Description
Traditional German Potato Pancakes, known as Kartoffelpuffer, are crispy and golden fried pancakes made from grated potatoes and onions, mixed with eggs and flour, seasoned simply with salt and pepper. Perfect as a savory side dish or snack, they are best served hot alongside 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 finely grate the small onion and potatoes. Once grated, squeeze out the excess moisture thoroughly using a clean kitchen towel to ensure the pancakes are crispy.
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the medium-sized egg. Add the grated onion, potatoes, 3 tablespoons of flour, a pinch of pepper, and a pinch of salt. Mix everything together thoroughly until well combined into a consistent batter.
- Heat the Oil: Place a large frying pan over medium heat and pour in a thin layer of oil, enough for shallow frying. Allow the oil to heat up properly to ensure the pancakes crisp nicely.
- Fry the Pancakes: Scoop about ¼ cup of the potato mixture per pancake into the hot oil. Flatten each scoop gently into thin round pancakes. Fry each side for approximately 3 minutes, or until the pancakes turn golden brown and achieve a crispy texture.
- Repeat Cooking: Continue frying the remaining potato mixture in batches, adding more oil to the pan as needed to maintain the shallow frying process and prevent sticking.
- Serve Hot: Once cooked, serve the German Potato Pancakes immediately while hot. They pair wonderfully with traditional accompaniments like sour cream or applesauce for a classic touch.
Notes
- Be sure to remove as much moisture as possible from the grated potatoes and onions to avoid soggy pancakes.
- Use medium heat to prevent burning while ensuring the inside cooks through.
- Serve immediately for best texture; the pancakes tend to lose crispiness if left to sit.
- You can add finely chopped herbs like parsley or chives for extra flavor if desired.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the flour with gluten-free flour or cornstarch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: German
