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    Home » Appetizers

    May 31, 2016 · Modified: May 29, 2019 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · 10 Comments

    Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Mashed potato pancakes need no improvements, but they're way more fun when made with purple potatoes, garlic, pancetta, and cheddar cheese. These Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta should be served at every cocktail party.

    Head-on view of a stack of purple mashed potato pancakes with garlic and pancetta topped with Greek yogurt and chives with a bottle of beer and more potato pancakes in the background and recipe title at top

    What's your favorite color? The one question that has always had the power to unite us all, ever since we first learned to talk. Every kid has an instant answer. Mine was always yellow. In part because it's bright and cheery and happy... But you know why else? I felt sorry for yellow. Because nobody else ever chose yellow as their favorite color. So, I chose it as mine. I legitimately felt sorry for a color and chose it as my favorite so that it wouldn't be sad. Yes, I had (and probably still have) some very unique issues. Story of my life.

    These days, my issues are almost all due to my extreme indecisiveness. In fact, if you asked me what my favorite color is now, I'd probably get really nervous and start stuttering and say something like, "yellow... it's always been yellow (yes, I still feel kind of bad  for yellow)... No, pink. No, purple. No, let's just go with grey. Wait, do you consider white a color?" My favorite color fully depends on what it is we're talking about and changes by the second. However, if you ask me my favorite color potato, I'll say purple. Maybe... I also kind of love orange potatoes. UGH. My indecisiveness is alive and well. But seriously.. how awesome are purple potatoes?

    When I picked these beauties up at Whole Foods earlier this month, I knew I wanted to do something fun with them... I tossed around about 30 different ideas in my mind, but ultimately landed on an old favorite- potato pancakes. But with mashed potatoes. And a couple of fun add-ins. The result was these Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta.

    PURPLE MASHED POTATO PANCAKES WITH GARLIC AND PANCETTA RECIPE

    These purple potato pancakes involve a few steps because first you have to make the mashed potatoes (and attempt not to eat all of them) and then you have to form the patties and fry them up. But they're really not hard and so worth every second.

    Honestly, those purple mashed potatoes were so pretty, I had a hard time not serving them just like that!

    Collage showing process for making purple mashed potato pancakes, including purple potatoes sliced in bowl, purple mashed potatoes in mixing bowl, and purple mashed potato patties formed and ready for frying

    But I pushed on to make the actual pancakes. When you fry them up (in just a little bit of olive oil), they form the most exquisite crispy crust. Life is beautiful. I love a little bit of crisp to my potato pancakes, so this is heavenly to me!

    Top the purple potato pancakes with whatever you desire. I went with a little dollop of Greek yogurt and a whole bunch of chopped chives.

    Head-on view of purple mashed potato pancakes in a stack and topped with Greek yogurt and chives with second plate of potato pancakes and box of beer in the background

    And served the whole plate with a nice cold beer. Because it's unofficially summer, y'all! And this new shandy is my favorite.

    I probably tell you this every time I make a dish with potatoes, but I think it's worth mentioning that I'm in the minority of people who aren't really obsessed with potatoes. I think they're OK, but in general, they don't really do a whole lot to excite me. Mashed potatoes need to be really good mashed potatoes for me to want them. Or purple mashed potatoes. Otherwise I could do without.

    Head-on closeup view of a stack of purple mashed potato pancakes with garlic and pancetta topped with Greek yogurt and chives with a bottle of beer and more potato pancakes in the backgroundBut these purple potato pancakes I could not do without. I'm sure it had something to do with that crispiness. But also the added garlic, pancetta, and cheddar cheese.

    OK fine... And probably because they're purple. My favorite color for the week. Until yellow feels sad. Then I'll totally switch back to yellow. Wouldn't want any colors to be feeling sad.

    Landscape closeup view of a stack of purple mashed potato pancakes topped with Greek yogurt and chives with second plate of potato pancakes, bottle of beer, and box of beer in the background

    I do know that these mashed potato pancakes are enough to cheer anyone up, especially when made with purple potatoes. They can be served as an appetizer or a side... Or as a complete meal, if you're me. But really, now I want to make an entire meal of purple potato recipes!

    Closeup view of a fork holding a bite of purple mashed potato pancakesWhat's your favorite color? (I won't blame you if you can't decide).

    If you're a fan of this purple potato recipe, be sure to check out this Purple Sweet Potato, Chickpea, and Ginger Soup from Rainbow in my Kitchen. If plain old regular potatoes are more your thing, check out my Ginger Coconut Whipped Sweet Potatoes!

    📖 Recipe

    Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta -- Mashed potato pancakes need no improvements, but they're way more fun when made with purple potatoes, garlic, pancetta, and cheddar cheese. These Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta should be served at every cocktail party | wearenotmartha.com

    Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta

    Mashed potato pancakes need no improvements, but they're way more fun when made with purple potatoes, garlic, pancetta, and cheddar cheese. These Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta should be served at every cocktail party.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Side
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Mashed Potato Pancakes, Potato Appetizers, Purple Potato Recipes
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Makes: 10 purple potato pancakes
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs. purple potatoes, unpeeled, cut into quarters
    • 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
    • â…“ cup milk
    • 1 egg, lightly beaten
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • â…“ cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • 4 oz. diced pancetta, cooked
    • ½ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp pepper
    • 2 Tbsp canola oil
    • Greek yogurt or sour cream, for topping
    • Finely chopped scallions, for topping

    Instructions

    • In a large pot of lightly salted water, boil the potatoes until soft, about 20 minutes.
    • Drain potatoes and push them through a potato ricer into a large bowl.
    • Add butter, milk, egg, minced garlic, cheddar cheese, pancetta, and salt and pepper and mix well.
    • In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 Tbsp oil over medium-high heat.
    • Form potato mixture into about 10 balls and gently flatten into pancakes.
    • Place in skillet in batches and cook until pancakes are golden brown on bottom, about 3 minutes.
    • Flip pancakes and cook until golden brown on other side, another 3 minutes.
    • Add more oil to the pan if necessary and repeat with remaining pancakes.
    • Top pancakes with Greek yogurt or sour cream and scallions.
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!

     

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle Lahey says

      May 31, 2016 at 4:40 pm

      I love purple potatoes!! And mashed potatoes. And, well, anything involving potatoes.

    2. Odetta Simpson says

      May 31, 2016 at 5:49 pm

      Def the prettiest potatoes....I love this appetizer idea!

    3. Tandy | Lavender and Lime says

      June 02, 2016 at 1:43 am

      I was hoping to get some purple potatoes to grow this summer but our local store didn't get any in. My favourite colour is any shade of purple. BTW, I tried to link to your eggs in meringue clouds post but your site would not let me! Have a super day 🙂

    4. Juliana says

      June 02, 2016 at 1:42 pm

      I love the texture of purple potatoes, and I am loving this savory pancakes...they look great Sues...thanks for the recipe 🙂
      Hope you are having a great week!

    5. annie@ciaochowbambina says

      June 03, 2016 at 7:47 am

      Okay - that has to be the cutest story ever...you chose yellow because you felt sorry for it! A girl after my own heart! I remember my little sister couldn't throw her gum away....out the window or on the street.... because she'd feel sorry for it, left behind and all alone. I think you two were cut from the same cloth! But these pancakes! Forget about it! LOVE!

    6. Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says

      June 06, 2016 at 10:34 am

      What a fun idea! And there is nothing wrong with the color yellow. I've always thought of it as a happy, optimistic color 🙂 Now these purple potato pancakes would make me even happier. I haven't seen these potatoes at my Whole Foods, but will definitely have to look for them!

    7. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

      June 06, 2016 at 4:09 pm

      Your potato pancakes sound super delicious and love the fun purple color. I agree with you about yellow, I find it to be a happy color.

    8. Ruchi says

      February 08, 2018 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      These potatoes are amazing! Love the purple color, something new to me but looks delish! Will surely give it a try.

    Trackbacks

    1. Purple potatoes recipes - Berry&Maple says:
      March 18, 2018 at 7:15 pm

      […] Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta should be served at every cocktail […]

    2. 20+ purple potatoes recipes ideas - Berry&Maple says:
      October 30, 2019 at 7:05 pm

      […] Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta should be served at every cocktail […]

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