Mashed potato wrapped in dough: the perfect snack?

One of the Staples of Jewish American Cooking, a knish is a piece of dough filled with meat, cheese, or potato, baked or fried, and eaten as a snack. But to those who truly love them, knishes are more than just snacks- they're a tradition? and sometimes even an obsession. We visited New York City's most famous deli to learn more about this simple but beloved food.

Kevin Albinder is the manager of Katz's Deli, the definitive New York delicatessen. Katz's has been making NYC's most famous pastrami, hot dogs, and knishes since 1888, and still makes all it's delicious food on the premises. Here he gives us the lowdown on the most famous of knishes- the potato knish:

• It starts with a potato.
  When Albinder thinks of a knish, he thinks of a potato knish. This classic item of Jewish deli food is made from mashed potatoes, usually with onions, salt and pepper, wrapped in an envelope of dough.
  
• Different knishes, different dough.
  There are two different kinds of knishes. One is the square, fried kind, which is considered to be the authentic Coney Island style knish. The second style is a round, baked knish. There are also two kinds of dough: regular pastry dough, or a thicker, crustier dough.
  
• A wide variety.
  There are many different varieties of knish. You can order potatoes with spinach, or broccoli knish, or sweet potato knish. Yet another kind of traditional knish is a kasha, or buckwheat, knish.
  
• Add mustard, eat fast.
  It's traditional to eat a knish with mustard. Split the knish to make an opening, put a little mustard inside, and enjoy. If you're a true knish lover, you'll try to shove it in your mouth as fast as possible.
  
• Try 'em in New York.
  Albinder understands that it is possible to eat a knish outside of New York City, but being loyal to his home turf, he doesn't advise it. So, the next time you're in the Big Apple, be sure to have a little knish.

For more about knishes and Jewish cooking, check out the following websites:

Katz's Deli
www.katzdeli.com

Food Network: A Potato Soup with Flaky Potato Knish
www.foodnetwork.com

PBS: Jewish Cooking in America with Joan Nathan
www.pbs.org

Judaism 101: Jewish Cooking
www.jewfaq.org

Jewish-Food.org: Knish Archives
www.jewish-food.org