Bonfire Night: Polish potato pancakes

Potato pancakes (and variations of them) are found in kitchens all over Europe, including
within Austria, Germany, Hungary, Latvia and Russia. As well as being a great vehicle for soaking up a big bowl of goulash, they are also seen at many outdoor markets and winter festivals because they are both warming and very quick to make.

Makes 12

Ingredients

• 6-8 medium-sized potatoes, peeled
• 1 onion, peeled
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons plain flour
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Oil for shallow frying

For the mushroom sauce

• 1 onion, peeled, finely chopped
• 250g chestnut mushrooms
• 125ml/½ cup vegetable stock
• 125ml/½ cup double or heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• Extra sour cream to serve
• Fresh dill to garnish

Method:

Using the coarse side of a box grater, grate the potatoes and place them into a sieve or colander over a bowl. Using the finer side of the grater, grate the onion and add it to the potato. Using the back of a spoon, or even your hands, squeeze out any excess water/juice from the potatoes and onion. Discard the liquid, and then put the onions and potatoes into the bowl. Add the egg, two tablespoons of flour and season with sea salt and pepper, then stir everything together – the mixture should be quite thick.

Heat a little vegetable oil in a large, flat frying pan. Drop three or four mounds of the mixture into hot oil, and flatten to make small pancakes.

Fry for 2-3 minutes per side, turning once, until golden brown. Transfer the pancakes to a plate lined with a paper towel. Repeat until all the potato mixture is used, adding a little fresh oil if necessary. You can serve the pancakes immediately, or keep them warm, wrapped in tin foil in a low oven.

To make a quick mushroom sauce to serve with the pancakes, heat a little oil in a clean frying pan. Fry the chopped onion on a low heat for ten minutes until golden and soft. Add the mushrooms and cook for a further few minutes, until soft. Pour in the stock and simmer for one minute, then pour in the double cream and stir in the sour cream. Allow to bubble and simmer, then serve with the potato pancakes, along with some fresh dill and extra sour cream on the side.

http://www.jamieoliver.com/news-and-features/features/bonfire-night-polish-potato-pancakes/