Syrniki (Ukrainian: сирники) are fried Eastern Slavic quark (curd cheese) pancakes. Their simplicity and delicious taste have made them very popular in Eastern Europe.

Ingredients:

• 200 g of farmer’s cheese
• 150 g of wheat flour (in the gluten-free version, mix potato, corn and oat flour evenly)
• 2 eggs
• A few tablespoons of milk (just enough so that the dough is not too dry)
• Two tablespoons of sugar (optional, I don’t add sugar as I don’t like them too sweet)
• Vanilla extract (or other extract, depending on taste – rum, anise or almond works great, too)
• Half a teaspoon of baking powder
• Vegetable oil for frying (for example, sunflower) or olive oil (extra virgin)
• Optional – 2-3 large plums (peaches, apples or strawberries will also be suitable)

How to make it:

Put the cottage cheese into a bowl and mash it with a fork together with the flour and baking powder, add the eggs and sugar. To slightly dilute the mass, add a little milk. The dough will be quite loose, it should be similar to that of donuts. Pour additional flour onto the plate. Moisten a spoon with water, then take portions of the dough and coat it in flour. We form round pancakes. Shake off the excess flour. Pour oil / olive oil into the pan and fry until golden. When they are baked, put them on a paper towel to pull out the excess of oil.

If you want to try the variation with fruits, add peeled and cut fruits on top of the dough as soon as you put it in the pan then flatten it a little. Fry the same way.

Serve with fruit, sour cream, yoghurt, powdered sugar or jam.