Sirniki Recipe (Farmer’s Cheese Pancakes)
Sirniki are delicious, slightly sweet cheese pancakes popular in Ukrainian and Eastern European households, with a golden, crispy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior.
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 5 large eggs
- 1 cup organic sugar
- 24 oz. cottage cheese or farmer's cheese
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 4 ½ cups organic all-purpose flour
- Olive oil for sautéing
Instructions
How to Prep Cottage Cheese for Sirniki
- First, let's start by grinding the cottage cheese to a paste-like texture (If you are using farmer's cheese, then skip this step). I've tried making them without grinding the cheese and I've noticed that the patties became very dry after sautéing.
How to Make Sirniki Dough
- Now let's start making the sirniki pancake dough! We're going to add the eggs and sugar in a large bowl and beat them on high with a hand mixer for 3 minutes.
- Next, we'll add our ground cottage cheese or farmer's cheese and beat with an electric mixer on medium for 2-3 minutes until the ingredients are well combined.
- After that, activate the baking soda with vinegar in a small spoon, then pour it over the cottage cheese and egg mixture.
- Mix it with your hand mixer for another minute then add 3 cups of flour and 1 tsp of salt through a sifter.
- Thoroughly stir the flour in with a spatula until all the flour is combined.
How to Shape Sirniki
- After the flour is well mixed, take the remaining ½ cup flour and sift it on top of a large cutting board.
- Once that's done, transfer the batter from the bowl onto the floured cutting board.
- Roll the dough into a ball and cut it in half, then cover both balls with flour so they don't stick. Set one half aside for later.
- Take the other half of the ball and roll it into a log.
- Cut the log into approximately 1-inch pieces and cover each side with flour. Flatten each piece with your hand to make them ¼ inch thick and oval or round shaped.
How to Sauté Sirniki
- Heat a frying pan at medium-low heat on the stove with 2 tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil.
- Place sirniki in the frying pan and sauté 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown then remove them from the pan.
- Place another set of sirniki and continue sautéing until you are done with all the pancake dough.
- Take the second half of the dough and repeat the cutting, shaping, and sautéing steps until you're done with the other half.
- Your delicious Sirniki are ready to be served warm or cooled!
Notes
- Grind the cheese: Make sure to grind the cottage cheese into a smooth texture to keep the sirniki soft and moist.
- Beat eggs and sugar: Whip the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy before adding the cheese.
- Handle the dough gently: Shape the sirniki carefully, avoiding overworking or pressing them too thin to prevent breaking during frying.