Bulviniai Blynai (Lithuanian Potato Pancakes)
Local name: Bulviniai blynai
In short: Crisp-edged pancakes of grated potato and onion fried in a hot pan until golden, served with cold sour cream or bacon sauce. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 340 kcal
Bulviniai blynai are the potato pancakes Lithuanians eat for lunch, dinner or a weekend breakfast. The potatoes are grated finely, mixed with onion and a little egg and flour, and fried in a generous layer of oil until the edges turn lacy and crisp. They are served hot with cold sour cream, sometimes with fried bacon or a mushroom sauce. Work quickly once the potatoes are grated, because they darken fast.
Instructions
- Finely grate the potatoes and the onion into a bowl. Tip them into a clean cloth and squeeze out as much liquid as you can, letting it drip into a bowl.
- Let the squeezed liquid stand for 2 minutes. Pour off the water and scrape the white starch at the bottom back into the potatoes.
- Stir in the egg, flour, salt, pepper and marjoram until the batter is thick and even.
- Heat 3 tablespoons of the oil in a large heavy pan over medium-high heat. Spoon in 3 tablespoons of batter per pancake and flatten each to about 1 cm (1/2 in) thick.
- Fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until deep golden with crisp, lacy edges and the center is cooked through. Add more oil between batches.
- Drain on paper towels, or keep warm on a rack in a 120°C (250°F) oven. Serve hot with sour cream and bacon bits if you like.
Tips
- Use starchy potatoes and squeeze the batter dry. Wet batter steams in the pan and gives soft, pale pancakes.
- Fry in about 3 mm (1/8 in) of oil over medium-high heat so the center cooks through before the outside burns.
Questions and answers
Can I make the potato pancake batter ahead of time?
No. Grated potato darkens and releases water within minutes, so mix and fry right away. You can fry the pancakes ahead and reheat them in a 200°C (400°F) oven for 8 minutes.
Why do my potato pancakes fall apart?
The batter is too wet. Squeeze the potatoes harder, keep the starch and add another tablespoon of flour if needed.
How do I serve bulviniai blynai?
Cold sour cream is the classic topping. Fried bacon bits, mushroom sauce or lingonberry jam are other common choices.
How long does it take to make Bulviniai Blynai (Lithuanian Potato Pancakes)?
About 50 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Bulviniai Blynai (Lithuanian Potato Pancakes)?
About 340 kcal per serving, with 7 g of protein, 39 g of carbohydrates and 17 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 340 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g |
| Carbohydrates | 39 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 550 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
