Potato pancake
Shallow-fried pancakes made from grated or mashed potato, common across Europe
Potato pancakes are shallow-fried cakes made mainly from grated or mashed potatoes, flour or matzo meal, and egg, often with onion or garlic for flavor. They are found in the cooking of Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Poland and many other countries, with each region having its own name and style. Eaten hot, they can be served with sweet or savory toppings, and are enjoyed both as everyday food and at festivals.
- Potato pancakes are national dishes in Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and Slovakia.
- Latkes are a key Hanukkah food for Ashkenazi Jews.
- Korosten, Ukraine, holds an annual International Deruny Festival.
- Polish placki ziemniaczane can be topped with goulash or sweet sauces.
- Swedish raggmunkar and rårakor are regional potato pancake types.
What is Potato pancake?
A potato pancake is a flat, round cake made from grated or mashed potatoes mixed with flour or matzo meal and bound with egg. Onion or garlic is often added for extra flavor. The mixture is shaped into patties and shallow-fried in oil until crisp and golden. Potato pancakes can be thin or thick, depending on the region, and are served hot. They may be topped with sour cream, cottage cheese, apple sauce, or sugar, or eaten plain. The taste is savory and slightly earthy from the potato, with a crisp exterior and soft inside.
Where does Potato pancake come from?
Potato pancakes are found in many European cuisines, especially in Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and Poland, where they are considered national dishes. The Jewish version, called latke, became popular during Hanukkah in the 1800s, when potatoes became widespread in Eastern Europe. Earlier forms were made with cheese or other vegetables. Each country and region has its own name for the dish, such as draniki in Belarus and Russia, placki ziemniaczane in Poland, and deruny in Ukraine. The dish spread widely as potatoes became a staple crop.
How is Potato pancake made?
To make potato pancakes, raw potatoes are grated or ground and mixed with flour or matzo meal, egg, and sometimes onion or garlic. The mixture is seasoned with salt and shaped into small, flat rounds. These are shallow-fried in oil until both sides are golden and crisp. Some versions use mashed potatoes instead of grated, and a few recipes add other vegetables or herbs. In some places, sweet potatoes are used. The pancakes are served hot, often with various toppings.
How and when is Potato pancake eaten?
Potato pancakes are eaten at lunch, dinner, or as a snack. They are popular as street food and at festivals, especially in colder months. In Jewish tradition, latkes are a central food for Hanukkah. In Poland and Germany, they may be served with savory sauces, goulash, or sour cream, or with sweet toppings like apple sauce or sugar. In Ukraine and Belarus, sour cream is the classic accompaniment. They are usually eaten hot and fresh, sometimes as a main dish or a side.
Kinds of Potato pancake
Many countries have their own versions of potato pancakes. In Sweden, raggmunkar are made with batter and shredded potatoes, while rårakor are just potatoes fried without batter. Irish boxty uses more starch and sometimes buttermilk. In Korea, gamja-jeon is made with grated potato and potato starch. Some recipes use mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, or add ingredients like cheese, cabbage, or herbs. Toppings and accompaniments also vary by region and taste.
What Potato pancake means
Potato pancakes have special meaning in several cultures. For Ashkenazi Jews, latkes are a traditional Hanukkah food, symbolizing the miracle of oil. In Ukraine, the town of Korosten hosts an annual Deruny Festival. In Poland, the Plinza festival in Rzechta celebrates the dish with games and record-breaking pancakes. Potato pancakes are also a common street food at markets and fairs in Germany and other countries. The dish reflects the importance of the potato in European diets.
When Potato pancake is on the table
Questions people ask about Potato pancake
What are potato pancakes made of?
Potato pancakes are made from grated or mashed potatoes mixed with flour or matzo meal, egg, and often onion or garlic. The mixture is shaped into patties and shallow-fried in oil.
Where do potato pancakes come from?
Potato pancakes are traditional in many European countries, especially Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, and Poland. Each region has its own name and style for the dish.
How are potato pancakes usually served?
They are served hot, often with toppings such as sour cream, apple sauce, cottage cheese, or sugar. In some countries, they may be paired with savory sauces or goulash.
Are potato pancakes eaten for special occasions?
Yes, in Jewish tradition, latkes are eaten during Hanukkah. In other countries, potato pancakes are common at festivals and as street food.
Are potato pancakes vegetarian?
Yes, the basic recipe uses potatoes, flour, egg, and onion, making them vegetarian. Some variations may include cheese or other vegetables.
Good reading and sources
- Potato pancake on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Potato pancake", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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