Thursday, March 26, 2009

Green Garlic Potato Pancakes....


I always try to grow extra garlic so that I can pick a lot of it green. The latest dish that it went into was potato pancakes. But, I tried something new this time, I cooked them in a waffle iron. Wow, were they good! Extra crispy with lots of dents to catch the toppings.


Most potato pancake recipes call for russet potatoes. I used what I had on hand, which happened to be fingerlings. I didn't peel them, just gave them a good scrub. The texture is probably a bit lighter when made with russets, but the fingerlings worked fine. I also didn't add salt to the potato mixture before cooking it since the toppings I was using were already quite salty. I made all of them ahead of time and then reheated/crisped them in the oven just before serving.

Green Garlic Potato Pancake Waffles

2 shoots of green garlic, white and green parts, chopped
1 egg
1 tablespoon creme fraiche
1 tablespoon flour
1 pound potatoes, coarsely grated on a box grater
vegetable oil as needed
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat a regular (not Belgian) waffle iron.

Stir together the garlic, egg, creme fraiche, and flour in a medium mixing bowl. Add the grated potatoes and stir to thoroughly combine.

Brush both sides of the waffle iron with vegetable oil. Mound 1/2 cup of the potato mixture in the middle of each square, flatten slightly and then close the iron. Cook for about 12 minutes, or until very little steam is coming from the iron and the potatoes are brown and crisp.

Makes about 6 "pancakes".

I served these with some fresh goat cheese, creme fraiche, smoked trout, smoked salmon, red onion slices that had been tossed with wine vinegar, and capers.

13 comments:

  1. Delicious sounding recipe...My spouse would like these...a lot! I would love them! gail

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  2. Gail, my spouse loved them, there were no leftovers for my lunch.

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  3. Mmm. My spouse (and HIS spouse!) would love them, too;-) His spouse just better get around to making them! he he. I didn't know 'green garlic' existed (I'm not all that veggy/herb savvy); but it looks just like scallions (which is a form of onion, correct? Anyway, the waffle iron looks like it makes it crispy AND interesting to look at!

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  4. Jan, yes a spouse friendly dish! I use the green garlic much as I would scallions, thin sliced and raw. Or I use it like mature garlic, only I use lots more of the green since it's much more mild tasting.

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  5. Yummie Michelle! We have a special Waffle day here and this was actually this Wednesday! I love them in all shapes and sizes. Your looks great.

    Tyra

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  6. Looks so young. I'd say my spouse would like them do but I don't have one so I'll have to say my totally awesome housemate would like them! Looks like when i buy Garlic shoots as the asian market. Mild but Yum!

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  7. My stomach just rumbled. You are so inventive, and that is about the best (savory) used of a waffle iron I have ever read. Yum!

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  8. OMG, that sounds scrumptious. Keep those recipes coming.

    Oh, and once I start harvesting, I'm going to be peppering you with lots of questions...

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  9. Jan, thanks!

    Tyra, what a happy coincidence, I haven't used my waffle iron in a loong time. Do you have a favorite waffle?

    prue, I would wager the ones you buy at the asian market are the same thing.

    Karen, I think it's the only savory waffle I've ever made, so it must be the best ;)

    Susan, I'll try, one does have to eat :) Is it going to be a pop quiz Dr. T? I'm really bad at those...

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  10. These sound yummy! I must try them. I haven't got a waffle iron, so will have to improvise. And I think I could use the wild leeks we've been finding in the same way.

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  11. Chaiselongue, They should come out fine if you cook them in a skillet or on a griddle.

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  12. I guess I didn't mention it last time I was here, but I found this recipe inspiring and tried something similar, with squash instead of potato (because I had squash but no potatoes). I must have forgotten about the waffle maker angle as I fried mine in a pan. I made it up as I went, but they were alright. More tinkering would be good. Or, I could just copy you!

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