Nalesniki or Nalysnyky are the Ukrainian version of crepes. They can be prepared with either a sweet or savory filling and are perfect for a delicious, satiating breakfast or an indulgent dessert. The crepes are cooked until golden on both sides, then filled with your preferred filling before being folded into quarter circles or rolled up into logs.
Sometimes, the filled crepes are placed in a baking tray, then they are covered with cream and baked for an extra creamy consistency.
Below you will find a recipe for savory crepes using cottage cheese, but feel free to experiment with other fillings. Enjoy!
Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix them well using a whisk until all flour lumps have been dissolved and you get a smooth, liquidy batter.
Heat up some oil in a pan and add a ladleful of batter, swirling it around to cover the pan completely. Fly until golden, then flip over and lightly fry on the other side as well.
Once done, add a spoonful of filling mixture (cheese or mushrooms are the traditional choices) in the middle of the crepe and fold it like an envelope or roll it. If one side of the crepe has browned more than the other, place the filling on the darker side.
For the filling:
For the filling you can use either plain cottage cheese or cream cheese if you prefer. Drain the cheese of any whey, and place the cheese in a bowl along with 2 egg yolks, half a teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of sour cream and either blend in a food processor or stir vigorously to break down the cheese into a smooth, creamy filling.
After smoothing out the mixture in the blender, transfer back to the bowl and add the chopped dill (adding it in the blender will turn the cheese green).
Feel free to add anything else to like – for example leftover chicken pieces or chopped omelet with green onions. Even mashed potatoes can work well. The combinations are endless!
For a sweet version you can spread jam or chocolate spread on the crepes and fold them as normal.
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