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    Home » Recipes » Vegan Recipes

    Vegan Potato Pancakes

    Published: Dec 1, 2012 · Updated: Aug 26, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    vegan potato pancakes
    vegan potato pancakes
    vegan potato pancakes

    Vegan Potato Pancakes are a delicious way to serve up your favorite spud. Load up your taters with onion, flour, flax egg, and salt, then fry them to crispy perfection. Pile on your favorite toppings and you've got yourself a meal!

    plate of stacked vegan potato pancakes topped with sour cream and green onions

    Pancakes are a fun and tasty way to enjoy your potatoes. You can use fresh potatoes for this recipe or last night's leftover mashed potatoes. The texture of the pancakes changes a bit when you use mashed, but they are still tasty. 

    This Vegan Potato Pancake recipe is...

    • Vegan 
    • Vegetarian 
    • Gluten-free 
    • Dairy-free 

    How to Make Vegan Potato Pancakes 

    how to make vegan potato pancakes collage
    1. Start by preheating your skillet with frying oil. 
    2. Wash, peel, and grate the potatoes and onions. 
    3. Squeeze out excess liquid with a paper towel or cheesecloth.
    4. Return potatoes and onions to bowl. 
    5. Add in the flax egg, flour, and salt. Mix well. 
    6. Scoop mixture into circles and place in skillet with hot oil. Flatten circles with spatula. 
    7. Fry on one side, then flip. Cook until both sides are golden and cooked through. 
    8. Serve with dairy-free sour cream and onions. 

    Tips & Tricks for Vegan Potato Pancakes 

    vegan potato pancakes frying in a pan

    Don't Rinse Potatoes 

    Once you've shredded your potatoes, resist the urge to rinse them. Only rinse the potatoes once after you peel the skin off—but before shredding. The starch in the potato shreds will help them stick together into potato cakes. 

    Remove Excess Water 

    After you shred your potatoes and onion, make sure to squeeze out all the excess moisture into a paper towel or cheesecloth. This step is very important! If you leave the excess liquid in, your potato cakes will fall apart. 

    Use Hot Oil 

    Make sure your oil is fully hot and the pan is evenly heated before frying. Otherwise, your potato cakes will not hold up as you cook them. 

    Variations to Vegan Potato Pancakes

    stack of vegan potato pancakes on plate neat bowls of toppings and more pancakes

    Flavoring 

    Add different spices to change up the flavor of your potato cakes. Try some lemon pepper, cajun, bbq seasoning mix, or whatever your favorite spice may be! 

    Garlic 

    Take a garlic clove and grate it along with the potatoes and onion for a bit more flavor in your potato cakes. I love adding the flavor of garlic to my potato cakes!

    Toppings 

    You can use pickled onions, diced jalapeños, dairy-free ranch drizzle, and more to top your potato pancakes. The options are endless—and all delicious! Feel free to add on whatever you want, or simply eat them plain. 

    Vegan Potato Pancake FAQs

    close up stack of vegan potato pancakes without toppings

    How can I keep potato pancakes warm? 

    Keep your potato pancakes warm by turning the oven on to 200°F. Then place the finished cakes in a single layer on a baking sheet and store them in the oven until ready to serve.

    Do Vegan Potato Pancakes store well? 

    Potato pancakes are best served fresh, right after cooking. However, you can store the potato cakes in the fridge for 2–3 days. Warm them up in the microwave or in a skillet when you're ready to eat them again. The texture will be softer, but the flavor will be the same.

    How do I make flax seed eggs? 

    Mix together 3 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon flax seeds, and let it sit for 5 minutes. Then use this mixture in place of one egg.

    vegan potato pancakes

    Vegan Potato Pancakes

    Vegan Potato Pancakes are a delicious way to serve up your favorite spud. Pile on your favorite toppings and you've got yourself a meal!
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate Email
    Course: Appetizer / Vegetable side dish, Snack / appetizer
    Cuisine: American, Indian-inspired
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: how to make potato pancakes, vegan potato pancakes
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 8 pancakes
    Calories: 207kcal
    Author: Veg Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • 1.5 lbs russet potatoes 5 small or 3–4 large
    • 1 medium onion
    • 1 flax egg or 3 tbsp dairy free milk
    • 1 tbsp flour
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ½ cup oil for frying
    • dairy-free sour cream or plain dairy-free yogurt for optional garnish
    • green onions sliced, for optional garnish
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Preheat a skillet over medium heat with enough oil to make a ⅛” layer on the bottom.
    • While oil preheats, wash and peel the potatoes and onion.
      vegan potato pancakes
    • Using a grater, shred the potatoes and onion. Then stir shreds together in a large bowl.
    • Using a clean kitchen towel or some paper towels, squeeze out as much liquid as you can from the potatoes and onion. Then return shreds to bowl and set aside.
      vegan potato pancakes
    • Use a fork to mix the flax egg (or dairy-free milk), flour, and salt together. Then pour this mixture into the vegetable shreds and stir well.
    • Use a scooper or large spoon to transfer circle-shaped scoops of the potato mixture into the preheated frying pan, then flatten scoops with a spatula.
      vegan potato pancakes
    • Allow potato pancakes to cook for 3–4 minutes or until the edges start to brown, then flip and continue cooking them for an additional 3–4 minutes.
      vegan potato pancakes
    • Repeat until all the potato shreds have been used up. You may need to add additional oil between batches.
      vegan potato pancakes
    • Serve pancakes garnished with dairy-free sour cream or yogurt and green onions, if desired.
      vegan potato pancakes

    Notes

    • Do not rinse the potato shreds; their starch will help the pancakes stick together.
    • Both sides of cakes should be golden brown when done cooking.
    • You can keep finished potato pancakes warm in the oven in a baking dish at 200°F while you finish cooking the rest.
    • Garnish your potato cakes with dairy-free sour cream, or dairy-free plain yogurt, and green onion.
    • You can add some of your favorite seasonings to the potato mixture to change it up. Try a cajun spice blend for a new twist!
    • To make a flax egg, mix 3 tablespoons of water with 1 tablespoon of ground flax seeds. Let sit for 5 minutes. Then use this mixture in place of 1 egg in your recipe.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 151mg | Potassium: 386mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg
    Vegan-ize any recipe!Grab our free vegan cheat sheet, packed with my favorite easy substitutions to make any recipe vegan.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Helene says

      December 03, 2010 at 1:29 pm

      Try substituting flax meal for the matzo meal, and I have been frying in grape seed oil.
      Happy hannukah

    2. Jenny says

      December 21, 2011 at 7:22 pm

      can these be baked instead of fried?

    3. Nava says

      December 21, 2011 at 8:24 pm

      Jenny, I haven't tried baking it, but coincidentally, just today I thought I'd try. I would put the latkes on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment, spray them with a bit of olive oil cooking spray so they'll crisp up, and flip them after about 15 minutes (at 400 degrees). If it works out as I think, I'll post this variation. Happy Hanukkah to all!

    4. Jenny says

      December 25, 2011 at 6:31 pm

      Just made it by baking it, it was delicious and my whole family enjoyed. thank you!

    5. Nava says

      December 26, 2011 at 9:22 am

      Jenny, I also made them baked and really liked it -- it was easier and less oily than the traditional fried kind. I'll add the baked variation to this recipe, as it was a keeper!

    6. Elizabeth C says

      November 30, 2013 at 7:50 pm

      I do grated russets, Mrs Dash herb and onion, some red pepper flakes in one bowl. Mashed sweet potato, a bit of GF flour and flax water mix in another. mix separately and then combine. put on baking dish lined with parchment and bake. Just before serving I put on a tiny drizzle of olive oil for ceremony - it is about the oil after all...

    7. Nava says

      November 30, 2013 at 10:17 pm

      That sounds like a fantastic way to make them, Elizabeth. I recently started to bake the latkes and it's so much easier and cleaner. Happy holiday!

    8. Ruth says

      December 14, 2014 at 4:27 pm

      How long will these last? I am doing two channucah parties, two days apart, )and quite fancy getting all the work out of the way in one go!

    9. Nava says

      December 14, 2014 at 4:59 pm

      Hi Ruth — I think that especially if you make the baked version, you can do it all in one go. Then just pop them into hot oven for a few minutes until they crisp up. Happy holiday!

    10. Sara says

      December 17, 2014 at 11:26 pm

      Last year made them with quinoa and fried and they were okay, but tonight I made them with GF oats, GF matzo, and baked them and they were wonderful.

    11. Nava says

      December 18, 2014 at 8:05 am

      Thanks, Sara. I too, now prefer baking them and since GF isn't a concern for me, I use regular oatmeal. Glad these were successful for you!

    12. lena says

      December 18, 2014 at 4:58 pm

      the applesauce is on the stove in a pot. now I'm onto the latkes.

      I was getting ready to use the quinoa flakes - since you recipe for matzoh brie was fantastic. but it seems (?) like everyone and you prefer the oatmeal. what do you think??

      also, what about using a food processor for the potatoes. how about not peeling??

    13. Nava says

      December 18, 2014 at 5:18 pm

      Hi Lena — both the oatmeal and quinoa flakes work well; it's a matter of preference, though I do think the oatmeal is a slightly better "glue." Of course, a food processor makes the whole process easier. Not sure how or why I left that off it has been added.

      I did specify that the potatoes can be scrubbed rather than peeled. Hope you enjoy these, and happy Hanukkah!

    14. lena pfeffer says

      December 18, 2014 at 7:24 pm

      oh my gosh!!! I've been a vegan for 27 years. latkes have never been the same. until now!!! these are delicious!!! I made them with oatmeal and baked. absolutely yummy. oh, and the applesauce..the best!!!

      thanks so much!!!

    15. lena says

      December 18, 2014 at 8:08 pm

      Yum!yum!yum!!! I've been a vegan for 27 years. Potato pancakes have never been the same. I used oatmeal and baked them. These are delicious!!! Hubby has a stomach ache from eating too many!!!

      Thanks!!!

    16. Nava says

      December 19, 2014 at 10:34 am

      So glad this worked out so well for you, Lena! I can't wait to make my batch this weekend.

    17. Patsy says

      December 22, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      Hi,
      I'm hoping to make the baked version as a surprise for my husband tonight. I'm wondering if you make this without squeezing the liquid out of the grated vegetables? Most recipes I see call for wringing out as much "juice" as possible, and some say to let the potato starch that's extracted settle, then add that back in.
      Love the idea of not using flax meal or a commercial egg replacer!
      Thank you.

    18. Nava says

      December 22, 2014 at 3:58 pm

      Hi Patsy, I find that if I make the batter and bake right away, it doesn't get all runny and liquid-y. I just made a big batch the other night with no problem!I hope these work out for you and that you and your hubby enjoy them.

    19. Lynda Kirkness says

      December 07, 2015 at 4:23 pm

      Happy hannukah 2015 this will be my third year celebrating Hannukah. I am not Jewish but I know that the feasts that God tells us to celebrate are for every believer. I am vegan and pleased to see a vegan latke recipe. Latkes are similar to East Indian pakoras.I wonder if using chickpea flour would be "kosher "

    20. Nava says

      December 07, 2015 at 5:20 pm

      Lynda, I'm not sure it would be technically "Kosher" but I'm pretty sure that's not what you're asking! If you're asking whether chickpea flour can be used in place of regular flour, I'd say yes, and in fact, it would probably be even more tasty. I'm going to try that next time myself ...

    21. Hilit says

      December 08, 2015 at 12:47 am

      5 stars
      Made them this evening and they came out delicious. Very easy to make, especially when using the food processor. Thanks for the recipe, Nava!
      Happy holiday all!

    22. Rebecca says

      December 10, 2015 at 2:04 am

      Can one substitute quinoa flour for quinoa flakes?

    23. Diana says

      December 18, 2015 at 10:08 pm

      Thank you for this fabulous recipe. I used a beet instead of a carrot and baked the latkes. They were the best I've ever tasted and so simple and quick to make. YUM!

    24. B says

      April 28, 2016 at 7:38 pm

      5 stars
      Gotta be honest, these were fantastic!
      ...I got a little bit carried away and ended up spreading avocado on top of them with a slice of dill pickle... Amazing.

      Nicely done

      Thanks for the recipe

    25. Claudia says

      July 31, 2016 at 3:48 pm

      Just wondering.Can the entire recipe be made with zucchini or would that be too overwhelming? Also, if so, how many grated cups of zucchini does 2 medium zucchini translate to? Someone brought me a very large one from their organic garden.

    26. Nava says

      July 31, 2016 at 3:50 pm

      Claudia, you could give it a try. This would be a good use of your zucchini! Try not to use the seedy part. Since "medium" is also subjective, it's hard to say how many cups it would translate to.

    27. Lisa says

      December 16, 2016 at 9:05 pm

      Does this work with Russet potatoes?

    28. Nava says

      December 16, 2016 at 10:50 pm

      Lisa, russet potatoes work very well for this recipe. Enjoy!

    29. Tracie says

      December 25, 2016 at 3:33 am

      5 stars
      So delicious!!! Thank you for the recipe, and Happy Hanukkah.

    30. Nava says

      December 25, 2016 at 8:44 am

      Thank you, Tracie, and same to you!

    31. Craig says

      December 31, 2016 at 12:25 am

      5 stars
      I was excited to try your suggestion of quinoa flakes to make gluten-free latkes for my annual Hanukkah party, but my grocery store didn't have any and I was resigned to making them just vegan. When I went to get the oatmeal, I was thrilled to discover that Quaker has gluten-free instant oats: http://www.quakeroats.com/product/hot-cereals/Gluten-Free-Quick-one-minute-oats.aspx

      I was also really pressed for time, so I cheated with pre-shredded, frozen potatoes. Ore-Ida brand is also gluten-free: http://www.oreida.com/products/s/shredded-hash-brown-potatoes#.WGdAysMrLnA

      One cup of shredded potatoes equals about one potato, so I just combined 6 cups of potatoes with 1.5 cups of prepared oatmeal and it was perfect! Thanks again, and happy holidays!

    32. Claudia says

      December 08, 2020 at 2:14 pm

      For some reason, I haven't been able to get quick rolled oats. I happen to have Coache's Oats, an organic oatmeal I picked up at Costco. Although it's listed as cracked and toasted oats on the front of the package, the ingredients say organic whole grain oats. I've used them for baking cookies without a problem. If I pulse them a few times in a food processor, will they work as a substitute for the quick-cooking oats and matzo meal? I think I asked you about this once before but couldn't find the post. Making these Thursday for Channukah.

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