Final answer:
The potato pancakes called latkes are a staple in American-Jewish cuisine, usually made with starchy potatoes for a crispy texture and served with applesauce and sour cream.
Step-by-step explanation:
The potato pancakes popular in American-Jewish cooking, made from grated potatoes and traditionally served with applesauce and sour cream, are called latkes. The starch content of potatoes is an important factor when making latkes. Starchy potatoes, which contain mostly unbranched polymers of glucose, are better for recipes that require a creamy texture, such as mashed potatoes or baked potatoes.
On the other hand, waxy potatoes, which have more branched polymers of glucose, are great for dishes where the potatoes need to retain their shape, like in salads or soups. However, for making latkes, starchy potatoes are typically preferred because they help create the desired crispy texture.