Sirniki (Russian Cheese Pancakes)

Dorie's Lori's Note:

These Russian Fried Cheese Pancakes (Patties), prounounced SEER-ni-kee, are delicious served hot out of the pan, the outsides still crispy, the insides creamy... They are very easy, and the dough can be made ahead. Sirniki are usually served as a brunch or breakfast dish, or as a dessert, with sour cream or jam. Some like both!

• Total Time: 1 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs

Ingredients:

Servings: 3

• 1 lb farmer cheese
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ cup flour , plus
• extra flour , for dipping
• 2 tablespoons butter , approx
• sour cream or jam , for serving

Directions:

1. In a food processor, pulse the farmer�s cheese until it is uniformly crumpled. Add the eggs, sugar, salt, and ½ cup of flour. Pulse or mix to combine. Refrigerate 1 hour, or even overnight. The dough will remain thick but sticky.
2. Put approximately 1/3 cup of flour into a bowl, and use this to prevent the dough from sticking to your hands. Using 2 teaspoons, drop 1½ï¿½ balls of dough into the flour, roll them round, and flatten to about 3/8� thick. Place them on a plate in a single layer until all the patties are all formed.
3. Heat a frying pan with 1 T. butter, and fry the patties on each side until golden. You will need to add more butter as you go.
4. Serve hot with sour cream and/or jam. This recipe will make approximately 20 small patties.
5. NOTE: Farmer Cheese is usually found near the cream cheese; my store sells Friendship brand. These days, the packages are just under 1/2 pound (don't you hate this incremental downsizing?), and 2 packages will work fine.
6. About the Times, Prep time is mostly frying time, and Passive time is the chilling time.

Reviews

[panchof]

Try them they are very very tasty! Here is a tip, if you can't find a farmer cheese, just stop at mexican store and buy Mexican cheese Requeson; it tastes just like Russian cheese. And one more thing the sirniki have to have golden brown color, when they're done.

[Nikoma]

Because of the high protein and low calories I decided to make these as part of my dinner. Served with couscous and green beans. I was surprised at how well they worked out! Such a simple recipe and a VERY cheap main dish. I was worried about my farmer's cheese being the right type. It was very creamy, but still slightly crumbly so I went ahead and they were great! I can see serving these for breakfast with jam or honey. I can also see myself making them again for dinner with a couple of spices thrown in. I would also add a little more sugar next time for this sweet version as they were a LITTLE bland. BF kept stealing them though! So they're on the hit list. Thanks.