German Potato Pancakes (also known as Reibekuchen or Puffer) are crispy, golden, and savory treats often served with applesauce or sour cream. These potato pancakes are simple to make and are a perfect side dish or appetizer for any meal. Here’s a traditional recipe:
German Potato Pancakes (Reibekuchen) Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 medium potatoes, peeled
- 1 small onion, finely grated or chopped
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2-3 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
- Applesauce or sour cream (for serving, optional)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the potatoes:
- Grate the potatoes using a box grater or a food processor to get fine shreds.
- After grating, place the shredded potatoes into a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth and squeeze out any excess moisture. This is important for getting crispy pancakes.
2. Mix the batter:
- In a large bowl, combine the grated potatoes, finely chopped or grated onion, egg, flour, salt, pepper, and baking powder. Stir everything together until well combined. The mixture should be thick and hold together.
3. Fry the pancakes:
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat. You want enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan.
- Using a spoon or your hands, form small mounds of the potato mixture and gently flatten them into round pancake shapes in the pan. Fry in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Cook each side for 3-4 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. Flip the pancakes carefully using a spatula.
4. Drain and serve:
- Once cooked, transfer the pancakes to a plate lined with paper towels to drain any excess oil.
- Serve immediately with applesauce, sour cream, or even a sprinkle of fresh herbs (such as chives) for extra flavor.
Tips:
- Crispiness: The key to crispy potato pancakes is to squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the grated potatoes before mixing them with the other ingredients.
- Flavor variations: Some variations include adding fresh herbs, such as parsley or thyme, or mixing in a bit of grated cheese for extra richness.
- Serving: In Germany, these pancakes are often served with applesauce, but you can also try them with sour cream, lingonberry sauce, or a sprinkle of sugar for a sweeter twist.
These German Potato Pancakes are wonderfully crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and perfect for any meal or snack. Enjoy!