Air fryer potato pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer) with apple purée

Potato pancakes from the air fryer with onion, egg and nutmeg, cooked with a little olive oil and served with homemade cinnamon apple purée. A family-friendly lunch in 30 minutes.

At a glance

• Serves 2
• Prep time: 15 min
• Cooking time: 15 min
• Total time: 30 min
• Calories: 521 kcal per serving
• Protein: 12 g
• Fat: 14 g
• Carbs: 80 g

Ingredients

• 600g potatoes
• 1 onion
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp spelt flour
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 apples
• 50ml water
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 pinch of nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Method

You’ll need: air fryer · saucepan · chopping board · knife · grater

1. Peel the potatoes and onion, grate both finely and squeeze the mixture out firmly in a tea towel.
2. Mix the potato mixture with the egg, spelt flour, salt and nutmeg.
3. Shape 6 flat pancakes, place them on baking paper in the basket and brush with half the olive oil. Cook in the air fryer at 200 °C for 8 minutes.
4. Turn the pancakes, brush with the rest of the olive oil and cook at 200 °C for another 6 to 7 minutes, until golden brown.
5. Meanwhile, peel the apples, chop them and simmer with the water and cinnamon for 10 minutes until soft. Mash them into a purée.
6. Serve the potato pancakes hot with the warm apple purée.

Good to know

Potato pancakes without fat spattering all over the kitchen: in the air fryer, two tablespoons of olive oil are enough for six. You cook the apple purée on the side, with nothing added to sweeten it. That's how the funfair classic works on a weeknight, too.

Swaps

Spelt flour → oats (contain gluten unless labelled gluten-free) or potato starch (gluten-free). Apple purée → herb quark (savoury; contains milk). Potatoes → half parsnips. Egg → 1 tbsp linseed mixed with water (vegan).

Cooking tips

Really squeeze the grated potatoes well, otherwise the pancakes won't crisp up. Floury potatoes bind better than waxy ones.

Storage

Apple purée keeps for 5 days in the fridge, the pancakes for 1 day – crisp them up in the air fryer at 200 °C for 3 minutes.

Allergens

Contains gluten (spelt) and egg; no milk or nuts. Use potato starch instead of flour for a gluten-free version.

Frequently asked questions

How long do Kartoffelpuffer keep in the fridge?

Apple purée keeps for 5 days in the fridge, the pancakes for 1 day – crisp them up in the air fryer at 200 °C for 3 minutes.

Dairy-free recipes