Homestead Classic Potato Pancakes

This recipe, for classic potato pancakes, came from my grandmother who initially received it from a friend. Unfortunately, I never asked about her friend or the history of this recipe. What we do know though is that classic potato pancakes were a staple of homestead scratch cooking in the past, and are still enjoyed today. Potatoes are an inexpensive food item, easily grown and easily stored for a long time in the right conditions. This made potatoes popular for hearty cooking over the years. 

Much to my children’s disappointment these potato pancakes only resemble pancakes in their shape and cooking method. However, they’re delicious, savory and filling. You can top them with a variety of different toppings including sour cream, shredded or melted cheese, bacon crumbles, or ranch dressing.  I hope you enjoy this recipe, and if you are feeding it to your kids for the first time, maybe call them something other than “pancakes” to avoid disappointment, haha!

Classic Potato Pancakes Recipe

Ingredients

2 cups potatoes, raw and grated 

¼ cup of milk

1 egg, well-beaten 

¼ cup all-purpose flour 

1 tablespoon minced onion 

Salt and pepper to taste 

Oil for cooking

Instructions

1. Wash and dry the potatoes (We used 3 medium-sized gold potatoes,)
2. Pour the ¼ cup of milk into the bottom of a bowl. Grate the potatoes into the milk. This keeps the potatoes from browning. 
3. Add the well-beaten egg and flour, and mix well. 
4. Add onion, salt and pepper, and stir 
5. Heat oil in a heavy skillet, cast iron or frying pan of choice.
6. Drop mixture by the spoonful into the pan. Cook slowly to allow potatoes to cook as well as brown. 
7. Serve with topping of choice!