Draniki aka Potato Pancakes

In many of the eastern European countries such as Austria or Poland, and in the Jewish tradition, they're called latkas. In Ireland they are referred to as boxty, and in Sweden raraka. They are the national dish of Belarus. and known as draniki. Out West in diner joints they're called hash browns. In my mother Mary's kitchen we called them potato pancakes.

My mother would cook these as a side dish for dinner, usually with some sort of pork entree', or yellow split soup, and with applesauce on the side. Leftover potato pancakes would be served with ham and eggs for breakfast. Her potato pancakes were more in the Belarusian style where the potato and onion are grated finely, then most of the water removed, and thickened with a little flour and egg. It's a delicate balance that needs to be achieved between the mixture being too watery or too thick.

My contribution to this wonderful dish is adding a pinch of paprika, nutmeg, grated sharp cheddar cheese and parsley.

When properly prepared these potato pancakes are crunchy on the outside, warm, tender and chewy on the inside. I ate 3, and then took a nap.

This recipe will make six dranikis, or as we call them in Connecticut, potato pancakes.

The recipe is below the photos.

Peace...Make Food/Not War

I added a little flower to this mix to sop up the water

side one in the pan

side #1 done

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Done.....Eat

Draniki/Potato Pancakes....makes 6

Ingredients:
2 large russet potatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup parsley medium chop
pinch paprika
pinch nutmeg
1 egg
1 tablespoon flour
1 quarter of yellow onion
sharp cheddar cheese
sunflower oil

1) Peel the russet potatoes  and in a large bowl fine grate the potatoes and the onion. Let sit for a few minutes and remove most he water.

2) Add the egg, salt, black pepper, nutmeg, paprika, parsley and mix well. Add the flour and mix again. This will soak up most of the remaining excess water.

3) In a hot skillet add a tablespoon of sunflower oil and a drop medium size handfuls of pancke mix into the pan, and flatten with a spatula till they are about a 1/2 inch thick. Cook on one side till golden brown, flip and cook the other side till golden brown. Add some  grated cheddar cheese on top (optional), and cook till melted. You're done, now enjoy!

complete