Quick cottage pancakes: The easier alternative to pierogi
Until recently, I spent half the evening every week at the kitchen counter, treating the making of "cottage cheese pierogi" as a Friday ritual. But eventually, I decided enough was enough and found something better: "cottage cheese pancakes." It's the perfect combination of the familiar potato and cheese filling, enclosed in crispy pancakes—no rolling, sticking, or boiling required. I mix everything in one bowl, fry it up, and in just a few minutes, I have a meal that tastes like homemade pierogi, without all the hassle.
Until recently, I spent Friday afternoons at the kitchen counter, making pierogi with potatoes, cottage cheese, and onions—the classics that never get old. However, let's be honest: it's time-consuming and somewhat exhausting. So one day, I decided to simplify my life. Instead of the filling being inside, everything is combined in one bowl. Instead of dough, there's quick frying. That's how ruskie placki, which taste like pierogi but are made in a fraction of the time, came to be. They have since taken over my kitchen.
Recipe for cottage pancakes
Cottage pancakes are a dish that's made in no time and tastes like a classic. It's the perfect option when you're craving pierogi but don't have the time or energy to make them. Leftover potatoes from the previous day? Perfect. Cottage cheese in the fridge? That's enough. It's a recipe that saves not only Fridays but any day when you need something homemade, straightforward, and delicious.
Ingredients (for 8-10 pancakes):
- 5 potatoes (can be cooked a day earlier)
- 1 large onion
- 2 tablespoons canola oil + oil for frying
- 9 oz fatty cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- 3-4 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- A pinch each of salt, pepper, and nutmeg
Instructions:
- Grate the potatoes or mash them with a fork if they are cooked. Finely chop the onion and sauté it in oil until it becomes translucent.
- Place the potatoes, onion, cottage cheese, egg, and spices into a bowl. Add the flour and mix everything until a cohesive mass forms.
- Heat oil in a frying pan. Form small pancakes and fry them on both sides until golden, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- After frying, drain them of excess fat on a paper towel. Serve them with sour cream, dill, or caramelized onions for an added touch. It couldn't be simpler.
What's the idea behind cottage pancakes?
Ruskie placki are essentially a clever twist on the well-known pierogi filling, transforming it into a potato pancake. This idea was born from the need to simplify classic dishes, and it works wonderfully. By using ingredients we often already have in the fridge (like cooked potatoes, onion, and cottage cheese), we can prepare a hearty, homemade meal without the tedious folding.
Additionally, frying gives the pancakes a crispy crust while the interior remains creamy and flavorful, almost like pierogi, just quicker. It's a perfect example of how cooking can be both traditional and convenient.
