below!
