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Placki Ziemniaczane

Crisp-edged Polish potato pancakes, grated fresh and fried golden, served with sour cream or applesauce.

⏱ 25 minPrep time
🔥 30 minCook time
🍽 4Servings
🏷 Eastern European KitchenCategory
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Placki Ziemniaczane

Placki ziemniaczane — Polish potato pancakes — are golden, craggy disks of grated potato and onion fried until their edges are lacy and crisp. Crisp outside, soft and tender within, they’re the ultimate rustic comfort food.

Traditionally served two ways: with sour cream, or the classic sweet-savory pairing of applesauce. They also star as the base for goulash in the dish called placki po węgiersku. Either way, they disappear fast — make plenty.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Grate the potatoes and onion on the large holes of a box grater or in a food processor.
  2. Transfer to a colander and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Pour off the liquid, keeping the starchy sediment, and stir it back into the potatoes.
  3. Beat the egg into the potato mixture, then stir in the flour, salt, and pepper.
  4. Heat a thin layer of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  5. Drop heaping spoonfuls of batter into the pan and flatten into 4-inch pancakes. Fry 3-4 minutes per side until deep golden and crisp.
  6. Drain on paper towels and serve hot with sour cream or applesauce.

💡 Chef tips & storage

The potato starch you stir back in is the secret to crisp, cohesive pancakes. Serve immediately — they lose their crunch as they cool.

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Recipe details

Prep25 min
Cook30 min
Servings4
CategoryEastern European Kitchen
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →