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Authentic German Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer)

A stack of three golden-brown, crispy German Potato Pancakes piled on a white plate near a window.
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Make traditional, crispy German potato pancakes, known as Kartoffelpuffer or Reibekuchen, using this straightforward recipe. Learn the proper technique for grating and squeezing potatoes for the best texture.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs starchy potatoes (like Russet), peeled
  • 1 medium onion, peeled
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Vegetable oil or lard, for frying

Instructions

  1. Grate the potatoes and the onion using the coarse side of a box grater.
  2. Place the grated potato and onion mixture into a clean kitchen towel or several layers of cheesecloth.
  3. Twist the cloth tightly over a bowl and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. This step is crucial for crispiness. Discard the liquid.
  4. Transfer the dry potato and onion mixture to a large bowl.
  5. Add the beaten eggs, flour, salt, and pepper to the potato mixture. Mix gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Heat about 1/2 inch of oil or lard in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  7. Carefully drop heaping tablespoons of the potato mixture into the hot oil, flattening them slightly with the back of the spoon to form 3-inch pancakes. Work in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
  8. Fry for 4 to 6 minutes per side, until deep golden brown and crisp. Adjust heat if they brown too quickly.
  9. Remove the pancakes from the oil and place them on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess grease.
  10. Serve immediately with your choice of topping.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, you can mix 1 tablespoon of the squeezed-out potato starch back into the batter.
  • If you plan to keep the pancakes warm, place them on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven while you finish frying the rest.
  • Traditional savory accompaniments include applesauce (Apfelmus), sour cream, or quark cheese.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://savoryskies.com/german-potato-pancakes-kartoffelpuffer-recipe/