Crispy Potato Pancakes with Applesauce
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Ingredients 🧂🥕
- Floury Potatoes1000 g
- Applesauce350 g
- Onions1 pcs
- Eggs2 pcs
- Strong White Flour15 g
- Salt0.2 g
- Pepper black0.2 g
- Sunflower Oil30 ml
Instructions 👩🍳
Step-by-step:
- Grate the potatoes and onion: Peel as needed, then grate the potatoes and onion for the potato pancake mixture. Use the illustrated recipe for the exact quantities, timings and cooking settings.
- Remove excess moisture: Press the grated mixture well so excess liquid is removed; this helps the pancakes become crisp.
- Mix the batter: Combine with egg, flour and seasoning until the mixture holds together without becoming heavy.
- Fry the potato pancakes: Shape portions in the pan and fry on both sides until golden and crisp outside and cooked through in the centre.
- Serve with applesauce: Drain if needed and serve freshly cooked with applesauce as shown in the illustrated recipe.
Crispy potato pancakes for the family table
Golden edges, a soft potato center and a spoonful of applesauce: these potato pancakes are hard to leave on the serving plate. Bring them to the table fresh from the pan and let everyone add their own topping. Simple ingredients, plenty of crunch and a very good reason to sit down together.
What goes into the potato pancakes
Floury potatoes give the pancakes their soft center. Onion adds savory flavor, while eggs and wheat flour hold the grated mixture together. Salt and black pepper provide the seasoning, sunflower oil is for frying, and applesauce is ready for serving.
Peel the potatoes and onion, then grate them. Squeeze the shreds well in a clean cloth before mixing in the eggs, flour and seasoning. Removing excess water helps the pancakes hold their shape without needing a heavy layer of flour.
From grated potatoes to a golden crust
Heat the sunflower oil in a frying pan without letting it smoke. Add small portions of the mixture and flatten them evenly. Leave room between them, then turn once the underside holds together and has browned. Cook the other side until the potatoes are tender all the way through.
If the crust darkens before the center softens, lower the heat. Thin, even pancakes are easier to cook through than thick mounds. Have a plate ready so you can serve each batch while its edges are still crisp.
Do not taste the raw mixture, which contains uncooked flour and eggs. Wash hands and utensils afterward and keep the applesauce away from the raw batter. An adult should handle the grater and hot oil. Let children's portions cool to a comfortable eating temperature.
Applesauce or something savory
Spoon the applesauce alongside the pancakes so their crust stays crisp until you dip in. For a savory accompaniment, try Cucumber Salad. Its cool cucumber and tangy yogurt dressing taste lovely with the warm potatoes.
Small tricks for easier frying
- Use a broad spatula. Slide it under the whole pancake before turning so the delicate edges stay together.
- Check the bowl between batches. If more liquid collects, drain it away instead of adding extra flour automatically.
- Avoid a tall stack. Lay the cooked pancakes beside one another so trapped steam does not soften the crust.
Change the topping
For a savory variation, serve plain yogurt or sour cream with chopped chives. A little cinnamon stirred into the applesauce gives the sweet version a warmer aroma. These are optional additions; the potato mixture can stay the same.
Get ready before grating
Set out the applesauce, plates and frying utensils first. Grate the potatoes close to cooking so they do not spend long standing in the bowl. Keep safely chilled leftover pancakes separate from their toppings; a pan or oven helps the surface crisp again when reheating.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use leftover mashed potatoes?
This recipe needs raw grated potatoes. Mashed potatoes make a different mixture and need a recipe designed for them.
Why do my pancakes break when I turn them?
The mixture may be too wet or the underside may not have set. Squeeze the potatoes well and wait until the pancake lifts in one piece.
How do I keep leftovers?
Cool untouched leftovers promptly and refrigerate them in a shallow container. Reheat thoroughly throughout, then let children's portions cool before serving.