Description
Traditional Ukrainian cottage cheese pancakes known as Syrniki are soft, lightly sweet, and golden crispy on the outside. Made with farmer’s cheese or cottage cheese, they are pan-fried to perfection and typically enjoyed warm with accompaniments like sour cream, jam, or honey.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 250 g farmer’s cheese or cottage cheese (well drained)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3–4 tablespoons flour (plus extra for dusting)
- Pinch of salt
For Frying
- 2 tablespoons oil or butter
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, thoroughly combine the well-drained cottage cheese, egg, sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until smooth and uniform.
- Add Flour: Gradually incorporate 3 to 4 tablespoons of flour into the mixture, stirring continuously until a soft dough forms that’s easy to shape but not too sticky.
- Shape Patties: Using your hands, form the dough into small round patties, approximately 2 inches in diameter, and lightly dust each patty with flour to prevent sticking during cooking.
- Heat Skillet: Warm 2 tablespoons of oil or butter in a skillet over medium heat, ensuring the surface is evenly coated for frying.
- Fry Syrniki: Place each patty in the hot skillet and fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side, or until both sides develop a golden-brown crust and the inside is cooked through.
- Serve Warm: Remove the syrniki from the skillet and serve immediately while warm, accompanied by sour cream, jam, or honey as desired.
Notes
- Do not add too much flour to the dough to keep the syrniki soft and tender.
- Make sure the farmer’s or cottage cheese is well drained to avoid excess moisture, which can make the batter too wet.
- For a savory twist, reduce or omit the sugar and serve with savory toppings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Ukrainian
