Mashed Potato Pancakes - Recipe for Holiday Leftovers (2024)

FAQs

What dishes can be made from leftover mashed potatoes? ›

You can use the leftovers to make some scrumptious (and surprising) dishes. Think potato pancakes, pierogi, quesadillas, and more. Just use a recipe that contains plenty of fat (like our Day Before Mashed Potatoes) to keep leftover mashed potatoes extra creamy.

Flour absorbs some of the excess moisture from the milk and butter that is likely in your leftover mashed potatoes, a main culprit in pancakes that fall apart. It also provides protein and starch that helps the egg hold everything together.

Potato pancakes have a creamy, almost mashed-potato-like center, with a thin, golden, crisp exterior. Latkes, on the other hand, should have a deeply browned crust, with wispy, lacy edges. Latkes also aren't hash browns.

TO STORE: After cooling, leftover potato pancakes can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. TO REHEAT: Reheat potato pancakes in the oven at 400 degrees F for five to 10 minutes.

How Long You Can Keep Leftover Mashed Potatoes. Mashed potatoes should easily last three to five days in the fridge if stored correctly and within two hours of cooking. This means ensuring there isn't any moisture buildup under the lid that could encourage the growth of bacteria.

You can also add a bit of milk or cream to your cold mash, place them in a buttered oven-safe container, cover with foil, and heat in a 325-degree oven. I check frequently, stir occasionally, and add more dairy as needed, but this reheating method should take about 30 minutes total, give or take.

Fry the latkes no more than an hour or two ahead of serving. You can warm them by placing the latkes in a single layer on a sheet pan in a very low (200 F) oven. If they stay there too long, they will no longer be as crisp, but they will still be very appealing.

Potato pancakes may turn out mushy if there is too much moisture in the potatoes or if the batter is too wet. To prevent this, be sure to thoroughly squeeze out excess liquid from the grated potatoes using a kitchen towel or cheesecloth before mixing them with the other ingredients.

– After shredding your potatoes, immerse them in cold water to keep them from discoloring. If you're using a hand grater, you can shred them directly into the bowl of water. Soaking the shreds helps to keep them from turning brown; it also has the added benefit of making crispier latkes.

Beat eggs, flour, baking powder, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl; stir in potatoes and onion. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of potato mixture into hot oil in batches. Press to flatten.

What is another name for potato pancakes? ›

Potato pancakes are associated with almost every European cuisine and are referred to as a variety of names including latkes (Jewish culture), kartoffelpuffer (Germany), bramborak (Slovakia and Czech Republic), draniki (Austria), tattifish (England) and rosti (Switzerland) (“Potato Pancake Background”, n.d).

According to The Jewish Book of Why by Alfred J. Kolatch, Jews eat potato latkes during the eight days of the Hanukkah holiday “because they are fried in oil, and oil symbolizes the miracle of the cruse of oil which lasted for eight days instead of one. Latkes are called fasputshes or pontshkes by some Ashkenazim.

Serving them with applesauce and sour cream is the most classic choice, but Grandma Blanche served them with cottage cheese, and so we always include it in our potato pancake garnish spread, too. If you're in a potato mood, but want something more dinner-time friendly, try our Pierogi!

Potato Latkes

Place potato pancakes uncovered in pre heated oven for 15 minutes, flip over for 5 more minutes. Potato pancakes are fully cooked, just need to be heated through.

This happens because they oxidize when they come in contact with air. Luckily there's an easy solution… Immediately after grating (and I mean immediately) cover the potatoes with cold water. Let them sit in the water, completely submersed, until you're ready to proceed with your recipe.

Yes! Prepare your mashed potatoes ahead of time, ready for when you need them. Refrigerate for up to 3 days and freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight container. Check out the full recipe for reheating instructions (you can reheat your mashed potatoes from frozen)!

While gravy is a classic choice, mashed potatoes can be enjoyed with various toppings and sauces. Consider adding a dollop of butter, shredded cheese, fresh herbs, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, roasted garlic, or even a creamy cheese sauce.

Another nice thing about leftover mashed potatoes is that you can use them as a blank canvas and add in other ingredients. Stir in some sour cream, grated garlic, and chives, or add a generous amount of grated parmesan and cracked black pepper. With so many different ways to flavor them, you'll never be bored.