Syrniki: Fluffy Farmer’s Cheese Pancakes
Creamy inside, golden outside: Eastern European cheese pancakes, perfect for breakfast with sour cream and berries.
Syrniki are a much-loved breakfast across Eastern Europe and a weekend favourite in many families here too. Good syrniki are creamy inside with a thin, crisp golden crust.
The key is the cheese
- Fat-free cheese makes them dry; very wet cheese makes them spread.
- A fairly dry tvorog with 5–9% fat is ideal. Well-drained ricotta or pressed cottage cheese will do.
- The less flour, the more tender the result.
Nutrition
Per serving (≈ 160 g). Approximate values.
How to make it
4 steps · start a timer right inside a step
Prepare the cheese
If the tvorog is wet, drain it in muslin for 30 minutes. Then press it through a sieve or mash it thoroughly with a fork for smooth, tender pancakes.
Mix
Add the egg, sugar, vanilla sugar and salt to the cheese. Stir in the flour with a spatula just until combined. The mixture should be soft but barely sticky.
Shape
With floured hands, take walnut-sized portions, roll into balls and flatten into 1.5 cm thick discs. Dust in flour and neaten the sides with a knife.
Fry
Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the syrniki for 3–4 minutes per side until golden. If they are thick, cover the pan for the last two minutes. Serve with sour cream and berries.
Cook’s tips
- 1Rice flour makes them even more delicate.
- 2Keep the heat moderate so the centres cook through.
- 3Leftover syrniki freeze well.
- 4Pass the farmer's cheese through a fine-mesh sieve before mixing to ensure a completely smooth, uniform texture without any large curds.
Serving & storage: Top with a dollop of cold sour cream and a drizzle of honey or fresh berries for contrast. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days and reheat briefly in a dry skillet over low heat to restore the crisp exterior.
Variations
Add a handful of raisins, chopped dried apricots or lemon zest to the mix. For a savoury version, use dill and grated cheese and serve with sour cream.
The takeaway
Syrniki make a simple, quick and filling breakfast. Choose the right cheese and they will turn out perfectly every time.
