Syrniki

Syrniki or syrnyky are fried Eastern Slavic quark pancakes. In Russia, they are also known as tvorozhniki. They are a part of Belarusian, Russian, Ukrainian, Latvian and Serbian cuisine. Their simplicity and delicious taste have made them very popular in Eastern Europe.

The name syrniki is derived from the word syr (сыр), which now generally means "(yellow) cheese" in Russian, but once partly stood for soft white cheese. The Ukrainian language retains the old Slavic sense of the word, as in domashnii syr (домашній сир, literal translation 'domestic cheese'), whereas in Russian, the word for white cheese is tvorog (творог).

Syrnyky or tvorozhniki are made from creamy quark, mixed with flour, eggs and sugar, sometimes adding vanilla extract. Pot cheese or farmer's cheese is suggested as a substitute for the tvorog. The soft mixture is shaped into cakes, which are pan- or shallow-fried in vegetable oil or in hot butter. The consistency should remain slightly creamy, while they are slightly browned on both sides. They are traditionally sweet and served for breakfast or dessert, but can be made savory as well. Raisins, chopped dried apricot, fresh apples or pears are sometimes added into the batter. They are typically served with varenye, jam, smetana (sour cream) and / or melted butter.