Smashed Potato Herb Fritters (Printable)

Golden, crispy potato fritters bursting with fresh herbs and topped with sour cream and chives.

# What you'll need:

→ Potatoes

01 - 1.5 lbs Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
02 - 1 teaspoon salt for boiling water

→ Fritter Mix

03 - 2 large eggs
04 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
08 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
10 - ½ teaspoon salt
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

→ For Frying

12 - ¼ cup neutral oil such as canola or sunflower

→ For Topping

13 - ½ cup sour cream
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely sliced

# Method:

01 - Place potatoes in a large pot, cover with cold water, and add 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer until fork-tender, approximately 15 minutes. Drain thoroughly.
02 - Transfer hot potatoes to a large bowl. Smash roughly with a potato masher, leaving some texture intact.
03 - Allow potatoes to cool for 5 minutes. Add eggs, flour, parsley, chives, dill, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and lemon zest. Mix until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
04 - Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering.
05 - Scoop ¼ cup portions of the potato mixture and gently flatten into patties approximately ½ inch thick.
06 - Fry fritters in batches, 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden brown and crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
07 - Arrange warm fritters on a serving platter. Top each fritter with a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with fresh chives.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They crisp up beautifully in minutes and taste restaurant-quality without any fuss or intimidation.
  • Fresh herbs mean you're tasting something bright and alive, not heavy or starchy like typical potato pancakes.
02 -
  • Drain your boiled potatoes thoroughly and let them cool a few minutes, otherwise excess moisture will make your fritters soggy no matter how hot the oil is.
  • Don't over-mix the batter once you add the flour—a few visible streaks are fine and actually lead to a lighter, crispier texture.
03 -
  • Medium heat is your friend—higher and they'll brown before cooking through; lower and they absorb too much oil and become greasy.
  • Press gently with a spatula as they fry to ensure they develop a beautiful golden crust on both sides.
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