Syrniki
Enjoy these slightly sweet and popular Slavic pancakes for breakfast or dessert.
A friend of ours who grew up in Russia gifted us with farmer cheese and told us we should try Syrniki. Boy was I not disappointed. I am always on the hunt for something new to try and add to my recipe box of favorites. You can order farmer cheese online if you can’t find any in a store near you, I was able to find it at a local big box grocery store called Woodman’s in my area. Making it yourself is always an option as well. It is a lot like making homemade mozzarella.
Farmer cheese is much like cottage cheese but it has a firmer texture. It is high in protein with 13 grams per half cup and is also low in fat and calories. It is gluten-free, and 99% lactose-free the Lifeway brand is filled with 12 probiotic cultures.
Combined all of the ingredients by whisking together the sugar and egg, and add in the farmer cheese followed by the flour and baking powder.
Next heat the butter over medium heat in a non-stick frying pan or a cast iron skillet. You want it to melt the butter and prevent the batter from sticking but be careful not to get the pan to hot resulting in cooking the pancakes too quickly and burning them.
Shaping and cooking the pancakes. The dough will be tacky once you have everything together you can either drop them right into the pan to fry or shape each one with floured hands patting them into pancakes about the size of the palm of your hand.
The best way I found to get an even size pancake is to use a small measuring cup like I have pictured and drop the batter onto a floured surface and dredge each one by rolling them around in the flour to lightly coat them before frying.
Then using a drinking glass or mason jar turned upside down roll each pancake around forming them into even circles. Give each one a little spin and use some back-and-forth motion to make it round.
Flip the glass over and gently pat the dough down into a circle pancake about the size of the bottom of the glass.
Once the pan is hot and the butter is melted drop in the syrniki and fry until lightly browned on both sides. Serve with sour cream, jam, syrup, or any toppings you like.
Syrniki
Ingredients
- 16 oz farmer cheese
- 1 egg
- 1/2 c flour
- 1/4 c sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 Tb butter This is for frying purposes
Instructions
- In a medium size bowl mix the egg and sugar.
- Add in farmer cheese flour and baking powder and stir to combine.
- Scoop out golf ball size amounts of the batter, fill a 1/4th cup measure 23rds full, and drop on a floured surface. Roll in flour and shape into a ball and flatten into a round patty or use a drinking glass to swirl into balls and flatten with the bottom of the glass.
- In a frying pan, or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat melt your butter. Fry on both sides until light golden brown.
- Serve with honey, fruit, jam, sour cream, or your favorite toppings.
