Zrazy (Belarusian Stuffed Meat Patties with Mushrooms)
Local name: Зразы
In short: Oval patties of ground beef and pork wrapped around a mushroom, egg and dill filling, browned in a pan and finished in a sour cream sauce. It takes about 1 h 25 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 45 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 690 kcal
Zrazy are a favorite of Belarusian holiday tables: meat patties with a surprise inside. The filling is usually mushrooms and onion, sometimes with chopped boiled egg and dill, and the patties are browned, then baked briefly in sour cream so they stay juicy. Serve them with boiled or mashed potatoes and a pickled cucumber. They look fussy but are simple once you have shaped the first two.
Instructions
- For the filling, cook the onion in the oil for 4 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, until all their liquid has evaporated. Cool, then mix with the chopped eggs, dill and salt.
- Mix the ground meat with the grated onion, squeezed bread, egg, salt and pepper. Knead for 1 minute until the mixture holds together.
- Divide the meat into 8 portions. With wet hands, flatten each into a round about 10 cm (4 in) wide, put a spoonful of filling in the center, fold the meat over and seal it into an oval patty with no gaps.
- Chill the patties for 20 minutes, then roll them in the breadcrumbs.
- Heat the oil in a wide ovenproof pan over medium heat and fry the zrazy for 3 minutes per side, until browned.
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Stir the sour cream with the water and salt and pour it around the patties. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes, until the meat reaches 71°C (160°F).
- Rest for 5 minutes and serve with the sauce, boiled potatoes and a pickled cucumber.
Tips
- Chilling the filled patties before frying helps them hold their shape in the pan.
- Add a small handful of dried porcini, soaked and chopped, to the filling for a stronger forest flavor.
Questions and answers
How are Belarusian zrazy different from Polish zrazy?
Polish zrazy are usually thin slices of beef rolled around a filling. In Belarus they are often made from ground meat or potato and shaped into patties around the filling.
Can I freeze zrazy?
Yes. Freeze the shaped, breaded patties raw on a tray, then bag them for up to 2 months. Brown them from frozen over low heat and add about 10 minutes to the oven time.
Can I make potato zrazy instead?
Yes. Use mashed potato mixed with a little flour and egg in place of the meat, and keep the same mushroom filling.
How long does it take to make Zrazy (Belarusian Stuffed Meat Patties with Mushrooms)?
About 1 h 25 min in total: 45 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Zrazy (Belarusian Stuffed Meat Patties with Mushrooms)?
About 690 kcal per serving, with 33 g of protein, 25 g of carbohydrates and 51 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 690 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 33 g |
| Carbohydrates | 25 g |
| Fat | 51 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 950 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
