Ingredients
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1 lb farmer’s cheese
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2 Eggs
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5/6 cup all purpose flour
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1/4 cup Sugar
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1/2 tsp Salt
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7 tbsp Vegetable Oil
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1/2 cup raisinsoptional
Directions
Syrniki are slightly sweet, cheesy Russian pancakes made from Farmer’s cheese. They are super soft and just slightly sweet on the inside. Syrniki are traditionally made with tvorog, a fresh cheese formed from soured milk, but you can substitute farmer cheese if you don’t have access to a Russian/Eastern European grocery store.
The method for cooking syrniki is in principle the same as for bliny: make the batter and fry it. Firstly, you should mix quark (tvorog in Russian) with flour, eggs, and sugar, and maybe raisins or apricots to add more texture and taste. Then form small pancakes in the pan and make sure the insides are cooked through while staying creamy: it gives an interesting counter-taste to the well-fried sides of syrniki!
Syrniki is a sweet and savory food, usually eaten for breakfast or dessert. These are typically served with sour cream or varenye on the side.
Preparation:
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In a large bowl, crumble the farmer’s cheese into little pieces with a fork. Add 2 eggs and mix well. Add ½ cup flour, sugar, and salt. Mix well, using a fork to break apart any clumps of flour or farmer’s cheese. Add raisins, if using. The batter will be thick like dough, not like traditional pancake batter.
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Prepare a small bowl with about ⅓ cup flour—you will use it to dredge the pancakes. Scoop out approximately ¼ cup pancake dough at a time. Use your hands to gently flatten the dough into a small patty. Dredge the pancake with flour on both sides. Shake off the extra flour and set aside until you are ready to cook them.
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In a large skillet, heat 3-4 tbps of vegetable oil, and gently place the flour-dredged cheese pancakes into the pan using a spatula. Cook on medium-low heat for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until each side is golden brown. Place on a paper towel to cool. Do not crowd the pancakes—cook them in 2-3 batches if necessary.
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To serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar or drizzle with maple syrup, honey, or whipped cream. Or try these syrniki the traditional Russian way, with sour cream and your favorite fruit preserves.
