Moms Norwegian Potato Lefsa Recipes

NORWEGIAN POTATO LEFSA

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and place them in a large pot with a large amount of water. Bring water to a boil, and let the potatoes boil until soft. Drain and mash well.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine 8 cups mashed potatoes, cream, butter, salt, and sugar. Cover potatoes and refrigerate over night.
• Mix flour into the mashed potatoes and roll the mixture into balls about the size of tennis balls, or smaller depending on preference. Keep balls of dough on plate in the refrigerator.
• Taking one ball out of the refrigerator at a time, roll dough balls out on a floured board. To keep the dough from sticking while rolling it out, it helps to have a rolling pin with a cotton rolling pin covers.
• Fry the lefsa in a grill or in an iron skillet at very high heat. If lefsa brown too much, turn the heat down. After cooking each piece of lefsa place on a dishtowel. Fold towel over lefsa to keep warm. Stack lefsa on top of each other and keep covered to keep from drying out.

MOM'S LEFSE

Steps:

• While the potatoes are hot, combine them with the salt and butter in a stand mixer or a large bowl. Mix or stir until no lumps remain (think of smooth mashed potatoes).
• Let stand covered until the potatoes are cool, then add the flour. Work the flour into the potatoes by hand, kneading it in thoroughly, or use a stand mixer with the dough hook attached. (You can use a rotary egg beater as well.)
• Preheat an electric griddle to 450°F (you can also use a 12-inch cast-iron skillet if you don't have a griddle). Spread out a big bath towel or flour-sack dish towel on the counter or table (avoid using towels that are laundered with scented detergent or dryer sheets).
• Form patties of the dough, each about the size of a tennis ball (a measuring cup can be useful for making sure the resulting lefse sheets are all the same size). Place one patty at a time on a generously floured lefse board, pastry cloth, or other large, flat surface. Roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle, making sure it is evenly thin throughout.
• Using a lefse stick, carefully slide it under the middle of the lefse sheet, making sure to keep the end of the stick down so it doesn't poke through the dough. Lift the stick gently from the board. Matching the edge of the sheet to the edge of the grill, lay the sheet down and unroll it onto the griddle in one smooth, quick motion.
• Bake the lefse until small brown spots appear on the underside and bubbles appear on top like a pancake, 1 to 2 minutes. Then flip and repeat on the other side. Lefse cooks very quickly; don't ignore it too long or it will burn before you know it!
• Transfer the finished lefse onto the towel. You can stack several sheets on top of one another in a shingle pattern, then start another layer and stack those. Then cover them with a thin cloth or another towel, and set them aside to cool.
• When they have completely cooled, fold the lefse in half, then half again so you have a round-edged triangle. Store them in zipper-lock freezer bags. They will keep in the freezer for at least 6 months.

INSTANT POTATO NORWEGIAN LEFSE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan or pot, bring the water to boil and add the milk, butter, sugar, and salt. When the milk has come to a boil, add the potato flakes and stir until smooth. Pour the potatoes into a large bowl and refrigerate.
• When ready to make the lefse, take out 2 cups of potatoes at a time and add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of flour and stir until it becomes a workable dough. Flour a counter surface and roll the dough out as thin as possible. Cut individual slices with the a round cookie cutter, or the top of a medium sized glass.
• Add about 1 tsp oil to a skillet pan and cook the lefse for about 3-5 minutes, or when brown blisters start to form on the top. Flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
• Continue to cook the individual slices until the potato dough is gone. You may be able to cook several lefse at a time if you have a large enough skillet, if not cook one at a time. Any leftover cooked lefse may be refrigerate and used for about 3-5 more days.

NORWEGIAN POTATO FLATBREAD (LEFSE)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line an oven-safe skillet or baking pan with aluminum foil.
• Poke the potato skin all over with a knife and place on the prepared pan.
• Roast in the preheated oven until very tender and easily pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Let sit until cool enough to handle but still very warm.
• Scoop potato flesh out into a bowl. Mash smooth with the back of a spatula until there are no lumps left. You can also use a potato ricer. Add the butter and mix until it disappears. Add the salt, sugar, and cream; mix until smooth. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
• Mix in flour in several additions until the dough is able to be kneaded by hand. Add enough flour to form a soft, but not too sticky, dough. You need to be able to roll it out fairly thin without it falling apart.
• Wrap dough with plastic and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Divide dough into 8 portions. Dust each with flour and roll out onto a well-floured kitchen towel to 1/8-inch thick, or thinner.
• Heat a very lightly buttered nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Cook the lefse in the hot pan, poking the surface lightly with a fork, until golden brown blisters form, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Stack on a plate as they're cooked and keep covered with a towel. Serve warm.

SALLY'S NORWEGIAN LEFSE

Steps:

• Mix the first 4 ingredients together.
• Then add the flour, mixing thoroughly and adding a little extra flour if the dough seems too moist.
• If using a pancake griddle, divide dough into egg-sized balls(if using a large lefse grill, larger balls will be needed.).
• Chill the dough-balls for 30 minutes.
• Roll out each ball on a pastry cloth until very thin.
• Bake on a griddle or a lefse grill set at 400 - 500 degrees, until small brown spots appear on the surface. Then, turn and bake the other side until spots appear.
• Cover with a towel or waxed paper after baking, to keep soft.
• Serve buttered, and sprinkled with brown or granulated sugar.