Tag Archives: pancakes

German Potato Cakes

Plate of crispy potato pancakes topped with sour cream and chives
Crispy potato pancakes topped with sour cream.

Turn mealtime into a tasty celebration with crispy German potato pancakes! These golden treats bring cheerful comfort from breakfast to dinner. Add applesauce for a sweet twist, a spoonful of sour cream for creamy tang, or a perfectly cooked egg for extra deliciousness. Pair them with steak or chicken, or let them shine solo. Crisp on the outside and soft inside, they are easy to share and make every bite feel like a small celebration.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb. potatoes, about 2 or 3 large russets, grated (see note below)
  • 1/2 onion, grated
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • Dash of Ground pepper
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • Oil for frying

Process

  1. Preheat oven to 250°F to keep potatoes warm while frying.
  2. Finely grate potatoes and onion into a large bowl. Drain off any excess liquid.
  3. Combine the egg, garlic powder, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Gradually add 2–4 tablespoons of flour until the mixture becomes thick.
  4. Heat 1/4 inch of oil in the bottom of a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Drop 1/4-cup mounds of batter, two or three at a time, into hot oil and flatten with the back of a spatula to make 1/2-inch-thick pancakes.
  5. Fry over medium-high heat, turning pancakes once, until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes on each side. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate to drain. Keep warm in the preheated oven until ready to serve. Repeat until all potato mixture is used.

Note: You can use both russet potatoes and sweet potatoes for added sweetness and color.

Cabbage Pancakes

These cabbage pancakes make an excellent appetizer or side dish, but they are also hearty enough to serve as a meatless main dish serve them with fried eggs for a delicious meatless meal. The spicy sauce is excellent. The pancakes are good on their own, but with the sauce, they taste even better.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups of finely grated and chopped cabbage
  • 1 small onion grated, about ½ cup
  • 1 small carrot, finely shredded
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour (or ½ cup almond flour for gluten free)
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon fresh garlic – minced
  • 2 tablespoons of oil for sautéing

Process

  1. Thinly slice the cabbage, if using pre-bagged coleslaw mix, finely chop it and place it into a mixing bowl.
  2. Grate small onion and carrot with box grater, add the eggs, salt, and dill to the bowl. Stir well to combine.
  3. Add the flour and mix until all ingredients are well incorporated.
  4. Heat the oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  5. Use a measuring cup to scoop half a cup and put it on the skillet.
  6. Cook the pancakes until browned on both sides, about 3 minutes per side.
  7. Serve immediately with the dipping sauce.

Spicy Sauce

  • 4 tablespoons sour cream (or plain Greek Yogurt)
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust for taste)

Notes

  • You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. I reheat them in the microwave or eat them cold. You can also freeze them in freezer bags, separating layers with wax paper.

Light as Air Pancakes with Strawberry Syrup

Pancakes for dinner? Why yes! When my kids were young, we often ate breakfast for dinner once a week, usually on Friday. We also had a special night called Taco Tuesday, which they enjoyed. Having a plan where you have one breakfast and one dinner each week can make meal planning easier and healthier. It helps organize meals better, reduces the stress of deciding what to eat, and allows trying new recipes or cuisines. This method also simplifies shopping and helps control portion sizes. As the children grew into teenagers, I encouraged them to plan and cook a family meal on a designated night, which helped them learn cooking skills and become more independent.

Initially, this plan did not provide much relief from the kitchen work. However, as they gained confidence in their skills, planning meals became easier and less tiring. Watching them become more independent turned mealtime into an enjoyable experience.

Light as Air Pancakes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, separated
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Strawberry syrup, to serve (see below

Process

  1. Sift the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt into a bowl.
  2. Put egg yolks and milk into another bowl and gently beat in the sifted dry ingredients.
  3. Put the egg whites into a clean mixer bowl and beat until stiff peaks form. Using a spatula, fold whites into the batter.
  4. Heat the prepared griddle over medium-low heat. Pour 1/4 cup of batter into the pan and cook in batches over low heat until small bubbles begin to appear on the surface and the underside is golden brown. Flip the pancakes over and cook the other side for 1 more minute.
  5. Spread with whipped butter (recipe below) and maple syrup, strawberry syrup, blueberry syrup, or fresh fruit.

Whipped Butter

  • ½ cup of softened butter
  • 1 ½ teaspoon of whipping cream, milk or water
  • Whip the butter and liquid of your choice until light and fluffy.

Variations

  • Add a teaspoon of honey for honey butter or
  • ½ teaspoon of Cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of maple syrup for a sweet topping

Fruit Syrup Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1-1/2 cups mashed unsweetened strawberries, raspberries or blueberries

Process

  1. Bring sugar and water to a boil.
  2. Gradually add fruit of choice, return to a boil.
  3. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Strain fruit if desired.
  5. Serve with pancakes, waffles or ice cream.