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German Potato Pancakes Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 99 reviews

Authentic German Potato Pancakes made from grated russet potatoes and onions, pan-fried to golden perfection. These crispy, savory pancakes are a classic comfort food, perfect for brunch or as a side dish, served with sour cream or applesauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Potato Pancakes

  • 2 pounds Russet potatoes
  • 1 medium Yellow onion
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 3 tablespoons All-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup Canola oil (or sunflower oil for frying)

Garnish (Optional)

  • 2 tablespoons Fresh chives or parsley

Instructions

  1. Grate the potatoes and onion: Peel the russet potatoes and the yellow onion. Using a box grater or food processor, grate both ingredients finely.
  2. Remove excess moisture: Transfer the grated potato and onion mixture into cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much liquid as possible to prevent soggy pancakes.
  3. Mix the batter: In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained potato mixture with eggs, all-purpose flour, salt, and ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly until the batter is smooth and even.
  4. Heat the oil: Pour canola oil into a large skillet and heat over medium-high until it shimmers, indicating it is hot enough for frying.
  5. Form and fry pancakes: Drop spoonfuls of the potato mixture into the hot oil, gently flatten each with a spatula to form pancakes roughly 3-4 inches in diameter.
  6. Cook until golden and crispy: Fry each side for 3–4 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Flip carefully to avoid breaking.
  7. Drain excess oil: Remove cooked pancakes from skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
  8. Serve: Serve the pancakes hot, garnished with fresh chives or parsley if desired. Accompany with sour cream, applesauce, or your preferred toppings.

Notes

  • Be sure to squeeze out all excess moisture from the potatoes and onions to achieve crispy pancakes.
  • Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point like canola or sunflower oil for proper frying.
  • Serve immediately for best texture; pancakes can be kept warm in a low oven.
  • Variations include adding garlic powder or nutmeg for extra flavor.
  • For gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.

Keywords: German potato pancakes, Kartoffelpuffer, crispy potato pancakes, traditional German recipe, fried potato pancakes, comfort food

Find it online: https://todayfoodrecipe.com/german-potato-pancakes-recipe/