Best Marthas Favorite Potato Pancakes Recipes

ALEX WITCHEL'S POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Place half the potatoes in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely chopped. Transfer potatoes to a strainer set over a medium bowl; let drain. Repeat process with remaining potatoes. Measure out 3 cups chopped potatoes and discard any remaining potatoes.
• In a large bowl, beat eggs lightly. Add potatoes, onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper; mix well. Stir in 2 tablespoons matzo meal, and let stand about 30 seconds to absorb moisture in batter. If necessary, add more matzo to make a thick, wet batter.
• Place a large nonstick skillet over medium heat; add oil. When oil is hot, working in batches, add 2 tablespoons batter, flattening gently to make thick pancakes. Cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; season with salt. Repeat process until all the batter has been used. Serve immediately with applesauce and sour cream.

SIMPLE POTATO PANCAKE

Steps:

• In an 8-inch nonstick skillet, melt 2 1/2 teaspoons butter over medium-high. Add hash browns and press evenly into skillet with a rubber spatula. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, pressing on potatoes and tucking in edge occasionally with spatula, until crisp and deep golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. (Adjust heat if necessary to prevent cake from over-browning.) Flip pancake and repeat, adding 2 1/2 teaspoons butter to skillet. To serve, cut pancake into quarters.

POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Grate potatoes into a large bowl using the large holes on a box grater. Season with a teaspoon coarse salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper and let stand 10 minutes; stir to blend in any liquid. Heat vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high. Drop in rounded tablespoons of potatoes and flatten with a spatula. Cook until golden-brown on both sides, about 5 minutes total, then drain on paper towels. Repeat with more oil and remaining potatoes. Serve with sour cream and chives or applesauce alongside.

EASY POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Coarsely grate potatoes and onion into a colander in the sink. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible, then transfer vegetables to a large bowl; mix in egg, flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Working in batches, drop 1/4-cup mounds of potato mixture into the skillet; press lightly with a spatula to flatten. Cook pancakes until golden, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve with sour cream and applesauce, as desired.

CLASSIC POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°F. Place 2 nonstick baking sheets in oven.
• Using box grater or food processor fitted with grating disc, coarsely grate onion and place in colander set in sink. Coarsely grate potatoes, add to colander, and set aside to drain.
• In large mixing bowl, lightly beat eggs, then whisk in flour.
• Press potatoes and onion to extract as much liquid as possible, then add to egg/flour mixture. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Using wooden spoon or hands, mix well, but do not overwork.
• In heavy-bottomed, 12-inch skillet over moderately high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter until hot but not smoking. Drop 4 scant 1/4-cup portions of potato mixture into pan and flatten with spatula to form four 3-inch pancakes.
• Fry until bottoms are golden-brown, 4 to 5 minutes, then turn over and fry until golden-brown and crisp, an additional 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain; season immediately with salt and pepper. Keep warm on baking sheets in oven while making remaining pancakes.
• Using paper towels, carefully wipe out pan. Add 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter and fry 4 more pancakes. Repeat with remaining batter, wiping out pan and adding 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter before each batch.
• Serve pancakes hot with applesauce and/or sour cream.

CRISPY POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Finely grate potatoes; drain any liquid. Place potatoes in a large bowl. Add egg, onion, flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder; mix well. , In a large skillet, heat 1/8 in. of oil over medium heat. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls; press lightly to flatten. Fry until golden brown on both sides. Serve immediately.

MASHED-POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together mashed potatoes, egg, and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper and mix well to combine (mixture will look wet). In a large nonstick skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high.
• In batches, drop heaping spoonfuls of potato mixture into skillet, pressing with a spatula to flatten slightly. Cook until golden brown on bottom, about 3 minutes. Gently flip and cook until golden brown on other side, 3 minutes. Repeat with remaining potato mixture and more oil.

SWEET POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Coarsely grate sweet potatoes on the large holes of a box grater (or use a food processor fitted with a shredding blade). Transfer to a large bowl; stir in scallions, eggs, flour, 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• Using a packed 1/4-cup measure of potato mixture per pancake, shape into 12 mounds. With hands, form each into a firm ball; transfer to a baking sheet. With palm, flatten balls into 3/4-inch-thick cakes.
• In a large skillet, heat oil over medium until hot (see note, below). Using a metal spatula with a thin blade, carefully transfer 6 cakes to skillet; flatten to about 1/2 inch thick. Cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer pancakes to a paper-towel-lined plate; sprinkle with coarse salt. Repeat with remaining cakes. Serve immediately, with sour cream, if desired.

POTATO-CARROT PANCAKES

Steps:

• In a food processor fitted with a fine-hole grating attachment (or on the small holes of a box grater), grate potatoes and carrots. Transfer to a large bowl; add scallions and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Using your hands, mix thoroughly. Mix in egg and matzo meal until combined. Divide into 8 mounds of equal size.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat, swirling to coat bottom of pan. Add half the potato mounds; flatten each to a 1/2-inch thickness. Cook until golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes per side.
• Transfer to paper towels or parchment paper to drain. Repeat with remaining mounds (reduce temperature to medium if browning too quickly). Sprinkle with salt, and serve with sour cream, if desired.

PERFECT POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Peel and shred potatoes; place in a bowl of cold water. Line a colander with cheesecloth or paper towels. Drain potatoes into cloth and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, eggs, flour, onion, salt and pepper., In an electric skillet, heat 1/4 in. oil over medium heat. Drop batter by 1/4 cupfuls into oil, about 3 in. apart. Press lightly to flatten. Fry until golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining batter. If desired, top with maple syrup or applesauce.