Potato Pancake Recipe

So simple, yet unbelievably tasty, these Classic Potato Pancakes are not to be missed! Follow my simple instructions and make this easy treat today!

I strongly believe that this is one of those recipes every family needs to have. This Potato Pancakes recipe, requires just a few common ingredients, and I have never met a person who doesnt like them. Kids are crazy about these! You can serve them with some sour cream for breakfast or generously cover them with this Creamy Mushroom Sauce to make a scrumptious, vegetarian dinner.

potato pancake recipe

Classic Potato Pancakes

potato pancake recipe

So simple, yet unbelievably tasty, these Classic Potato Pancakes are not to be missed! Follow my simple instructions and make this easy treat today!

Prep: 10min

Total: 25min

Yield: 4

Serving Size: 100 g

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 100 g, calories 363 kcal, Carbohydrate 76 g, Protein 12 g, Fat 3 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 82 mg, Sodium 290 mg, Fiber 6 g, Sugar 4 g, Trans Fat 1 g, unSaturated Fat 2 g

Ingredients:

  • 4 large russet potatoes
  • 1 medium onion
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp. sea salt (or to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp. pepper (or to taste)
  • 2 tbsp. vegetable oil for frying

Instruction:

  1. If using food processor: peel and cube the potatoes and onion. Place the vegetables in food processor and process for about 2 minutes, until potatoes look “grated” and no lumps remain. If using grater: peel the potatoes and onion and grate.
  2. Place the potato mixture into a fine strainer or kitchen towel and try to squeeze almost all of the liquid into a mixing bowl.
  3. Discard the liquid. You’ll notice white powder on the bottom of the bowl after you pour the liquid out. It is potato starch and it gives texture to the pancakes, so you should keep it.
  4. Return the potato mixture into the bowl and add eggs, flour, with some salt and pepper, and mix everything well.
  5. Heat up some vegetable oil in a large, non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a spoonful of potato mixture, spreading it slightly. Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side, until the pancakes are crispy and brown.
  6. Place the pancakes on a paper towel, to absorb the excess oil and ENJOY!

Great Grandmother’s Potato Pancakes Recipe

potato pancake recipe

My Polish Great Grandmother’s Potato Pancakes recipe is a family favorite comfort food!

Prep: 20min

Total: 50min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 2 pancakes

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 2 pancakes, calories 175 kcal, Carbohydrate 38.7 g, Protein 5.4 g, Fat 0.7 g, Saturated Fat 0.2 g, Cholesterol 26.6 mg, Sodium 1024.7 mg, Fiber 3.1 g, Sugar 2 g, unSaturated Fat 0.5 g

Ingredients:

  • 4 large russet potatoes (about 3 lbs.), peeled
  • 1 medium onion, peeled
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • Butter and vegetable oil, for frying
  • Optional, for serving: warm applesauce, maple syrup, or sour cream

Instruction:

  1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Place 2 nonstick baking sheets in oven.
  2. Using box grater or food processor fitted with grating disc, coarsely grate onion. Transfer the grated onion to a colander and set the colander in a sink to drain.
  3. Next, use the grater or food processor to coarsely grate the potatoes. Add the potatoes to the colander with the onion, and leave in the sink to drain for a few minutes.
  4. In large bowl, whisk together egg, flour, salt, pepper and baking powder.
  5. Using a dish towel, gently squeeze excess liquid from the potatoes and onion. Add potato mixture to the bowl with the egg.
  6. Use your hands to gently combine the ingredients.
  7. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Scoop about ¼ cup of the potato mixture at a time, and place in the skillet. Use a spatula to gently flatten the potato mixture into a pancake. Repeat with remaining potatoes.
  8. Fry the potato pancakes until golden brown on each side (about 3-4 minutes per side). Then use a spatula to remove the pancakes from the skillet and drain on paper towels. Once drained, place the pancakes on the warm baking sheets in the oven to keep them warm while you finish frying the rest of the pancakes in batches.
  9. Use paper towels to carefully wipe out the skillet in between each batch of pancakes, adding 1 tablespoon of oil and 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet with each new batch. Continue frying 3-4 pancakes at a time until you have used all of the potato mixture.
  10. Serve the pancakes warm with applesauce, maple syrup or sour cream.

Classic Potato Pancakes

potato pancake recipe

This recipe calls for frying the crispy potato pancakes in a combination of butter and oil. Serve them with applesauce or sour cream at your next gathering.

Total: 1 hour

Yield: Makes about 24 pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium onion, peeled
  • 4 large Idaho or russet potatoes (about 3½ lbs.), peeled
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 6 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • Applesauce and/or sour cream, for serving

Instruction:

  1. Preheat oven to 200°F. Place 2 nonstick baking sheets in oven.
  2. Using box grater or food processor fitted with grating disc, coarsely grate onion and place in colander set in sink. Coarsely grate potatoes, add to colander, and set aside to drain.
  3. Lightly beat eggs in a large bowl, then whisk in flour.
  4. Press potatoes and onion to extract as much liquid as possible, then add to egg/flour mixture. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Using wooden spoon or hands, mix well, but do not overwork.
  5. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil and 1 Tbsp. butter in a heavy-bottomed large skillet over medium-high heat, until hot but not smoking. Drop 4 scant ¼-cup portions of potato mixture into pan and flatten with spatula to form four 3-inch pancakes.
  6. Fry until bottoms are golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes, then turn over and fry until golden-brown and crisp, an additional 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain; season immediately with salt and pepper. Keep warm on baking sheets in oven while making remaining pancakes.
  7. Using paper towels, carefully wipe out pan. Add 1 Tbsp. oil and 1 Tbsp. butter and fry 4 more pancakes. Repeat with remaining batter, wiping out pan and adding 1 Tbsp. oil and 1 Tbsp. butter before each batch.
  8. Serve pancakes hot with applesauce and/or sour cream. Editor’s note: This recipe was originally published in July 2006. Head this way for more great Hanukkah food →

Leftover Mashed Potato Pancakes

potato pancake recipe

These easy mashed potato pancakes take only 10 minutes to make! Crispy on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside. This really is the best way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.

Prep: 10min

Total: 15min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 146.5 kcal, Carbohydrate 25.3 g, Protein 5 g, Fat 2.9 g, Saturated Fat 1.5 g, Trans Fat 0.003 g, Cholesterol 28.8 mg, Sodium 172.9 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 1.2 g, unSaturated Fat 1 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil (for pan frying)
  • 3 cups chilled mashed potatoes, (already cooked and stored in the fridge)
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, (crumbled, more for garnish)
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 scallions, (both white and green parts, chopped, plus more for garnish)
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 egg
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs

Instruction:

  1. Make the mashed potato mixture: In a big bowl, combine the mashed potatoes, feta, all-purpose flour, scallions, and parsley. Break the egg and add it to the bowl. Mix with a wooden spoon until everything is well incorporated.
  2. Prepare the breadcrumbs: Spread the breadcrumbs on a plate and set next to the bowl with the mashed potato mixture.
  3. Make the patties: Using a measuring cup (either a 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup, depending on the size of the patties you want), scoop a portion of the mashed potato mixture to fill the measuring cup. Form a ball between your hands, and then lightly flatten to make a 1/2-inch thick patty. Dredge the patty on both sides with the breadcrumbs and set it flat on a baking sheet. Repeat until the mashed potato mixture is finished.
  4. Fry the mashed potato patties: Set a large non-stick pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add enough olive oil to the pan so it’s about 1/2-inch deep. When the oil shimmers, arrange the patties in the pan in one single layer (do this in batches, if needed). Cook on one side for about 2 to 3 minutes or until the bottom is crispy and golden brown, then turn over and cook the patties for another 2 to 3 minutes, again watching for the crisp and color on the other side.
  5. Using the spatula, remove the cooked mashed potato patties from the skillet and transfer them to a tray, lined with a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
  6. Transfer the mashed potato patties to a serving plate and garnish with a bit more feta cheese and scallions. Enjoy!

How to Make Potato Pancakes – Classic Potato Pancakes Recipe

FAQ

What is the difference between potato pancakes and latkes?

The potato pancake is much simpler, with nothing but raw grated potatoes, egg, and all-purpose flour. The latke, on the other hand, adds baking powder, matzo meal, and even a splash of milk, according to Cooktoria. Surprisingly, the potato pancake has a longer preparation time due to the simplicity of its batter.

How do you keep potato pancakes from falling apart?

If the potato cakes are falling apart because they are too wet it might not have enough flour. Troubleshoot this by adding more flour 1 tablespoon at a time until you get a better consistency, the mixture should be somewhat wet and will have a slight stickiness but you also don’t want it falling apart.

What are German potato pancakes made of?

Kartoffelpuffer (pronounced Kah-toff-el-puh-fah) are German potato pancakes that are pan-fried and made from a dough consisting of (finely) grated potatoes, grated or finely chopped onion, flour, eggs, finely chopped chives, salt and pepper.

About the author

Helen is an author and editor at helenbackcafe.com, who has a passion for writing about recipes. She loves to experiment with different ingredients and cooking techniques to create delicious and unique dishes.

Among all the foods, pizza holds a special place in her heart, and she loves exploring different variations and toppings to create the perfect slice. Through her writing, Helen hopes to inspire others to get creative in the kitchen and share their love for food with the world.

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