Draniki (Belarusian Potato Pancakes)
Local name: Дранікі
In short: Crisp-edged pancakes of finely grated potato and onion, fried until deep golden and served hot with cold sour cream, the favorite dish of Belarus. It takes about 50 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 400 kcal
Draniki are the dish Belarusians are proudest of: pancakes of finely grated raw potato with a little onion, fried until the edges lace into a crisp brown crust. They are eaten for breakfast, lunch or supper, always hot from the pan with a spoonful of cold sour cream. Fried mushrooms with onion make a good side. Work quickly once the potatoes are grated, because they darken fast.
Instructions
- Grate the potatoes and onion on the fine side of a box grater into a bowl, working quickly. A food processor with a fine grating disc also works.
- Tip the mixture into a sieve or clean towel and squeeze out the liquid. Let the liquid stand for 2 minutes, pour off the water and keep the white starch that settles at the bottom.
- Return the potatoes to the bowl, add the settled starch, egg, flour, salt and pepper, and mix well.
- Heat 3 mm (1/8 in) of oil in a wide frying pan over medium-high heat. Drop in heaping spoonfuls of batter and flatten gently into rounds about 8 cm (3 in) wide.
- Fry for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until deep golden and crisp at the edges. Lower the heat if they brown before the centers cook through.
- Drain on paper towels and serve right away with sour cream.
Tips
- Squeeze the potato mixture hard. Too much liquid leads to gray, soggy pancakes.
- Keep finished draniki on a rack in a 100°C (210°F) oven so the first batches stay crisp while you fry the rest.
Questions and answers
Why do my draniki turn gray?
Grated potato oxidizes quickly. Grate the onion together with the potatoes, work fast and fry straight away, since the onion slows the browning.
Can I make draniki ahead of time?
They are best fresh, but fried draniki keep for 2 days in the fridge and crisp up in a hot oven or pan. Do not mix the batter more than 15 minutes before frying.
What do Belarusians serve with draniki?
Cold sour cream is standard. Many families also serve them with fried mushrooms and onion.
How long does it take to make Draniki (Belarusian Potato Pancakes)?
About 50 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Draniki (Belarusian Potato Pancakes)?
About 400 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 19 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 400 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 19 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 620 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
