Potato Pancakes

[TheRic]

What! No flour?

Nope!!

I've tried them with leftover mashed potatoes, and they don't get like a pancake, they just get mushy.

Too thick, Wrong temp, tried turning them too soon.

....
I don't see why flour would be needed since the mashed potatos are starchy and thick enough already. ......

I normally wash my potatos really well in a colander. Helps take the excess starch out, and improves the taste.


Don't understand why you people are ruining a good potato pancake by putting topping on it. When you put toppings on it, your changing the taste, therefor the potato pancake was made incorrectly.

[cabinetman]

Don't understand why you people are ruining a good potato pancake by putting topping on it. When you put toppings on it, your changing the taste, therefor the potato pancake was made incorrectly.

I agree 100%. Topings don't belong on potato pancakes or exotic dancers!

[MilDoc]

Actually, most of the time I like my flat PPs plain. But SWMBO likes the toppings.

[cabinetman]

Actually, most of the time I like my flat PPs plain. But SWMBO likes the toppings.

The truth of the matter is that I like applesauce and sour cream on the side. Haven't tried chocolate or fudge topping yet though.

[jackellis]

Did anyone mention that you have to grate the potatoes by hand. Unless there's some skin from your fingers in the mix, they ain't real potato pancakes.

At least that's what my mother used to say.

[Russianwolf]

I stand corrected

The way I make potato pancakes is: I usually use leftover mashed potatoes if I have them. If not I make some. I don't particular like the ones made with grated raw potato. This way they already have the butter and milk in them. Then I add some finely chopped onion, and egg or two according to how much I have and enough flour to make a soft, thick mixture. I pat this into rounds and roll in flour and fry in vegetable oil. I have ventured away from this recipe by adding grated raw zucchini or grated raw carrots or grated raw sweet potato, just a little to change the flavor. I have tried a lot of different things but that is the basic recipe.

But man are they good eatin'

[germdoc]

OK, all interesting comments. I would just say that traditional Jewish lattkes are made from freshly grated potatoes, not mashed potatoes. I personally do not add too many eggs and add just enough flour to thicken the batter. I like my pancakes to taste more like fried potatoes and not like regular pancakes.

FYI, the reason that potato lattkes are tradionally served for Chanukah is that the oil used in cooking them is a reminder of the oil that lit the menorah lamps in the Temple and lasted for 8 days. So it's the oil dripping from the pancakes, not the potato itself that's most important!

[Russianwolf]

OK, all interesting comments. I would just say that traditional Jewish lattkes are made from freshly grated potatoes, not mashed potatoes. I personally do not add too many eggs and add just enough flour to thicken the batter. I like my pancakes to taste more like fried potatoes and not like regular pancakes.

FYI, the reason that potato lattkes are tradionally served for Chanukah is that the oil used in cooking them is a reminder of the oil that lit the menorah lamps in the Temple and lasted for 8 days. So it's the oil dripping from the pancakes, not the potato itself that's most important!

Sounds more like Hash Browns than Potato Pancakes to me. I was wondering about it when someone said something about grating the potatos by hand earlier. Not the same animal at all.

[TheRic]

Sounds more like Hash Browns than Potato Pancakes to me. I was wondering about it when someone said something about grating the potatos by hand earlier. Not the same animal at all.

I'll second that!!!!!!!!!!

I like my hash browns, I like my potato pancakes. To totally different things!! About the only thing common with them is the potato, and they are cooked.

[gerti]

In the Lower Rhine Area in Germany they make "Reibekuchen" which are potato pancakes made from finely grated potatoes. Not at all like hash browns, much finer grated.