Placki Ziemniaczane (Polish Potato Pancakes)
Local name: Placki ziemniaczane
In short: Crisp, golden potato and onion pancakes fried in shallow oil, eaten in Poland with sour cream, with sugar or under a spoonful of goulash. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 320 kcal
Crisp at the edges and soft inside, placki ziemniaczane are the potato pancakes Polish kids ask for on weekends. Raw potato and onion are grated, squeezed dry and fried in shallow oil. They can be eaten sweet, with sugar and sour cream, or savory, under a ladle of meat goulash. The one rule is speed: grated potato turns gray quickly, so mix and fry right away.
Instructions
- Grate the potatoes and onion on the fine side of a box grater, or in a food processor, into a large bowl.
- Tip the mixture into a clean kitchen towel or fine sieve and squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Let the squeezed liquid settle for 2 minutes, pour off the water and scrape the white starch at the bottom back into the potatoes.
- Stir in the eggs, flour, salt, pepper and marjoram until you have a thick batter.
- Heat about 3 mm (1/8 in) of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
- Spoon in about 3 tbsp of batter per pancake and flatten it to a 9 cm (3 1/2 in) round about 5 mm (1/4 in) thick. Fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until deep golden with crisp edges.
- Drain on a rack over a tray and keep warm in a 100°C (210°F) oven. Stir the batter before each batch and add oil as needed.
- Serve hot with sour cream, sprinkled with sugar, or topped with goulash.
Tips
- Work fast. Grated potatoes oxidize and turn gray within minutes, so keep the batter moving and fry in batches right after mixing.
- For crisp, lacy edges grate the potatoes on the coarse side. For a smooth, softer pancake use the fine side.
Questions and answers
Why do my potato pancakes turn gray?
The grated potato reacts with air. Grate the onion together with it, squeeze and fry right away, and add a squeeze of lemon if you must wait.
Are placki ziemniaczane sweet or savory?
Both. Many Poles eat them with sugar and sour cream, while others prefer them with garlic sauce or under a spoonful of goulash.
How are they different from latkes?
They are close relatives. Polish placki are typically made with an egg and a little flour, fried in shallow oil, and eaten all year round rather than at one holiday.
How long does it take to make Placki Ziemniaczane (Polish Potato Pancakes)?
About 50 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Placki Ziemniaczane (Polish Potato Pancakes)?
About 320 kcal per serving, with 9 g of protein, 45 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 320 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 45 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 600 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
