Syrnyky (Сирники) Farmer Cheese Pancakes

Serves 2 to 4 | Start to finish: 40 minutes

If Ukrainians ever voted on their favorite breakfast dish, syrnyky—little pancakes made with farmer cheese—would be the clear winner. Pretty much every Ukrainian, regardless of his or her skill in the kitchen, knows how to make this dish. Here’s my favorite tried-and-true recipe (which, I am proud to say, has become the go-to recipe in many Ukrainian households!).

Syrnyky are traditionally served with sour cream or jam, but feel free to experiment with other toppings, such as maple syrup, peanut butter, and fresh fruit. You can even drizzle the pancakes with a little caramel sauce!

When you make syrnyky, your choice of farmer cheese is of great importance. It should not be too dry—if it is, the syrnyky will not hold their shape well—but neither should it be too watery. If there is a lot of whey left in the cheese, you should strain it through a sieve with cheesecloth and let the liquid drain.

INGREDIENTS   

• 2 cups (450 grams) farmer cheese

  The Authentic Ukrainian Kitchen Yevhen Klopotenko

• 1 large egg

• 3 tablespoons (36 grams) granulated sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar (or a drop of vanilla extract)

• Kosher salt

• All-purpose flour, for coating

• 3 to 4 tablespoons (45 to 60 milliliters) sunflower oil (or other neutral oil)

DIRECTIONS 

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the farmer cheese, the egg, and both sugars. Add a generous pinch of salt and mix until thoroughly combined.

2. Add the flour to a large, shallow dish. Set aside.

3. Generously grease your hands with oil to keep the mixture from sticking to them. Take a heaping tablespoon of the farmer cheese mixture and roll it into a ball. Dredge the ball in flour, rolling it around so that the whole surface is covered. Place the cheese ball on a plate and press it down with your hand to form a thick pancake-like shape. Repeat the process with the remaining cheese mixture.

4. Heat the remaining oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Working in batches, place the farmer cheese pancakes into the pan, keeping a little distance between them. Fry for about 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.

5. Transfer to a large serving dish and serve with your favorite toppings.

 Excerpted from THE AUTHENTIC UKRAINIAN KITCHEN by Yevhen Klopotenko.  Copyright © 2024 by Yevhen Klopotenko. Photographs by Dima Bahta. Used with permission of Voracious, an imprint of Little, Brown and Company. New York, NY. All rights reserved.

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