Jewish Potato Knish Recipe

Pies (empanadas) of tomato done to the oven illuminated by the light of the Sun
Jose A. Bernat Bacete / Getty Images
  • 60 mins
  • Prep: 30 mins,
  • Cook: 30 mins
  • Yield: 24 Potato Knishes (12 servings)
Ratings (55)

By Barbara Rolek

Updated 02/01/18

A Jewish knish (kuh-NISH) is a savory single-serving pie filled with meat, potatoes, kasha, sauerkraut, onions or cheese (and lately spinach and other ingredients) that is baked or fried.

It's similar to a British pasty, Mexican empanada, Russian pirozhki and an Italian calzone. 

The recipe for this filling was provided by Lloyd Weinstein of ​Benjie's Deli in Santa Ana, Calif. The knishes can be individually quick frozen on baking sheets and transferred to freezer bags for storage if desired. Note that, if you want to freeze the knishes before baking, the instant potatoes in this recipe help to stabilize the filling as it thaws while cooking, soaking up any excess water caused by the thawing.

The cream cheese and butter in this dough produces a flaky pastry. In kosher cooking, this would be considered a dairy meal and the dough should not be filled with meat. 

What You'll Need

  • For the Knish Dough:
  • 8 ounces butter (unsalted, softened)
  • 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 3 1/2 cups flour (all-purpose)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • For the Potato Filling:
  • 6 large potatoes (peeled, cut into chunks, boiled, cooled, and shredded in a ricer or grinder)
  • 1 pound onions (chopped and sautéed)
  • 2 large eggs (beaten)
  • 1/4 cup instant mashed potatoes
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon ascorbic acid (or vitamin C powder, to keep the potatoes from turning dark)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce (Tabasco)
  • Optional: 8 ounces Cheddar cheese (finely shredded)
  • For the Egg Wash:
  • 1 large egg (beaten)
  • 1 tablespoon water (beaten with egg, and 1 drop of yellow food coloring, if desired)

How to Make It

Make the Knish Dough:

  1. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, process butter, cream cheese and sour cream until smooth. Add flour and salt and pulse to blend.
  2. Turn dough out onto a sheet of plastic wrap. Using floured hands, form into a ball and wrap tightly. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

Make the Potato Filling:

  1. In a large bowl, mix together shredded potatoes, onions, eggs, potato buds, salt, ascorbic acid, garlic powder, Tabasco sauce and optional cheese.
  1. Mix until thoroughly combined. Set aside.

Assemble the Knishes:

  1. Heat oven to 350 F. Flour a work surface and place the dough on it. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest 15 minutes.
  2. Roll the dough to a 1/4-inch thickness. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 3-inch squares. Egg wash the squares with 1 beaten egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water and 1 drop of yellow food coloring if desired. Place two cookie-size scoops of filling on each square. Then fold the ends in as for an envelope.

Bake the Knishes:

  1. Place knishes on a parchment-lined baking pan and brush with egg wash. Continue with rest of dough and filling. Bake for 20 minutes or until knishes are golden brown on the top and bottom.
  2. Serve warm as an appetizer, side dish or meatless main course.
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
Calories 433
Total Fat 35 g
Saturated Fat 19 g
Unsaturated Fat 10 g
Cholesterol 240 mg
Sodium 789 mg
Carbohydrates 18 g
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Protein 13 g
(The nutrition information on our recipes is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. Individual results may vary.)