Nana’s Potato Pancakes

Eureka!  Eureka, I tell you!  I finally figured it out.  This is as close as I can get to my Nana’s potato pancakes without having her little red recipe book!

It’s been a long time since I had my nana’s potato pancakes, but this is how I remember them.  Are you wondering about my grandmother’s red recipe book?  I wrote about it when I posted her apple pancakes recipe.

Pancake Extravaganza

I’ve mentioned before that my grandmother, Bena, lived downstairs from us in our two-family house.  Well, every once in a while she used to put out a pancake spread for our family.  For dinner.

It was one of the highlights of my childhood.

I know, funny that one of the highlights centers around food.  But I think about food a lot.  My whole family does.

Anyway, Nana used to make apple pancakes, plain pancakes and these glorious potato pancakes. Bena was German and made a lot of German foods.  I never knew that other people also ate potato pancakes because back then, we didn’t have the internet and my friends had never heard of them.  So yeah, hordes of peeps make German potato pancakes. I’ve seen the recipes online, although my grandmother never used onions in hers.

As with the apple pancakes, I don’t have her original recipe, which was lost after she died.  I had to figure it out for myself.  I’ve tried to replicate her pancakes many times.  I did not try every week.  Or every month.  In fact, sometimes years would go by I’d attempt them because I kept feeling like I couldn’t do it.  I couldn’t replicate her glorious pancakes, whether they were apple or potato.

But.

I.

Finally.

Did.

How We ate Pancakes

When we were having Bena’s pancakes, we would know ahead of time and the anticipation of this meal would make us giddy.  Well, at least it made me giddy.  Not sure how everyone else felt about it.

We would help her by peeling the potatoes or the apples.  We’d set the table with a white table cloth and her good china.

It made this pancake meal feel so special!  Can you feel me?

Here are the various things we used to put on the pancakes: maple syrup (naturally), grape jelly, stewed tomatoes and creamed corn, which is a glurg item for me.  I like corn but I do not like sweetened corn.  It’s not that I never tried creamed corn on my pancakes.  I did.  I just couldn’t get past the taste.  So, I stayed away.

Just like I stay away from corn chowder.  Glurg!

On to Nana’s Potato Pancakes Recipe

We have some large russet potatoes, an egg, flour and salt.  Four ingredients, isn’t that fun?

I agree.

First, I start by peeling two of the potatoes.  I wasn’t sure how many potatoes I needed, but two were enough because they are large.

Next, I cut the potatoes in pieces so I can fit them in the food processor.

I turn the processor on high and let it run for 2 minutes, so the potato is all pulverized.

Although I didn’t measure the potatoes but I’d say that it was 2 1/2 to 3 cups.

Next, I scrape the potatoes into a mixing bowl, add 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, an egg and mix them all together.

Red Versus Green

You’ve probably grated potatoes before.  If so, you will have noticed that the potato oxidizes, which means it turns a little reddish in color.

Now, the funny thing is, when you cook the potato pancakes, they turn greenish.  I have no idea why!

Do you know why?  Let me know in a comment.

I take my sauté pan and heat it on medium heat. I add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and let the oil heat up as well.

Then, I grab my smallish ladle and place 4 dollops of potato pancake batter into the oil. I also use the bowl of the ladle and flatten the dollop somewhat.

I let the potato pancakes cook 3 minutes before I flip them over and cook them for 3 minutes.  Once they are done, I place them on a plate and put a little butter on each potato pancake.

I continue cooking the potato pancakes until all the batter is done.

This recipe makes 16 potato pancakes.

Here they all are stacked on a plate.

Now just for fun, I’m going to stack eight of these beauties on a plate together.

Stack Those Potato Pancakes

Yum, yummity yum!

Okay, I feel like a piggy so I put four of them back.

Since I don’t have my lovely assistant to help me do an action pour, I pour the maple syrup on my potato pancakes before I take the photo.

I can’t wait to eat these.  Let me cut into my potato pancakes.

I can’t talk anymore, I have to eat now.

But before I do, I hope you enjoyed this recipe.

Please leave me a comment, let me know what kind of pancakes are your favorites!  I’d love to know.

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this potato pancakes or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

5 from 6 votes

Print

Nana's Potato Pancakes

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

24 mins

 

These potato pancakes are so delicious and easy to make!  They are comfort food for me.

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: Breakfast

Keyword: potato pancakes

Servings: 16 Pancakes

Calories: 120 kcal

Author: Elaine Benoit

Ingredients

4 Ingredients

• 2 Russet potatoes I used 2 large potatoes
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or more as needed

Tools

Food processor or grater

Sauté pan

Ladle that you would use for brown gravy

Instructions

What to Do

1. Wash and peel potatoes
2. Place potatoes in food processor and process for at least 2 minutes
3. Scrape potatoes in a mixing bowl and add potatoes, egg, flour and salt.  Use a rubber spatula and stir until combined
4. Heat sauté pan on medium heat
5. Add oil and heat it up
6. Use the ladle and scoop a dollop of batter in the pan.  I do four at a time
7. Cook for 3 minutes on each side, until they are browned
8. Keep adding batter until all the batter is used up
9. Butter each pancake
10. Plate four pancakes
11. Pour maple syrup on pancakes
12. Eat pancakes
13. Smile
14. Enjoy

Recipe Notes

Calories and nutritional do not include the maple syrup you will put on the pancakes!

Nutrition Facts

Nana's Potato Pancakes

Amount Per Serving (4 Pancakes)

Calories 120 Calories from Fat 18

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 2g 3%

Cholesterol 10mg 3%

Sodium 78mg 3%

Potassium 119mg 3%

Total Carbohydrates 7g 2%

Protein 1g 2%

Vitamin A 0.3%

Vitamin C 1.8%

Calcium 0.5%

Iron 2.5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.