Perfect Pairings: 10 BEST Side Dishes for Potato Pancakes

Potato pancakes are a traditional dish that originated in Eastern Europe.

They typically consist of grated potatoes mixed with egg and flour, sauteed, then pan-fried to make small cakes.

What’s your favorite way to eat them? With sour cream, applesauce, or bacon? What about with eggs for breakfast?

There are many tasty options to choose from.

This blog post will explore ten side dishes that you can serve up alongside potato pancakes.

What to Serve with Potato Pancakes? 10 BEST Side Dishes

Potato pancakes sound like an excellent idea as a recipe that will work well with any entree, whether it’s something light or not so light.

However, they might also be one of those recipes that people look at skeptically before trying them out themselves since potatoes seem bland compared to other vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, which have more taste on their own than raw potato.

But with a bit of creativity, you can turn plain old potato pancakes into something delicious.

What better way to go about this than by adding some side dishes that will complement them and make your meal even more enjoyable.

1 – Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage dish that has been around for centuries, and it’s perfect as the side dish to potato pancakes.

There are many different ways to make sauerkraut, but the most common is to combine cabbage with salt and store it in an airtight container for a few weeks to let fermentation occur.

Then, the cabbage is usually soaked in cold water to remove excess salt and then cooked.

This dish can be served on its own or as a side dish, but it goes exceptionally well with potato pancakes because of their salty taste.

2 – Caramelized Onions

This side dish is perfect for a savory meal of pancakes, but it pairs well with sweeter dishes.

To make this dish, thinly slice your onions and cook them until they are browned in butter or oil.

As they cook, they will caramelize and sweeten a little.

Not only are they rich in flavor, but you don’t have to spend hours peeling them.

You should try this recipe for making the perfect batch of pancakes that add the finishing touch with some sweet flavors on your plate.

3 – Carrot and Parsnip Puree

Carrots and parsnips are a yummy, nutritious root vegetable duo with both being high in vitamin C.

They’re also low on the glycemic index, so they won’t spike your blood sugar levels or cause you to crave more carbs.

You can enjoy them as an add-on side dish for dinner tonight by dipping some potato pancakes into their sweet puree, a perfect complement to any meal that will boost its overall healthfulness factor while still giving it some flavor.

The carrots add sweetness while the earthy flavor of puréed celery adds depth which helps balance out some of the potatoes richness.

4 – Tomato-Basil Jam

Another dipping sauce idea is a quick and straightforward tomato basil jam that you can whip up in minutes if you have some roasted tomatoes on hand.

The texture of tomato basil jam can be smooth and spreadable or chunky, depending on the type of fruit you use.

Its light, tangy sweetness should be perfect to offset the starchy potatoes without being too overpowering.

5 – Spicy Red Pepper Relish

Serve your potato pancakes with a side of spicy red pepper relish for an exciting twist on brunch.

This zesty dish is loaded with flavor that will wake up your taste buds and leave you wanting more.

It’s one of those dishes that will come in handy when you need a quick appetizer to serve on game day or any other special occasion.

This relish can be made with roasted red peppers, fresh tomatoes, cilantro, and lime juice for something fresh and vibrant.

Or use canned chopped jalapeño peppers if spicy dishes are your thing.

You can use this spiced-up relish as a dip for the pancakes or serve alongside.

6 – Beet Tzatziki

Beet Tzatziki makes for an excellent side accompaniment anytime.

It requires no cook time, so beets won’t have that “burned” taste after sitting in the oven all day like some other veggies might (looking at you asparagus).

It’s perfect for vegetarians and those who want something light but filling to enjoy while they’re waiting on their main course.

The mixture consists primarily of beets, cucumber, garlic, and yogurt.

In addition, a bit of lemon or lime juice is usually added to give a zesty kick.

7 – Garlic Dill Pickles

If you’re looking for something to serve as a side dish that’s tangy and spicy, this is the perfect pickle for you.

Garlic and dill go together like peas in a pod, so it’s no surprise that this recipe is so delicious.

The flavor of these pickles will be intensified the longer they sit in the fridge, which is a bonus if you’re planning to make them well ahead of time and keep them for several months.

But even at first bite, your taste buds are guaranteed to appreciate all aspects – from their crunchy texture to their zesty spice.

Garlic Dill Pickles are so simple.

They’re just cucumbers soaked in water with garlic, bay leaves, and whole peppercorns for 24 hours before being bottled up in canning jars.

Then, after they’ve cooled from cooking, add dill until it reaches your desired level of flavor.

8 – Applesauce

Some hearty dishes deserve light and refreshing sides like applesauce.

It is frequently the perfect way to round out your meal with just four ingredients with a sweet, tangy taste.

The tartness from apples will perfectly balance the flavor profile of any greasy foods like meat and fries.

From time to time, it can be nice to switch things up in terms of what we’re eating at every meal; this way, our taste buds don’t get too bored.

9 – Beet and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese

A fresh, crisp salad that’s healthy and delicious? Yes, please.

It’s important to note that this recipe can be used as either an appetizer or main dish, depending on how much food you want to make.

The beet’s deep burgundy color makes it a perfect match for the rich red of arugula.

The two are dressed in an olive oil vinaigrette that complements their earthiness while adding brightness to balance them out.

And goat cheese? Its sharp saltiness balances well against the vinegary dressing without being too overwhelming, especially when it’s grated and sprinkled generously over the salad.

10 – White Bean Hummus

Our final recipe is a yummy, easy-to-make appetizer: white bean hummus. It is a great way to add some variety.

It’s low in calories, high in protein and fiber- all the things that make it perfect as a side dish with potato pancakes.

In addition, this recipe can be made gluten-free by swapping out chickpeas for white beans (which are better sources of folate) or celiac friendly by substituting oats instead of flour.

It doesn’t take much prep time either.

Just throw all the ingredients into your food processor or blender in whatever order you like – make sure to add the liquid first so it can help break down some of those solids.

Once it becomes smooth and creamy enough for your liking, serve with the pancakes for dipping.

Conclusion

Well, that’s a wrap on our blog post about what to serve with potato pancakes.

Many side dishes can be served with potato pancakes, but we have narrowed it down to 10 of our favorites.

Whether it’s because they are easy to prepare or just plain delicious, these recipes offer something unique and tasty to serve with your appetizer.

Which is your favorite?

About The Author

Sharing is caring!