Ukrainian Syrniki Recipe (Cheese Pancakes)

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Danielle Dolinsky sent me an interesting email a while back; a recipe for her Ukrainian syrniki, also known as tvorog pancakes. It’s her specialty and it was featured on the Martha Stewart Show (sounds soo soo dreamy!).

Here’s a link to her syrniki recipe and a step-by-step video from the show. I haven’t experimented with a store-bought cheese but I can tell you Mom’s homemade cheese creates a very soft dough; more delicate to handle but had amazing results.

Thank you Danielle for sharing your recipe. We’ve enjoyed your Ukrainian syrniki several times and I am currently craving them again.

Ingredients for Ukrainian Sirniki:

15 oz (about 2 cups) farmers cheese, homemade (aka Tvorog) or storebought
4 large eggs
3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus about 1/2 cup more for dredging
3 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp white vinegar
1 cup raisins
2-3 Tbsp extra light olive oil for each batch

Toppings:

Fresh fruit or jam, sour cream, powdered sugar; whatever you like!

How to Make Ukrainian Syrniki:

1. In a large bowl, mix together 15 oz of cheese, 4 eggs, 3/4 cup flour, 3 Tbsp sugar and 1/2 tsp salt.

2. Place 1 tsp baking soda in a small bowl and add 1 tsp vinegar; give it a stir as it fizzes. Add this mixture to the cheese mix.

3. With a hand-held electric mixer, mix until uniform consistency. Stir in the raisins with a spoon. It will still have some little cheese clumps.

4. Heat a large non stick skillet over medium heat, add 2-3 Tbsp extra light olive oil.

5. Add 1/2 cup flour to a small bowl. Place a heaping tablespoon or flat ice cream scoop of the cheese mixture into the flour. Reach into the bowl and sprinkle flour over the top of the pancake. With Well-floured hands, remove excess flour by gently transferring the pancake from one hand to another.

6. Once the skillet and oil are hot, place patties directly into the skillet as you mold them. Saute until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes each side, flipping once during cooking.

7. Transfer to a plate and serve with your favorite toppings. I’m old school so I like sour cream, fruit and powdered sugar.

Are these pictures making you hungry? I’m gurgling in my gut… I better get started on another batch of cheese.

Ukrainian Syrniki Recipe (Cheese Pancakes)

4.80 from 91 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

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Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 8 minutes mins

Total Time: 18 minutes mins

Ingredients 

Servings: 4 -5

• 15 oz about 2 cups farmers cheese, homemade or purchase 2 packages.
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cups all-purpose flour + 1/2 cup for dredging
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• 1 cup raisins
• 2-3 Tbsp extra light olive oil for each batch

Toppings:

• Fresh fruit or jam, sour cream, powdered sugar; whatever you like!

Instructions

• In a large bowl, mix together cheese, eggs, 3/4 cup flour, sugar and salt.
• Place baking soda in a small bowl and add vinegar; give it a stir as it fizzes. Add this mixture to the cheese mix.
• With a hand-held electric mixer, mix until uniform consistency. Stir in the raisins with a spoon. It will still have some little cheese clumps.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add 2-3 Tbsp extra light olive oil.
• Add 1/2 cup flour to a small bowl. Place a heaping tablespoon of flat ice cream scoop of the cheese mixture into the flour. Reach into the bowl and sprinkle flour over the top of the pancake. With Well-floured hands, remove excess flour by gently transferring the pancake from one hand to another.
• Once the skillet and oil are hot, place patties directly into the skillet as you mold them. Saute until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes each side, flipping once during cooking.
• Transfer to a plate and serve with your favorite toppings like sour cream, fruit and powdered sugar.

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian

Keyword: Cheese Pancakes, Syrniki

Skill Level: Easy

Cost to Make: $