Potato Cakes (Ground Meat)

This is a fun and creative way to use up leftover mashed potatoes. You can make stuffed potato pancakes with any kind of meat really; pork, turkey, chicken, or beef. I like ground pork because it seems a little juicier. Potato pancakes can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. They also reheat well in the oven or on the stove. I love recipes like this with simple, basic ingredients that taste great together. Delicious served with sour cream.

6 large russet pototes
1 medium onion, chopped
extra-virgin olive oil
11 oz ground meat (300 g)
1 tsp. kosher or sea salt
1 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. ground paprika
1 large egg
1 tsp. kosher or sea salt
1 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground
1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, unbleached
4 Tbsp. butter, divided

Boil the potatoes until fork tender, or use leftovers.

Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil and 1 lb ground meat. Sauté, breaking it up until cooked through then season with 1 tsp salt and a pinch of pepper. Remove to a separate dish.

Heat a large skillet over medium/high heat. Add the olive oil to a large frypan. Sauté the onions until golden browned. Add the minced beef and cook until there is no longer any pink, about 5 minutes. Add salt, pepper, garlic and paprika. Mix well. Remove and set aside in a bowl.

Mash the potatoes and add an egg, salt and pepper. Mix until combined. Place a rounded ice cream scoop of mixture into a well-floured hand and pat it into a disk. Since there are different recipes for mashed potatoes, if they seem too sticky, sprinkle with a little flour and it will mold easier. Place a heaping Tbsp. of filling into the center and pinch the edges together to seal. Pat the stuffed pancake into a flat disk.

Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp. of butter, or enough to coat the bottom of the pan. Once butter is melted, add patties and sauté 3-4 minutes per side or until golden. If browning too fast, reduce heat. Repeat with remaining pancakes adding more butter as needed. Remove to a plate lined with paper towels and serve warm.

Makes 6 patties.