Potato Pancakes (Placki Ziemniaczane)

 

Recipe Name:  Potato Pancakes (Placki Ziemniaczane) 

Story:  Christina is one of my good friends in Nashville.  We met through work roughly 10 years ago.  We both share the love of cooking, and she has made these potato pancakes many times and they are incredible!  The Whittier family on Grammy's side is also Polish / Russian, so I imagine our family also made something similar back in the day.  I asked her for Christmas if she wouldn't mind sharing the recipe.  Here is her story:

This recipe has been made by my family for generations, starting in Poland and moved to the states along with them. Since moving away from Chicago and not having immediate access to Polish food here in Nashville, I tend to get crazy cravings for anything Polish. This dish instantly brings me back to being a child in the kitchen with my Babcia and eating all of her wonderful cooking.

Years you've been making it:  Since 1999

Author / Creator:  Christina Timis

Submitted by:  Dustin

Ingredients:  

• 2.5 lbs Russet potatoes
• 1 Medium Yellow Onion
• 1 Egg
• ½ cup All Purpose Flour
• 2 tsps Salt
• Pepper to taste
• Canola Oil
• Sour cream (used for dipping)

Directions:  

1. Wash and peel potatoes
2. Using a hand grater, grate the onion and potatoes using the finest side of the grater into a bowl.
3. Add the egg, flour, salt and pepper and mix together thoroughly. Depending on how liquid the mixture is, you may need to add a little more or less flour, but you want this to have a pretty thin consistency.
4. In a large frying pan, heat up the oil over medium-high heat
5. Add the potato batter to the oil, ¼ cup per pancake.
6. Using the back of a spoon, spread the batter until the pancake is about 1/4 inch thick.
7. Fry for about 3 minutes per side, until they are nice and crispy.
8. Place the pancakes on paper towels (sprinkle with a little bit of salt, optional) to drain while you fry the rest of the batter.
9. Serve with sour cream and enjoy

Notes:  

These are great used as a side for dinner, but also reheat very nicely in a toaster oven for breakfast or lunch!

This is the side of the grater to use:

This is the consistency you're going for:

A picture of the pancakes while cooking: