Description
German Potato Pancakes, also known as Kartoffelpuffer, are crispy and golden fried pancakes made from grated potatoes and onions. This traditional recipe combines simple ingredients to create a delicious appetizer or side dish, perfect served hot with sour cream or applesauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 small onion
- 1 pound potatoes
- 1 medium-sized egg
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 pinch pepper
- 1 pinch salt
- Oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Grate the Potatoes and Onion: Use a box grater or food processor to grate the small onion and 1 pound of potatoes finely. Be sure to grate evenly for consistent texture.
- Remove Excess Moisture: Place the grated potato and onion mixture into a clean kitchen towel and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. This step is crucial to help the pancakes become crispy when fried.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat 1 medium egg. Add the grated potatoes and onion, 3 tablespoons of flour, and season with a pinch of pepper and salt. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are well combined into a cohesive batter.
- Heat the Oil: Heat a thin layer of oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. The oil should be hot enough to sizzle when the batter is added but not smoking.
- Fry the Pancakes: Scoop approximately 1/4 cup of the potato mixture into the hot oil and flatten it gently to form a thin pancake. Fry each pancake for about 3 minutes on each side until they turn golden brown and crispy.
- Repeat the Process: Continue frying the remaining batter in batches, adding more oil to the pan as needed to ensure even frying and crispiness.
- Serve Hot: Serve the potato pancakes immediately while hot and crispy, accompanied by traditional sides such as sour cream or applesauce for an authentic touch.
Notes
- Make sure to squeeze out as much moisture as possible to ensure crispy pancakes.
- Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point like vegetable oil for frying.
- For an extra crispy texture, cook in batches and don’t overcrowd the pan.
- Serve immediately for best texture; the pancakes tend to soften if left sitting.
- Optional toppings include sour cream, applesauce, or chives.
