I'm ten years old and standing by the stove, while mom takes a spoon and drops some of the batter into the hot oil. After a few minutes, the sizzling sound and the intense aroma of fried potato pancakes makes me ever more impatient for mom to pluck the crispy golden treats out of the hot fat and plunk them onto the paper towel-lined plate nearby. I nibble on the crunchy exterior and burn my tongue, but that doesn't stop me from blowing on the fried treat and biting into it again, releasing another gush of steam as I pop the spongy, pillowy interior into my mouth.
They're Italian potato pancakes, they're deliciously addictive, and they're part of my childhood food memories. My mother was from Northern Italy, and arrived in the U.S. as a young war bride with few recipes in her repertoire. As a result, so much of the cooking I grew up with was Southern Italian food, reflective of the Calabrian household my mother married into. These potato pancakes are just one example.
If you've got any leftover mashed potatoes still lying around from Thanksgiving, put them to work in this recipe. Maybe they'll even become part of your family's food memories too.
Italian Potato Pancakes
printable recipe here
1 cup leftover mashed potatoes
1 cup flour
3 t. baking powder
a few sprigs of parsley, minced
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 eggs, slightly beaten
salt, pepper to taste
oil for deep frying
Mix all ingredients (except oil) in a bowl with a wooden spoon. The batter should be stiff, liked mashed potatoes. Heat the oil until very hot, and drop a spoonful of the batter into the oil. Fry until golden brown on both sides, turning once.
Whenever I make mashed pottaoes I always make extra just so that I can make my childhood version of these.
ReplyDeleteLeftovers shmeftovers, I'm getting out the potato peeler today!
ReplyDeleteOnly had potato pancakes at my friend's home for Chanukkah! I clearly need to rectify that! Potato pancakes for breakfast, anyone?
ReplyDeleteThey look amazing and ever so scrumptious! What a gorgeous starter.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Rosa
These look so good! Next time I make mashed potatoes I will cook plenty of extras for this.
ReplyDeleteThey look wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! yum! Italian latkes with leftovers!
ReplyDeleteI am not normally a frying type of gal, but these look so yummy. And since we never have leftover mashed potatoes, I should probably get scrubbing and peeling!
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ReplyDeleteTenderly written. Plus my mouth is watering.
ReplyDeleteWhat sweet childhood memories, Linda. These look light and airy. I don't eat deep-fried foods often, but when I do, it needs to be worth it. These certainly look it-- beautiful golden puffs of deliciousness.
ReplyDeleteI could almost smell and taste these potato croquettes, Linda.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's Calabrian Mom made a dough with cake yeast, boiled potatoes, flour and semolina that she would let rise, punch down and rise again, like bread dough. She then would twist a piece of the dough around a anchovy and deep fry it. His family called them zeppoles. They were always a Christmas Eve treat. We loved them but I can never seem to get the ingredient proportions right when I make them.
oh yum! Why did I give everything away! I love your 10 year old memories Linda.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea...I will need to try next time I have leftover mash.
ReplyDeleteLinda li mangerei tutti, sono troppo appetitosi! buona giornata, un abbraccio....
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother made something similar from leftover mashed potatoes. We all loved the little fried puffs.
ReplyDeleteI'll try this recipe tomorrow or sunday, I'll let you know....
ReplyDeleteYUM!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy Mother used to make these, Linda, and I used to burn my mouth, too, in such a haste to eat them. Thanks for bringing back the memories, and the recipe!
ReplyDeleteFunny I'd never come across these before but they look absolutely delicious. Will definitely try these!
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