Potato Pancakes

My Dad’s father was from Poland and my Dad had learned how to make his potato pancakes from his Dad.  We didn’t get a chance to have them often growing up as they take some time and are fried with a bit of oil so they were considered a treat to save our arteries.  I was going to be all interesting like and Wikipedia ethnic potato pancakes names and list them as if I knew what I was talking about, the funny thing is, if you Wikipedia “potato pancakes” it gives a list of about twenty different countries and each of their respective names.  I didn’t want to list them all so you can read them here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potato_pancake.  I knew that many Eastern European countries make potato pancakes, or a slight variation there of, I guess I didn’t realize that EVERY Eastern European country has a variation of these tasty little devils. 

This is how my family makes their potato pancakes, I changed it up and instead of shredding the potatoes by hand (super time consuming) I did them in the blender like my co-worker does.  It's the same great taste, but a smooth texture.  Super easy and easier clean up.

You need:

• 6 medium potatoes – Scrub well.  I leave the peel on because 1.  I am lazy and 2. I am cheap, why waste the peel when you can eat it?!?  Oh and  3. The peel is the healthiest part for you.  Cut into 1/4s.

• 1 medium onion – Peeled.  Cut into 1/4s. (I used a red onion as it was all I had.)

• 1 clove of garlic - Peeled

• 1 egg

• ½ cup of flour

• ¼ of Canola Oil or Olive Oil (Or if you are really bad use bacon grease, but I didn’t say that!)

Steps:

• Dump everything into the blender.  (Except the oil, and crack your egg first!) SO MUCH EASIER THEN SHREDDING AND CHOPPING BY HAND!!!

• Blend/Chop until a smooth consistency.

• Heat your frying pan.  Medium high.
• Add oil and heat for just a few seconds.

• Spoon pancake mixture into the hot pan, make them whatever size you like. 

• Watch for them to turn slightly brown on the edges and bubble in the centre.

• Flip and finish cooking for about few minutes more.  (You want them nice and golden brown and crispy.)

 

Serve with sour cream, bacon, or fried onions.  Whom am I kidding, serve with all three!

SO GOOD!!!