American · Breakfast

Potato Pancakes with Applesauce

Grated potato and onion fried into crisp pancakes and served with applesauce. Four servings in 30 minutes.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 30 min total Serves 4 servings Easy
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Make Ahead and Storage

Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat on a tray at 200°C for 10 minutes to crisp them.

Making Potato Pancakes with Applesauce

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  1. Grate the potatoes and onion on the coarse side of a grater. Squeeze out as much liquid as you can in a clean tea towel.

  2. Mix with the eggs, flour, salt and pepper, stirring in any starch left at the bottom of the squeezed liquid.

  3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Drop in heaped tablespoons of mixture, flatten and fry in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side until deep golden and crisp.

  4. Drain on kitchen paper and serve hot with the applesauce.

Tips for Success

  • Squeeze the potato dry; wet potato makes soggy pancakes.
  • Do not make them too thick or the middle stays raw.
  • Keep finished pancakes warm in a low oven.

Some Background

Squeeze the potato. That is the step everyone skips and the reason pancakes turn limp. Grated potato holds a surprising amount of water, and if it stays in the mixture the pancakes steam in the pan instead of frying.

Grate the potatoes and onion together on the coarse side of a box grater, then wrap in a clean tea towel and twist hard over the sink. A cupful of liquid should come out.

Let that liquid stand for 2 minutes, pour off the water and keep the white starch that settles at the bottom. Stir it back into the potato; it is the glue that holds the pancakes together.

Fry in a good depth of oil, about 5 mm, over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side. Drain on kitchen paper and serve at once. The pancakes taste best the moment they leave the pan, so serve them in batches rather than waiting for the last. Homemade applesauce is easy to make from a couple of cooking apples simmered with a splash of water until soft.

Serving Ideas

Soured cream · Smoked salmon · Fried egg · Green salad

Potato Pancakes with Applesauce FAQ

How long does Potato Pancakes with Applesauce take to make?

About 30 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 4.

What are the key tips for making Potato Pancakes with Applesauce?

Squeeze the potato dry; wet potato makes soggy pancakes. Do not make them too thick or the middle stays raw. Keep finished pancakes warm in a low oven.

What should I serve with Potato Pancakes with Applesauce?

Soured cream; Smoked salmon; Fried egg; Green salad.

How should Potato Pancakes with Applesauce be stored?

Keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat on a tray at 200°C for 10 minutes to crisp them.

Is Potato Pancakes with Applesauce suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegetarian, dairy-free and no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Potato Pancakes with Applesauce?

About 438 kcal per serving, with 8 g protein, 43 g carbohydrate and 26 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

What's in a Serving

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

438Calories
8gProtein
43gCarbs
26gFat
5gFibre
7gSugar
630mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.