Sirniki (Russian Cheese Pancakes)

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!

• Ready In: 1 hr 30 mins
• Serves: 3-4

Ingredients

• 1  lb farmer cheese
• 2  eggs
• 2  tablespoons sugar
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 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.