Syrniki (Ukraine Style) Farmer's Cheese Pancakes (VIDEO)

These pancakes are light, fluffy, creamy and cheesy inside, while crispy outside, flavorful and full of goodness! High in protein too! They will make your mom or spouse smile! A healthy, delicious and perfect breakfast in 20 minutes!

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It's Mother's Day weekend and wouldn't you like to treat your mom with something special? Possibly preparing a delicious pancake breakfast that she will always remember and cherish.

Don't even think about bringing out the Bisquick instead make these special pancakes that I am sharing with you today that are completely made FROM SCRATCH!

WHAT IS SYRNIKI?

Light and fluffy Ukrainian cheese pancakes, known as SYRNIKI around the world, are slightly sweet and perfect for breakfast topped with honey, berries and creme fraiche. They also make a lovely dessert. Try to serve these beauties crispy outside, almost custardy-soft inside next to a healthy scoop of vanilla ice cream. YUMMY!

As a food blogger who was born and raised in Ukraine, I have been following the news about the situation in Ukraine with horror and have been diligently donating to help those involved in this conflict. In addition to staying abreast of the news and donating, I wanted to do something even more to show my solidarity with those affected. It may be just a small thing but making these pancakes is my way of showing support.

For more TRUE Ukrainian recipes visit this page and explore my home country's cuisine in your own kitchen!

Many of my friends have asked how they can assist in helping the people of Ukraine. There are many organizations ready and willing to be of assistance by way of providing much-needed items. Here are two American organizations that I have selected. It takes just a few clicks to donate, and I thank you from my heart for your contribution:

International Orthodox Christian Charities https://iocc.org

and Save The Children at support https://savethechildren.org

Or directly to Ukrainian organizations, here is how you can do it: https://bank.gov.ua/ua/about/support-...

https://armyinform.com.ua/2022/03/02/...

https://savelife.in.ua/donate/

MORE UKRAINIAN RECIPES

Stuffed Apples with Farmer's Cheese

Buckwheat Crepes with Creamy Mushroom filling. Gluten Free

Vareniki (Pierogies) Stuffed with Farmers Cheese and Herbs

WHAT CHEESE CAN BE USED INSTEAD OF TVOROG?

The main ingredient is tvorog (farmer's cheese). Do you want to know how to make your own tvorog? Check out this post and see how easy it is to do it.

But if you can't afford to spend time on this project, it's not a problem to use store bought farmer's cheese, and drain for a few hours in a sieve and make sure to use layered coffee filters. After a few hours your cheese will be more formed and the liquid called whey, you will find at the bottom of the bowl. You are now ready to go! You can also purchase it at your nearby local international store.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What kind of pan should I use?

Use some sort of non-stick pan, I recommend not using any toxic pans in any of your cooking, but the green pan is ok. I used a cast iron pan in the video. This is the old-fashioned way and how my grandmother and mother cooked, I consider myself a big lover of cast iron pans and have my collection of various sizes, styles and uses.

Can I make syrniki gluten free?

Yes, even I used a very small amount of all-purposed flour, but for some of you it's unacceptable. No problem; use coconut, almond, cassava or rice flour. Cassava would be my first pick.

Can I reheat syrniki?

Yes, and you can find my instructions below.

What oil is best to fry syrniki?

The answer is very simple: any oil that has a high smoke point. But if you have followed me for a while, you probably have noticed that I'm not a big fan of vegetable oils. My mom uses refined sunflower oil. I recommend coconut oil or clarified butter. These are safer options for your health. But you are the boss of your pancakes!

HOW DO YOU SERVE THEM?

In my hometown of Vinnitsa Ukraine, we serve SYRNIKI simply with a dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream. Also, for a little bit of sweetness, we top them with some honey or jam. My mom and grandma always made their own jam with my favorite was the sour cherries jam. I am personally a huge fan of jam and ate too much of it instead of fruit during the winter. That’s all we had. I like SYRNIKI with Greek yogurt or kefir cheese with maple syrup and some berries as well.

HOW TO STORE AND REHEAT SYRNIKI?

They will keep well in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days or in the freezer for a month. When you are ready to use, take them out of the freezer. I recommend reheating them in a 350F oven. Simply lay them on a baking sheet and bake for no more than 10 minutes.

Actually, they are best when served fresh so that you can experience the irresistible crust! Honestly, we never have any leftovers because they are all consumed by bedtime. My children absolutely love these traditional Ukrainian farmer’s cheese pancakes.

LET'S DO IT....

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 20 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Author: innichkachef.com

Serves: 15 pancakes

Ingredients for the syrniki

2 & 1/4 cups of farmer's cheese (tvorog). See suggestions on it above.

1 egg

2 egg yolks

1 tablespoon raw cane sugar

1 teaspoon of pink salt

6 Tablespoons of all-purpose flour (plus about 1/2 cup more for dredging)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Ingredients for serving

Sliced strawberries or any berries of your choice.

Sour cream, Greek yogurt or creme fraiche

Honey or maple syrup

Directions

• To the big mixing bowl add cheese, use a fork and smooth out the cheese curds until they have a perfectly smooth consistency.

• Add all the ingredients to the cheese and mix everything very well.

• Sprinkle the work surface (use a plate or small cutting board for this) with flour.

• Take some of the cheese mixture with a cookie scoop and put into a plate with some flour. Flatten it, roll it in flour using an offset spatula or big knife into discs. Remove excess flour from each syrnik. (See the video for this step).

• Once the skillet and oil are hot, place patties directly into the skillet and sauté until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes each side and flipping once during cooking.

• Transfer patties to a plate and serve with your favorite toppings.

• I like to garnish mine with fresh berries and with a dollop of sour cream, Greek yogurt or creme fraiche for a true authentic Ukrainian experience. Oh, don't forget about honey either!

ENJOY!

I hope you'll make this recipe soon. If you do, please tag me #innichka_chef on Instagram, Facebook, Patreon or Pinterest.