Normas Favorite Potato Cakes Recipes

OLD FASHIONED POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• Mix mashed potatoes, flour, onion, egg, black pepper, and salt together in a bowl until batter consistency.
• Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Drop 4-inch circles of batter into hot oil. Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining batter.

NORM'S POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• Peel and grate the potatoes and the onion into a small mixing bowl.
• (I use the grating blade of my food processor but grating by hand works just as well.) Stir in the egg and the flour.
• If the batter looks to runny add a little more flour- if it is too dry, add a splash of milk.
• Season well with pepper and salt and any other optional ingredients.
• Melt oil and butter together in a medium frypan and heat until sizzling.
• You can now add the batter in one of two ways: Dad's Method- Add spoonfuls of batter to the pan to form circles about 8-10cm (4 inches) in diameter.
• Cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
• Cook in batches of 2 or 3 and keep warm on a plate in an oven set on a low temperature.
• My Method- Tip all of the batter into the frypan and flatten it out with the back of a spoon so that it fills the whole pan evenly.
• Cook on one side for about 5 minutes then invert a dinner plate over the top of the pan and tip the potato cake onto the plate.
• Now, simply slide the cake back into the pan and cook on the other side for about 5 minutes.
• When both sides are cooked, invert the potato cake onto the plate again and cut it into wedges.
• Serve topped with mayonnaise, sour cream or ranch dressing and chopped chives or chopped green onions.

IRISH POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• Combine 2 cups leftover mashed potatoes, a heaping 1/3 cup flour, 2 tablespoons milk and 1 tablespoon chopped mixed herbs in a bowl; knead until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Divide into 4 balls on a floured surface and flatten each into a 3-inch patty. Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add the patties and cook until golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes per side, adding more butter to the pan as needed. Season with salt.

POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• In a medium size mixing bowl combine mashed potatoes, egg, flour, salt (if needed) and garlic salt. Mix well.
• Melt butter in a large frying pan over a low heat. Drop pancake-size (4 inch circles) lumps of mashed potatoes into the frying pan. Pat to flatten to 1/2 to 1 inch thickness. Sprinkle some cheddar cheese onto the mashed potato cake. Spoon more potato mixture over the cheese. Flip the potato cake over when the bottom is browned (about 10 minutes). Brown the other side (about 10 minutes).

MARTHA'S FAVORITE POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Grate potatoes in long shreds, using smooth strokes to run across the large holes of a grater into a large bowl of cold water. Set a sieve or colander over a second bowl and drain potatoes, reserving liquid.
• Set liquid aside until starch sinks to bottom of bowl, about 10 minutes. Carefully pour liquid from bowl and discard, reserving milky residue (potato starch). Transfer potatoes to bowl with potato starch.
• Add onion to the bowl, then stir in eggs, beer, flour, and 1 teaspoon salt; season with pepper.
• Preheat oven to 200°F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels; set aside. In a heavy skillet, heat 1/2 inch oil. Spoon 1/4 cup potato mixture per pancake into skillet. (Make a few at a time, being careful that they don't run into one another.)
• Fry pancakes, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes total. Transfer to prepared baking sheet to drain and keep warm in oven while frying the rest. Serve warm with apple- sauce, sour cream, and caviar, if desired.

MASHED POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onion in butter until tender. Remove from the heat. In a large bowl, lightly beat one egg. Add the onion, potatoes, flour, salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce if desired. , Shape into four to six patties; place on a greased baking sheet. Lightly beat remaining egg; stir in water. Brush over potato cakes. Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.

KILLER CRAB AND POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• Cook potatoes in boiling water for 6-7 minutes, until tender; drain, then scatter potatoes across a large, flat surface to cool and dry for 5 minutes; then transfer to a mixing bowl.
• Make a paste with the garlic and salt; add it to the potatoes along with the parsley, thyme, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes.
• Add crab and Old Bay seasoning to potatoes; combine the mixture gently.
• Form 4 super-size 4-5 inch killer crab cakes.
• Place the bread crumbs on a plate; coat the crab cakes on both sides with crumbs to set them.
• Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium to med-high heat; add the cakes and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until deeply golden; serve immediately.

SWEET POTATO COFFEE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray.
• Whisk white wheat flour, baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt together in a bowl. Beat 1/2 cup brown sugar, honey, and 1/4 cup butter together in another bowl with an electric mixer until creamy; beat in egg. Add sweet potato and vanilla extract to butter mixture and beat until smooth.
• Stir flour mixture into sweet potato mixture until batter is evenly moistened and smooth. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.
• Mix all-purpose flour, 1/3 cup brown sugar, rolled oats, 1/4 cup butter, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon together in a bowl until combined. Sprinkle oats mixture over batter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 30 minutes.

CRISPY POTATO CAKE

Steps:

• Clarify the butter: Melt the butter in a small saucepan and bring it to a gentle simmer.
• Shut off the heat and allow it to sit a minute on the stove. The milk solids should start to sink to the bottom. Slowly pour the butter into a bowl, keeping as much of the white milky liquid as possible in the saucepan. Discard the milk solids. These are prone to burning and by clarifying the butter, the potato cake will be less likely to overbrown. Keep the butter warm on the stove.
• Prepare the potatoes: Using a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife, cut the potatoes into thin 1/8-inch-thick slices. Transfer them to a bowl, sprinkle with a pinch of salt and black pepper, cover with all but 2 tablespoons of the melted butter and toss to coat.
• Pour the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the bottom of an 8-inch nonstick skillet and swirl it around to coat the bottom and sides. Add the thyme and a pinch of salt. It will start to crackle a little. Cook until it is no longer crackling, about 5 minutes, then remove the thyme from the butter and let cool slightly, about 1 minute. Strip half of the thyme leaves from the stems into the bowl with the potatoes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Assemble: Remember that the bottom layer will be the top when you unmold this cake so it should be done with extra care. Beginning in the center of the skillet, layer the potatoes in an overlapping circle following the edge of the skillet. Continue with the remaining potatoes, switching the direction and adding some salt and add a few spoonfuls of the potato liquid in between each layer. Gently press down on the potatoes as you're layering to make sure they stick together and form a cake. Pour any remaining potato liquid on top.
• Cook: Place the skillet on high heat and cook until the water starts to release itself from the potatoes and you can see the edges browning, 10 to 12 minutes. Place the skillet on a baking sheet, transfer the baking sheet to the oven and cook, undisturbed, for 15 minutes.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and carefully pour off any excess butter from the skillet into a bowl; save. Carefully line the hot baking sheet with parchment paper, then flip the skillet onto the sheet in one deft motion. Lift off the skillet and pour the reserved butter over the cake. Return the baking sheet to the oven to cook until the top of the cake is golden brown and crispy and the potatoes feel completely tender in the center when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 15 minutes.
• Serve: Carefully transfer the cake to a cutting board, season with salt and cut into wedges like a pie. Serve with roe or creme fraiche if desired.

OVEN-BAKED POTATO PANCAKES

Steps:

• Place potatoes in small stockpot, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium high; gently boil until tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Drain in a colander. Using a towel to hold potatoes, peel while still hot. Pass potatoes through a potato ricer or a food mill into a large bowl.
• Heat oven to 450 degrees. Meanwhile, heat olive oil in skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic, onions, red peppers, and celery; saute until vegetables are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add stock; saute 1 minute more. Add vegetable mixture to potatoes along with milk, thyme, salt, and black and cayenne peppers. Form 1/3 cup mixture into 3-inch round cake; transfer to platter. Repeat, making cakes with remaining mixture.
• In a shallow dish, whisk egg whites until foamy. Place bread crumbs in a shallow dish. Coat cakes in egg whites, then in bread crumbs; transfer to a baking sheet.
• Pour 1 tablespoon canola oil in a medium nonstick skillet; place over medium-high heat. Add half the cakes; cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Return to baking sheet; set aside. Repeat process with remaining tablespoon canola oil and cakes, wiping skillet with paper towel between batches.
• Place cakes in oven; cook until deeply golden, about 20 minutes. Serve with Sweet Red-Pepper Sauce.

POTATO CAKES

Steps:

• Boil potatoes for 25-30 mins or until mostly soft, but still slightly firm. Potato cakes will hold together best when the potatoes are not totally mushy.
• As the potatoes boil make the Herbed Ranch Salsa by combining all the ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and chill till needed.
• Drain potatoes and mash with skins on in medium bowl. and don't overly mash, just make sure there are small chunks of potato.
• Add remaining potato cake ingredients and mix well.
• Combine breadcrumbs with flour and 1 Teaspoon of Dill in large bowl.
• Combine beaten egg & milk in another large bowl.
• Measure approx 1/2 cup of potato mixture into your hands and shape into a patty about the size of a hamburger patty.
• Drop potato mixture into breading mixture, then into egg & milk, and then back into breading mixture. Be sure to cover entire surface with breading. Arrange the potato cakes on a plate, repeat the process with remaining potato mixture.
• Cover and chill the potato cakes for one hour so they will be sure to stick together when fried.
• Heat up shortening in skillet over medium-low heat.There should be about 1" of shortening in the pan.
• Fry the potato cakes in the oil 2-4 minutes or until golden brown, then drain on rack or paper towels.
• Serve with Herbed Ranch Salsa drizzled over top.

NORMA'S FAVORITE CRAB CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• Lightly oil a baking sheet
• Whisk together mayonaise, sour cream, mustard and egg in a mixing bowl.
• Gently fold in crab with a rubber spatula until just combined
• Gently form mixture into twelve 1- inch thick cakes;place on cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove from oven and raise oven rack and turn on broiler setting. Place cakes under broiler for 2 - 3 minutes untill lightly brown.
• Remove from broiler and let set for 5 minutes before serving.
• Serve with your favorite sauce or eat plain.