I wondered whether this recipe deserved a place on the blog. But then I remembered we’ve already had recipes for lazy pierogi and pumpkin fritters… it would be a real shame not to include traditional Polish potato pancakes :). I’m quite certain that many of you already make your own versions of potato pancakes. Personally, I love them served with sugar and sour cream. Sometimes I add onion to the mixture, but I still eat them with sugar and sour cream. Always sweet. Of course, potato pancakes can also be served with goulash, mushrooms, salads, vegetables or almost anything else you fancy. But I would be genuinely disappointed if I couldn’t eat at least a few the sweet way. How about you?
Ingredients for Polish potato pancakes:
- 1.5 kg floury potatoes, peeled and finely grated*
- 1 large egg
- 3–4 tablespoons plain flour
- optional: 1 small onion, finely diced
- salt, to taste
- vegetable oil, for frying
Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl – cook immediately, as grated potatoes darken quickly.
Heat a generous amount of oil in a frying pan. Drop spoonfuls of the mixture into the hot oil and flatten slightly. Fry on both sides until deeply golden and crisp, turning once the underside is nicely browned.
Serve with thick sour cream and a sprinkling of sugar. Potato pancakes are at their very best when served piping hot and crispy straight from the frying pan.
The key to truly excellent potato pancakes is maintaining the correct proportions. The amount of flour is particularly important. For 1.5 kg of potatoes, 3 tablespoons of flour (or at most 4 tablespoons) is the ideal ratio. Using more flour will make the pancakes heavier and less crisp. Following these proportions will give you beautifully crispy potato pancakes every time.
Floury Potato Varieties in the UK: Estima, King Edward, Maris Piper, Desiree. These varieties are high in starch and become fluffy when cooked, making them ideal for potato pancakes.
* The quickest and safest way to grate potatoes is to use an electric meat grinder fitted with a potato-grating attachment.
Enjoy!
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