How to make potato cakes that taste good

The key to making delicious potato cakes lies in the reasonable combination of ingredients, seasonings, and cooking techniques. The main points include potato selection, starch ratio, seasoning techniques, heat control, and side dish pairing.

1. Potato Selection

Yellow heart potatoes are the preferred choice for making potato cakes, with moderate starch content and a soft texture. Fresh potatoes should be soaked immediately after peeling to prevent oxidation. If you want a more delicate taste, you can choose old potatoes with higher starch content. Sprouted or green potatoes containing solanine are not suitable for consumption.

2. Starch Ratio

After wiping the shredded potatoes, it is necessary to squeeze out the water and retain an appropriate amount of starch. For every 500 grams of mashed potatoes, 20 grams of corn starch can be added to increase viscosity. If you use steamed potatoes, you can add a third of glutinous Rice noodles to improve the ductility, but excessive addition will cause the taste to harden.

III. Seasoning Techniques

Basic seasoning requires adding salt when the mashed potatoes are warm, supplemented with a small amount of white pepper to enhance freshness. You can add minced onions or garlic to enhance the fragrance, and for those who like a creamy aroma, mix in an appropriate amount of butter. Note that seasonings should be added in portions and tasted while adding to avoid excessive saltiness.

4. Heat Control

Preheat the pan to the point where water droplets form beads, and slowly fry over medium to low heat until both sides turn golden brown. Excessive oil temperature can cause external burning and internal growth. It is recommended to use a mixture of blended oil and butter for frying. During the frying process, the cake can be lightly pressed to evenly heat it, and the single-sided frying time should be controlled at around 3 minutes.

5. Side dish pairing

Traditional pairing can be paired with sour cream or apple sauce to relieve greasiness, while innovative eating methods can be paired with smoked salmon and dill. Vegetarians are recommended to pair it with stir fried mushrooms and basil leaves, while heavy eaters can dip it in chili and garlic sauce. Paired with refreshing cucumber salad, it can balance the greasiness.

When making, pay attention to maintaining the freshness of the potato ingredients, and the best flavor is to eat them freshly. The remaining potato cakes should not be refrigerated for more than two days. When reheating, using an oven or air fryer can restore the crispy texture. The starch content of different varieties of potatoes varies greatly, and it is recommended to conduct small experiments and adjust the formula during initial production. The acidity, sourness, and spiciness of the sauce can be adjusted according to personal taste, but attention should be paid to controlling sodium intake. Keep the kitchen ventilated during the cooking process to avoid the accumulation of oil fumes that can affect health.