German Potato Pancakes - Kartoffelpuffer
Potato pancakes are associated with cuisines of many European countries but either they were not so popular in Bosnia or my mom didn't care to make them. Hence, I had my first Kartofellpuffer (a.k.a. Reibekuchen) when I moved to Germany. I was hooked.
I know people who claim that they never had a good German meal. This recipe is easy to follow and I'd suggest they start cooking. Or come over to my house, I'd be more than happy to cook some good German meal for you, like these rouladen or German pizza.
Plain pancakes are not my thing. I much rather make and eat crepes. They are good alone, with syrup or stuffed with pretty much anything you can think of like I mentioned in these posts: chicken-filled crepes and ricotta and walnut-filled crepes.
On the other hand, potato pancakes or (if you will) latkes, placki, and boxty are an ideal breakfast, main and side dish traditionally popular among Jewish, Polish, and Irish people. I like them both equally, topped with sour cream or cold applesauce.
German Potato Pancakes - Kartoffelpuffer
Ingredients:
Makes 8 pancakes
- 4 (ca. 1 ½ lbs) starchy potatoes, like Idaho or Russet
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup oil
- Sour cream (optional)
- Applesauce
- Cinnamon (optional)
Directions:
- Peel, wash, and grate potatoes using a hand grater or food processor with a shredding blade. Peel the onion, grate and add to the potatoes.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg, flour, salt, and pepper. Fold in the potato mixture. Fry immediately. Preparing this step ahead of time is not recommended. Potatoes oxidize and salt will pull moisture out of your potatoes and onions, leaving you with brown and soggy pancakes.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. For each pancake, drop two tablespoons of the potato mixture into the skillet, flattening each mound with a spatula. Fry about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove pancakes with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels until oil is absorbed. Best served hot or at room temperature topped with sour cream or applesauce sprinkled with cinnamon.
German Potato Pancakes - Kartoffelpuffer
Ingredients
- 4 ca. 1 ½ lbs starchy potatoes, like Idaho or Russet
- 1 egg
- 1 small onion
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup oil
- Sour cream optional
- Applesauce
- Cinnamon optional
Instructions
- Peel, wash, and grate potatoes using a hand grater or food processor with a shredding blade. Peel the onion, grate and add to the potatoes.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg, flour, salt, and pepper. Fold in the potato mixture. Fry immediately. Preparing this step ahead of time is not recommended. Potatoes oxidize and salt will pull moisture out of your potatoes and onions, leaving you with brown and soggy pancakes.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. For each pancake, drop two tablespoons of the potato mixture into the skillet, flattening each mound with a spatula. Fry about 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crisp.
- Remove pancakes with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels until oil is absorbed.
- Best served hot or at room temperature topped with sour cream or applesauce sprinkled with cinnamon.
Notes
Nutrition
Featured on: Nifty Thrifty Things, Domestically Speaking, Simply Sweet Home, Simply Sweet Home, A Day of Small Things, and Tumbleweed Contessa.
Ohh I can smell them Jas, they are my favourite German dish and I haven’t made them in ages. I eat them with apple sauce but next time I will definitely try them with sour cream!
Thank you, Katrin! I always start with sour cream and finish with applesauce. It's like a special treat to me. 😀
These look delicious! Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites. I'm featuring you this week.
Thanks for making my day, Jerri! 😀
My heritage is German so of course I have enjoyed potato pancakes at family gatherings over the years. This is a good reminder. Your photos here are lovely, shared on Pinterest!
Then you know how yummy they are :D. Thank you for sharing, Deborah!
Your Potato Pancakes look wonderful, we would love these. Your post is awesome and thanks so much for sharing it with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
You're so kind. Thank you!
My tummy is calling these!! They sound so good! Thanks for sharing, Jas! x
I hope you give your tummy what it wants, Jhuls. 😀 Thank you!
These look so good! I went to Germany this past summer and they sure do like potatoes! Thanks for the recipe!
Yep, you know it, LOL. Potatoes with everything 😀
I adore potato pancakes and these look amazing! I could eat these any time of the day. Thank you for sharing over at Fiesta Friday! Happy Fiesta Friday!
Thank you, Antonia! I'm thrilled that you like them 🙂
These look wonderful, I'm traveling to Germany later this year and I'll definitely be looking for these!
Awesome! Have safe travels. You'll love it there 🙂
Pinning and printing! These look so delicious, can't wait to surprise my husband. He's always happy when I serve him some authentic German food.
Glad you shared this at our Encouraging Hearts & Home blog hop this week!
Thank you, Linda! I'm glad you like it and I hope you'll find more inspiration in my German recipes. X
These look delicious! I regularly make a potato pancake using leftover mashed potatoes but it's been years since I made some using grated potato. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
Great idea to use leftover mashed potatoes! I'll try that next time. The texture will be different, but it will taste just as yummy.Thank you! X
Jas, these look wonderful! I don't think I've had potato pancakes since my honorary grandma (who was German) died several years ago. I must make these soon in her honor!
Jean, you must! Enjoy and honor her. 🙂
My husband swears he doesn't like potato pancakes, but I've made him latke a few times and he didn't have any issues 😉 So maybe I can make him some kartoffelpuffer too!
It's worth a try, lol. Men...
I am always looking for new potato recipes. Thank you for sharing your delicious recipe with us on the #SundayDinnerBell
Thank you, Stephanie! 🙂
I've always wanted to try potato pancakes, but didn't know that some put applesauce on top!
Thanks for sharing at Talented Tuesday! Hope to see you again this week 🙂
Oh yeah, it's the German way and it's delicious!
These sound wonderful! Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!! [email protected] in Pyjamas
Thank you! XO
German pancakes are one of my favorite dishes. Thanks for linking up and sharing with us at Funtastic Friday. Hope to see you again this week.
I love partying with you!
These look so good! I love German potato pancakes, but have never made them at home, pinning to try. Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend? I hope you will join us again this Monday!
Can't even compare to the ones at restaurants unless they're authentic German restaurants. Try them, they are really easy to make 🙂
Thanks for linking up with Waiting on...Wednesday! Hope to see you back tomorrow!
😀
My absolute favorite thing to eat in this whole world is potatoes and these look divine! Thanks for sharing and i will be sure to try this recipe soon!
Becky, I am a potato lover myself! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
I heard about these but never tried it. I would love it if you joined and contribute your awesome posts at my link party at City of Creative Dreams, starts on Fridays at 9AM eastern time 😀 Hope to see you there at City of Creative Dreams Link Party.
Thank you for the invitation, Shanice, I will definitely stop by! Hope you will also join us at Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop 😀
I've never eaten potato pancakes with applesauce before. Will have to give this a try.
It really goes well...strangely enough, lol.
pancakes look so crunchy and yummy. Going to try this recipe soon.
Thank you, Mayuri! Let me know how you liked them 🙂
Thank you very much for these delicious desserts!
You're welcome, Leovi! Thank you for your awesome photography! 🙂
How fun is this recipe!?! A little savoury, a little sweet and crunchy and delicious. I can't wait to try these. Sharing of course!
Aw, Bobbi, thank you sweetie!
These look so good Jas. I love potato pancakes, they make a great change to other potato side dishes. Though I would also seriously like these for breakfast.
Hi Caroline, I love them for breakfast or light supper too! 🙂