Crispy, golden brown potato pancakes, a delicious and comforting German treat. Perfect as a side dish, appetizer, or even a light meal.
Ingredients:
- 4 large potatoes (about 1 lb), peeled
- 1 medium onion, finely grated or minced
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or potato starch for gluten-free)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Vegetable oil or clarified butter, for frying
- Applesauce, sour cream, or quark, for serving (optional)
Instructions:
- Prepare the potatoes and onion: Grate the peeled potatoes using a coarse grater. Place the grated potatoes in a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. This step is crucial for crispy pancakes. Grate or finely mince the onion.
- Combine the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the grated potatoes, grated onion, egg, flour (or potato starch), salt, and pepper. Mix well until everything is evenly distributed.
- Heat the oil: Heat about 1/4 inch of vegetable oil or clarified butter in a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. The oil is ready when a small bit of the potato mixture sizzles immediately when dropped in.
- Cook the pancakes: For each pancake, drop about 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture onto the hot skillet. Slightly flatten each pancake with the back of a spoon. Don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Fry until golden brown: Cook the pancakes for 3-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crispy. Flip them carefully using a spatula.
- Drain and serve: Remove the cooked potato pancakes from the skillet and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Serve warm: Serve immediately with applesauce, sour cream, or quark for dipping. They can also be sprinkled with a little extra salt if desired.
Tips and Variations:
- For extra crispy pancakes, make sure you squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the grated potatoes.
- If the batter becomes too watery, you can add a little more flour or potato starch.
- You can add other ingredients to the batter, such as chopped fresh herbs (like parsley or chives) or a pinch of nutmeg.
- Keep the finished pancakes warm in a low oven (200°F or 90°C) while you cook the rest.
Enjoy your homemade German Potato Pancakes!