Potato Pancakes for St. Patrick’s Day. When I think about the comfort foods of my childhood, potato pancakes are high on the list. My Irish grandmother would make these all time, these or potato scones and we loved them.
I have not had these since she had made them so long ago. I miss my wonderful grandmother as she lived with us and was like a second mother to me. It’s great for me to have so many fond memories involving her and one of them is of her making these Potato Pancakes.
She never had a recipe and I asked her countless times and she said: “oh it is just a pinch of this and a mouthful of that”. Like many others of her generation, she never had anything written down it was all in the feel. Which is all well and good until you try to make your own and are left wondering what a pinch was and how big your grandmother’s hand was anyway?
I attempted to make potato pancakes last St. Patrick’s Day and failed miserably!! I believe that the key is that you have to have mashed potatoes that are cold and have sat overnight. Using leftover mashed potatoes from the previous day’s dinner is a great way to use up leftovers. It also allows you to have the perfect mashed potatoes for this recipe. Another great potato dish is our Colcannon Recipe, perfect for any time too.
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I made these and Amber, our daughter, thought she died and gone to Irish heaven!! She was stunned that I had never made them for her before!!
I had to cut her off at 5 pancakes or I would not have had one. She devoured them. Ken was very thrilled to have some when he came home too and we enjoyed them with a nice big salad.
Served as we did, they’re a great vegetarian meal, but these would make a great side for sausages or corned beef for your St. Paddy’s Day celebrations.
Crack open a Guinness and you are celebrating the day. They are crispy good on the outside and creamy and soft on the inside. A perfect potato pancake and just like how I remembered them.
How to Make Potato Pancakes
To make potato pancakes, you’ll need 2 cups of cold mashed potatoes, an egg, a quarter cup of flour, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste. If you want, you can also add chives. You’ll also need some canola oil to fry the potato pancakes in.
Mix the potatoes, egg, flour, and spices together in a medium-sized bowl. If you want to include chives, they should be mixed in during this step as well. You can use a food processor if you prefer.
Preheat a skillet over medium heat. Add some canola oil to the skillet to cover the bottom of the pan. 2-3 tablespoons should be enough.
Take a small amount of the potato mixture and form it into a patty with your hands.
Place the patty into the hot oil. Fry for a couple of minutes until it is golden brown. The outside should be crispy but not burnt. Flip the patty over and fry the other side.
When both sides are golden brown, remove the patty and place it on a plate lined with a paper towel.
Repeat until all of the potato mixture has been used.
Serve hot. If you are making a lot, you can place the finished potato pancakes on a baking sheet and stick them in a 300-degree oven to keep them warm.
Check out our new video here on how easy they are to make!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!! Enjoy!!
Potato Pancakes for St. Patrick’s Day
Ingredients
- 2 cups mashed potatoes
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt pepper and powdered garlic to taste
- Chives optional
- Canola oil for frying
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together the mashed potatoes, egg, flour, salt, pepper, garlic, and chives, if using.
- Preheat a large skillet with 2-3 Tbsp. of canola or enough to give an even layer in the pan.
- Form the potato mixture into patties and fry them for a couple of minutes until they are golden brown. Turn over and fry them on the other side. Serve hot with a sprinkling of chives.
Comments & Reviews
Ellie says
I find these simple treats great for a quick meal. I sometimes add corn or crumbled cooked bacon.Spinach or grated carrot. Options are endless. Enjoy the experience of creating and eating.
Tara Noland says
Great additions, they sound delicious!!
Carolyne Edmonds says
Could you drop a line and advise if flour plain or self raising ???
Tara Noland says
It is all-purpose flour, enjoy!
George Arnold Brady says
I LOVE POTATOE PANCAKES BUT NEVER TRIED IT WITH MASHED POTATOES, WILL TRY THEM
Tara Noland says
They are so good George, enjoy!!
Pizza Poppers says
Thats was exactly i looking for .thanks for sharing.
Tara Noland says
I am so happy you found it then, enjoy!!
C. Hogan says
Our family recipe is similar but with baking powder and melted butter added. Then fried in butter and served with butter spread on them. No cholesterol at all. Lol
Tara Noland says
Sounds delish!!
Beth says
Could these be made ahead and frozen? Has anyone tried it? They sound so good!
Tara Noland says
I have not tried as they never last but I bet they would be just fine.
Alison Mason says
I make these for my granddaughter; same recipe except I fold in about 1/3 cup shredded white cheddar as well. YUM!
Pat McDermott says
Just stumbled across your recipe and comments. Takes me back to my Irish Nana. She couldn’t cook anything but applesauce and potatoes. She had potatoes at every meal. I remember her talking about making these but every time I’ve tried I’ve failed. Now I’ve got a real recipe to follow. Can’t wait!
Tara Noland says
Haha, well I sure hope you enjoy these!!
Donna says
OMWORD…..I came across these & they brought back memories. Why I haven’t been making them is beyondn me. I started eating these almost 70 years ago. My great gran made spuds for us all the time…never had a meal without potatoes in any form. She didn’t use mash spuds….we dug them up an washed them good an then grated by hand an placed in bowl ice water til all were grated. Drained added flour an SALT an pepper an egg to bind & fried up in left over bacon grease.. My favorite way to 31st them is fold one in half an dip in pure maple syrup….yum!
Thanks for bringing back good eats of years past.
Tara Noland says
Those sound delicious too, more like latkes. My gran always made them with mashed potatoes. She made extra when we had them the night before. Love great memories like this!!
mandy says
how would you work out what u need for a pary of 10 people , for a st patricks night bash
Tara Noland says
I would triple the recipe or quadruple. Keep them warm in a 200F the oven while you are making more!
Jeanie says
THANK YOU for sharing the recipe. I too had an Irish Grandma and mom that made these, no recipes for their amazing cooking (I assume because from experience they just had a feel for the ingredients and what would go well together) and I am not much of a cook without a recipe. My previous attempts have been … the opposite of spectacular! I am looking forward to trying your recipe!!
Tara Noland says
Please try this recipe, I hope you love it!
Carol Richardson says
My mom made then when I was a kid and I make them I’ll have to make some for my kids and grandkids I love them thanks for sharing your recipe
Tara Noland says
You are welcome, they so remind me of my grandmother.
Carol says
Thanks so much for sharing. My Irish grandmother was the same. No solid recipes.., just handfuls of this and that. But they were to die for. Only difference…she used to bake in oven.
I have made some and according to kids they are delicious. But just not my Grans
I am looking forward to trying yours.
We like ours with a slice of beetroot and of course butter.
Tara Noland says
Beets are different, never had that with them but I love beets so have to try!!
Art Burns says
Made these tonight. I used 1/4 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp onion powder along with salt and fresh ground pepper. Made patty with 1/4 cup of mix, made 4. Perfect for two people. Will make again.
Sonia says
I’m from Guatemala and will try this recipe today! Thank you!
JoAnne Ciway says
I made these last week for St Patrick’s dinner…they were wonderful, I even used Gluten Free flour! I’ll be making these in the future for sure’
Franz says
Yes. They are to die for. My mother always made them that way. I’ve been making them like that all my life. Can never get enough.
The only difference is that we call them German pancakes. LOL.
Tara Noland says
Love this!! Whatever country they are great!!