Syrniki are a traditional Russian breakfast food that for some reason no one ever talks about. I am hell-bent on changing this because they are DA BOMB (are we still saying that?) and you should really, really try them. Syrniki (pronounced sYr-nee-key) translates to little cheese cakes in Russian.
They’re small pan-fried rounds, primarily made of farmer’s cheese. They’re soft and pillowy but have a satisfying bite that say, pancakes, do not. Syrniki are only lightly sweetened and flavored with a hint of vanilla, so they’re a great vessel for fruits, fruit sauces, jams, honey, Nutella, yogurt, or whatever else you’ve got lying around. When I used to live with my parents, this was my favorite weekend breakfast that my mom would make, and this syrniki recipe is hers.
If you’ve never tried farmer’s cheese, it’s similar to cottage cheese but drier and a bit more sour; it’s available at most supermarkets thanks to Friendship brand, and you can find it in the dairy aisle. It’s used in lots of Russian breakfast foods, spreads, and even desserts. I personally love it and encourage you to try it, too.
A quick fruit sauce can really make a weekend breakfast special, and this raspberry sauce in ah-mazing. It is super, super easy to make, and you can eat the leftovers swirled into your oatmeal or atop buttered toast – it’s basically a 5-minute jam. If you’re not feeling as ambitious, go ahead and eat these with store-bought preserves instead – I won’t judge you.
PrintLemon syrniki with raspberry sauce & sour cream
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Ingredients
For the Syrniki
- 1 7.5-oz package farmer’s cheese (I use Friendship brand)
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. sugar
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 4–6 Tbsp. all-purpose flour, plus more for dredging
- 3–4 Tbsp. organic canola oil or coconut oil
- Sour cream, to serve
For the Raspberry Sauce
- 1 6-oz package raspberries
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp. water
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together farmer’s cheese, egg, vanilla, salt, sugar and lemon zest until combined. Gently fold in 3 tablespoons flour. Do not overmix or dough will become tough; final dough should be light but still hold together, and not sticky to the touch. Fold in another tablespoon or two of flour into the dough, until desired consistency is reached.
- Transfer dough onto a lightly floured surface and form into a rough 12″ log with about a 2″ circumference.
- Place 1 tablespoon flour into a small shallow bowl and set aside for dredging.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add enough oil to coat the bottom.
- Dip a knife into flour and slice log into ¾”-thick medallions. Dredge medallions in flour bowl, shake off access flour, and place into skillet. Cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate.
- While syrniki are frying, in a small sauce pan, stir together all sauce ingredients. Cover and bring to a simmer. Gently mash raspberries with a fork and simmer, covered, over low heat until sauce thickens, about 4 minutes.
- Serve syrniki warm, with raspberry sauce and sour cream.
*From the Motherland is a series in which I pay homage to my Eastern European heritage and share the foods I grew up eating with the world.
Carrie says
Is Farmer’s Cheese the same as Tvorog?
Alexandra says
Yep! 🙂
Marj says
Thanks for posting this. I wanted to cut the carbs and sugar, so I only used the 3T of flour in the mixture and substituted Truvia (1 pack) for the sugar. Instead of rolling the dough, I used a small scoop (coated with Pam) to put the mixture in the oil. Finished it off with some Polaner jelly instead of the sauce, and it was delicious!
Alexandra says
Glad you liked the recipe. Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Little Cooking Tips says
Those Syrniki treats look amazing Sasha! We loved your photos. Excellent written post.
Thanx so much for this insight into Russian cuisine.
Panos and Mirella
Alexandra says
Glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for stopping by!
Olga @ MangoTomato says
Yes! Love these. They are one of the only foods that I don’t mind the inclusion of raisins 🙂 We usually eat ours with sour cream. This makes me want to make tvorog!