Instructions
Peel the potato and onion and coarsely shred them into strips. (I used the grater on my mandoline, but you could also use a food processor or a box grater.) Use a cheesecloth or a colander to squeeze the vegetables as dry as possible. Let stand for 2 minutes, then squeeze dry again.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, egg, salt and pepper together. Stir in the potato onion mixture until all pieces are evenly coated.
In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil until simmering. Drop small circles of the potato mixture into the skillet, flattening them with the back of a spoon if necessary.
Cook over moderately high heat until the edges are golden, about 1-1/2 minutes; Flip and cook until golden on the bottom, about 1 minute.
Drain excess oil on paper towels. Repeat with the remaining potato mixture, adding more oil to the skillet as needed. You can keep finished latkes heated in the oven at 200 °F while you’re making the rest so they’re all hot and ready to go at the same time.