Step 1

Place the potatoes in a bowl and add the egg along with the flour, parsley, and onion. Mix well, until a sticky dough has formed, adding small amounts of flour as needed. (The amount of flour will vary slightly depending on how dry your potatoes are, wetter potatoes will require more flour). Add a small amount of salt and freshly ground pepper and mix well.

Step 2

Place the panko in a wide bowl or on a plate.

Step 3

Using a 1/4 measure; take a scoop of the potato mixture, then using your hands form into a patty cake; you can make them thicker or thinner as you prefer. Dip both sides of the cake into the panko, pressing lightly to make the crumbs adhere. Set aside. Proceed until all the potato is used.

Step 4

Heat your skillet over medium heat; add the oil, when hot add the pat of butter if using. Swirl this around to mix. Carefully add the potato cakes to the skillet and cook, turning once, until both sides are nicely browned and the center is hot. If the cake is browning too quickly and the center is not hot, place the pan into a 350ºF oven for about 5 minutes.