Why it works: Potato and onion are a kitchen classic. They rank in the top 3% of all ingredient pairs, and cooks put them together in 9,023 recipes. Both carry 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine, which smells earthy, pea. The science ↓
Potato Pancakes
Ingredients
Directions
Prepare the potatoes
Press out liquid from grated potato in a colander.
Let the potato sit for 5 minutes and press again.
Make and cook the batter
Combine the potatoes with milk, carrot, egg, and flour in a bowl.
Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large, heavy skillet or non-stick pan over medium heat.
Add about ¼ cup of batter per cake, turning them when golden brown on the bottom.
Place cakes on a plate covered with paper towels and keep warm in a low-heated oven until all the cakes are ready.
Serve
Serve potato pancakes with fresh applesauce or plain yogurt.
Nutrition, whole recipe (rough)
What these numbers assume: 9 portions
| Ingredient | Portion assumed | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Flour | 1 cup (125g) all-purpose | 455 |
| Potato | 1 medium (173g) baked | 161 |
| Milk | 1 cup (244ml) whole | 149 |
| Olive Oil | 1 tbsp (14g) | 119 |
| Egg | 1 large egg (50g) | 78 |
| Onion | 1 medium (110g) | 44 |
| Carrot | 1 medium (61g) | 25 |
| Black Pepper | 1 tsp ground (2.3g) | 6 |
| Salt | 1 tsp (6g) | 0 |
One typical portion per ingredient; the recipe's quantities are not counted. A rough guide only, not for medical or dietary planning.
Steps grouped into stages for easier reading; the method is the source's own.
Explore the science
The flavor team
The pairs that carry this dish. Each one is judged two ways: how much their aromas overlap, and how often cooks already put them together.
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Potato + oniontop 3% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together9,023 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Potato + carrottop 4% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together3,107 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (green bell pepper, earthy).
-
Carrot + peppertop 6% of all pairsSmell alikestrongCooked together14,555 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Onion + carrottop 6% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together21,601 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
-
Potato + peppertop 9% of all pairsSmell alikemoderateCooked together8,305 recipes
Shared aroma: 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (earthy, pea).
Ranks compare each pair with 20,000 random ingredient pairs on CompKitchen. How we score pairs
What each ingredient does
- Potatoes
- Provide the starchy bulk that binds and crisps into the pancake's body.
- Egg
- Acts as a binder, holding the grated potato and flour together as the cakes set.
- All purpose flour
- Absorbs moisture and helps the batter hold together so the cakes do not fall apart.
- Milk
- Adds moisture to the batter, loosening it for even spreading in the pan.
- Onion
- Adds aromatic flavour that deepens as the cakes cook.
The step that matters
Press out the liquid from the grated potato. Grated potato releases a lot of water, which dilutes the batter and steams the cakes instead of letting them brown and crisp. Thorough pressing keeps the pancakes firm and golden.
Swap the onion
How well each one fits the dish's main ingredients (potato, milk, carrot, egg, flour, pepper):
- Capsicumfits better
- Parsnipfits better
- Spinachfits better
- Onionthe original
Fit is the average pairing score against potato, milk, carrot, egg, flour, pepper. Candidates are from the same food group and used in at least 100 recipes.
“What each ingredient does” and “The step that matters” were written by Claude from this recipe’s own method and reviewed in samples by CompKitchen.
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