Easy Lunch Ideas ~ Potato Pancakes

I‘m going to try to post more easy lunch ideas for you in the coming months. You can search the Easy Lunch Ideas by finding the category at the right side of the main page here at CHK and clicking on it.

Today’s idea is Potato Pancakes. Served with some fruit or a salad, it is a filling, nutritious lunch for you and your children.  They are sometimes called latke, we call them potato pancakes and serve them with either sour cream, ketchup or apple butter. My favorite accompaniment is sour cream.

Most people figure that potato pancakes must be made from leftover mashed potatoes and that is how I usually make them. However, there are mornings when the children really want potato pancakes and I don’t have any leftover mashed potatoes and I really don’t want to peel, boil and mash potatoes for breakfast!  On those occasions, I use instant potatoes.

To make potato pancakes using leftover mashed potatoes:

Start  by putting your mashed potatoes in a large bowl. You’ll need at least 2 cups of mashed potatoes to use these measurements that follow.
Add salt to taste.
Add two lightly beaten eggs to the potatoes and add about 1/2 cup milk.
Add 1/4 cup, or more, finely chopped onion if desired.
Now add 1 teaspoon baking powder
Add enough plain flour to make a soft dough that can be scooped and flattened.
Heat a skillet with some cooking oil over medium high heat. I use coconut oil.
Add a scoop of potato dough, about a tablespoon, to the hot oil and fry til golden brown on both sides.
Take the browned potato pancake out of the oil and drain on a clean towel. Sprinkle with salt. Serve with your favorite condiment.

Here is how to make potato pancakes using instant potatoes:

Put a kettle of water on to boil.
Put about 3 cups instant mashed potato flakes in a large mixer bowl. Add about 1 cup plain flour to the potato flakes, 1 egg and 2 teaspoons salt. Add a teaspoon of baking powder and mix in well.
Slowly pour boiling water on the flake mixture as you run the mixer. Pour boiling water and mix until you have a play-dough like consistency. Season to taste with salt and finely chopped onions

Heat an iron skillet on medium high heat, add your favorite oil, just a bit. Take out tablespoonful sized lumps of the dough, roll it around in your hands if you like to make it nice and neat. Place the lumps in the hot oil and fry til golden brown on both sides. Serve hot with sour cream, apple butter, ketchup or applesauce!